Barron 800 Essential Words for GRE

Barron 800 Essential Words for GRE

aggrandize	to make larger or greater
aggregate	amounting to a whole; total
alacrity	cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed
alchemy	medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold; a seemingly magical power or process of transmutation
allay	to lessen; ease; soothe
alleviate	to relieve; improve partially
alloy	a combination; a mixture of two or more metals
allure	the power to entice by charm
amalgamate	to combine into a unified whole
ambiguous	unclear or doubtful in meaning
ambivalence	the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes
ambrosia	something delicious; the food of the gods
ameliorate	to improve
amenable	agreeable; cooperative; suited
amenity	something that increases comfort
amulet	ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
anachronism	something out of the proper time
analgesic	medication that reduces or eliminates pain
analogous	comparable
anarchy	absence of government; state of disorder
anodyne	something that calms or soothes pain
anomalous	irregular; deviating from the norm
antecedent	something that comes before

antediluvian	prehistoric
antipathy	dislike; hostility
apathy	indifference
apex	the highest point
apogee	the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the highest point
apothegm	a terse, witty saying
appease	to calm, pacify, placate
appellation	name
apposite	strikingly appropriate and relevant
apprise	to inform
approbation	praise, approval
appropriate	to take possession of for one's own use; confiscate
apropos	relevant
arabesque	ornate design featuring intertwined curves; a ballet position in which one leg is extended in back while the other supports the weight of the body
archeology	the study of material evidence of past human life
ardor	great emotion or passion
arduous	extremely difficult; laborious
argot	a specialized vocabulary used by a group
arrest	to stop; to seize
artifact	item made by human craft
artless	guileless; natural
ascetic	one who practices self-denial
asperity	severity; harshness; irritability

aspersion	slander; false rumor
assiduous	diligent; hard-working
assuage	to make less severe
astringent	harsh; severe
asylum	place of refuge or shelter
atavism	in biology, the reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence; individual or a part that exhibits atavism; return of a trait after a period of absence
attenuate	to weaken
audacious	bold; daring
austere	stern; unadorned; simple
autonomous	self-governing; independent
avarice	greed
aver	to affirm; declare to be true
avocation	secondary occupation
avuncular	like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
axiomatic	taken for granted; self-evident truth
bacchanalian	pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity; pertaining to revelry
banal	commonplace; trite
banter	playful conversation
bard	poet
bawdy	obscene
beatify	to sanctify; to bless; to ascribe a virtue to
bedizen	to dress in a vulgar, showy manner
behemoth	huge creature; anything very large and powerful

belie	to contradict; misrepresent; give a false impression
beneficent	kindly; doing good
bifurcate	to divide into two parts
blandishment	flattery
blasé	bored because of frequent indulgence; unconcerned
bolster	to give a boost to; prop up; support
bombastic	pompous; using inflated language
boorish	rude; insensitive
bovine	cow like
brazen	bold; shameless
broach	to mention for the first time
bucolic	characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral
burgeon	to grow and flourish
burnish	to polish
buttress	to reinforce; support
cacophonous	unpleasant or harsh-sounding
cadge	to beg; sponge
callous	thick-skinned; insensitive
calumny	false and malicious accusation; slander
canard	false; deliberately misleading story
canon	an established set of principles; a basis or standard for judgment; a group of literary works
cant	insincere talk; language of a particular group
cantankerous	irritable; ill-humored

capricious	fickle
captious	faultfinding; intended to entrap, as in an argument
cardinal	of foremost importance
carnal	of the flesh or body; related to physical appetites
carping	to find fault; complain
cartography	science of making maps
caste	any of the hereditary social classes in Hindu society; social stratification
castigation	punishment; chastisement; criticism
cataclysm	a violent upheaval that causes great destruction and change
catalyst	something that causes change
categorical	absolute; without exception
caucus	smaller group within an organization
causal	involving a cause
caustic	burning; stinging; causing corrosion
celestial	concerned with sky or heavens; sublime
centrifugal	moving away from a center
centripetal	moving or directed toward a center
champion	to defend or support
chasten	to correct by punishment or reproof; to restrain or subdue
chicanery	trickery; fraud
chivalry	the qualities idealized by knighthood such as bravery and gallantry toward women
churlish	rude; boorish
circuitous	roundabout

clairvoyant	one who can predict the future; psychic
clamor	noisy outcry
clique	a small, exclusive group
cloister	to confine; seclude
coagulate	thicken; congeal
coalesce	to cause to become one
coda	concluding part of a literary or musical composition; something that summarizes or concludes
codify	to systematize
cognizant	informed; conscious; aware
collage	artistic composition of materials pasted over a surface; an assemblage of diverse elements
commensurate	proportional
compendium	brief, comprehensive summary
complacent	self-satisfied
complaisant	overly polite; willingness to comply with the wishes of others
complement	something that completes or makes up a whole
compliant	yielding
compunction	uneasiness caused by guilt
concave	curving inward
conciliatory	overcoming distrust or hostility
concoct	to invent
concomitant	existing concurrently
condone	to overlook voluntarily; forgive
confound	to baffle; perplex; mix up

congenial	similar in tastes and habits; friendly; suited to
conjugal	pertaining to marriage agreement
connoisseur	expert in matters of taste; expert knowledge or training
conscript	a person compulsorily enrolled for military service
consecrate	to declare sacred
contend	to assert
contentious	quarrelsome; causing quarrels
contiguous	touching; neighboring; connecting without a break
continence	self-control; abstention from sexual activity
contrite	very sorrowful for a wrong; seeking forgiveness
contumacious	disobedient; rebellious
conundrum	riddle; puzzle with no solution
convention	practice widely observed in a group; custom; accepted technique or device
converge	to approach; come together; tend to meet
convex	curved outward
convivial	sociable
convoluted	twisted; complicated
copious	abundant; plentiful
coquette	woman who flirts
cornucopia	horn overflowing with fruit and grain; state of abundance
cosmology	study of the universe as a totality; theory of the origin and structure of the universe
covert	hidden; secret
covetous	desiring something owned by another

cozen	to mislead by trick or fraud; deceive
craven	cowardly
credence	acceptance of something as true
credo	statement of belief or principle; creed
daunt	to discourage; intimidate; dishearten
dearth	scarcity
debauchery	corruption
decorum	proper behavior
defame	to malign; harm someone's reputation
default	to fail to act
deference	respect; regard for another's wish
defunct	no longer existing
delineate	to represent or depict
demographic	related to population balance
demotic	pertaining to people
demur	to express doubt; question or oppose
denigrate	to slur someone's reputation
denizen	an inhabitant; a regular visitor
denouement	outcome; unraveling of the plot of a play or work of literature
deride	to mock
derivative	something derived; unoriginal
desiccate	to dry completely
desuetude	state of disuse
desultory	random; disconnected; rambling

deterrent	something that discourages or hinders
detraction	the act of taking away
diaphanous	transparent; vague; insubstantial
diatribe	bitter verbal attack
dichotomy	division into two usually contradictory parts
diffidence	shyness; lack of confidence
diffuse	to spread out
digression	act of straying from the main point
dirge	funeral hymn
disabuse	free from a misconception
discerning	perceptive; exhibiting keen insight and good judgment
discomfit	to make uneasy; disconcert
discordant	not in tune
discredit	to dishonor; disgrace
discrepancy	difference between
discrete	constituting a separate thing; distinct
discretion	quality of showing self-restraint in speech or actions
disingenuous	not candid, crafty
disinterested	unprejudiced; objective
disjointed	lacking order or coherence; dislocated
dismiss	put away from consideration; reject
disparage	to belittle
disparate	dissimilar
dissemble	to pretend; disguise one's motives

disseminate	to spread; scatter; disperse
dissident	person who disagrees about beliefs
dissolution	disintegration; debauchery
dissonance	discord; lack of harmony
distend	to expand; swell out
distill	extract the essential elements
distrait	inattentive; preoccupied
diverge	to vary; go in different directions from the same point
divest	to strip; deprive; rid
divulge	to make known something that is secret
doctrinaire	dogmatic; unyielding
document	to provide with written evidence to support
doggerel	poor verse
dogmatic	stating opinions without proof
dormant	inactive
dross	waste; worthless matter
dupe	to deceive; trick
ebullient	exhilarated; overly enthusiastic
eclectic	selecting from various sources
effervescence	state of high spirits or liveliness; process of bubling as gas escapes
effete	depleted of vitality; over refined; decadent
efficacy	effectiveness; efficiency
effrontery	shameless boldness; presumptuousness
egoism	the tendency to see things in relation to oneself; self-centeredness

egotistical	excessively self-centered; conceited
elegy	poem or song expressing lamentation
elicit	to provoke; draw out
elixir	a sustance believed to have the power to cure ills
Elysian	delightful; blissful
emaciated	thin and wasted
embellish	to adorn; enhance
emollient	soothing; mollifying
empirical	derived from observation or experiment
emulate	to imitate; copy
encomium	a formal expression of praise
endemic	inherent; belonging to an area
enervate	to weaken
engender	to cause; produce
enhance	to increase; improve
entomology	the scientific study of insects
enunciate	to pronounce clearly
ephemeral	short-lived; fleeting
epistemology	branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge
equable	steady; unvarying; serene
equanimity	composure; calmness
equivocate	intentionally use vague language
errant	mistaken; straying from the proper course
erudite	learned; scholarly

esoteric	hard to understand; known only to a few
essay	to make an attempt; subject to a test
estimable	admirable; possible to estimate
ethnocentric	based on the attitude that one's group is superior
etiology	causes or origins
etymology	origin an history of a word
eugenics	study of factors that influence the hereditary qualities of the human race and ways to improve those qualities
eulogy	high praise to a death person
euphemism	use of agreeable or inoffensive language in place of offensive language
euphoria	feeling of extreme happiness
euthanasia	mercy killing
evince	to show plainly; be an indication of
evocative	tending to call to mind or produce a reaction
exacerbate	to aggravate; make worse
exact	to force the payment of; demand and obtain by authority
exculpate	to clear of blame; vindicate
execrable	detestable; abhorrent
exhort	to urge by strong appeals
exigency	crisis; urgent requirements
existential	having to do with existence
exorcise	to expel evil spirits; free from bad influences
expatiate	to speak or write at length
expatriate	to send into exile

expiate	to atone for
explicate	to explain; interpret; clarify
expository	explanatory
extant	in existence; not lost
extemporaneous	unrehearsed
extirpate	to root up; to destroy
extraneous	not essential
extrapolation	the act of estimation by projecting known information
extrinsic	not inherent of essential
facetious	humorous
facilitate	to make less difficult
factotum	a person who does all sorts of work; a handyman
fallacious	based on a false idea or fact; misleading
fallow	plowed but not sowed; uncultivated
fatuous	foolishly self-satisfied
fauna	animals of a period o region
fawning	seeking flavor by flattering
felicitous	suitable expressed; wee-chose; appropriate
feral	existing in a wild or untamed state
fervor	warmth and intensity of emotion
fetid	having a bad smell
fetter	to bind; confine
fiat	arbitrary order; authorization
fidelity	loyalty; exact correspondence

filibuster	use of obstructive tactics in a legislature to block passage of a law
finesse	to handle with a deceptive or evasive strategy; refined in performance
fissure	crevice
flag	to droop; grow weak
fledging	beginner; novice
flora	plants of a region or era
florid	ruddy; reddish; flowery
flourish	en embellishment or ornamentation
flout	to treat scornfully
flux	flowing; a continuous moving
foment	to incite; arouse
forbearance	patience
forestall	to prevent; delay
formidable	menacing; threatening
forswear	renounce; repudiate
founder	to sink; fail; collapse
fracas	a loud quarrel; brawl
fractious	quarrelsome; unruly; rebellious
fresco	a painting done on plaster
frieze	ornamental band on a wall
froward	stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient
frugality	thrift
fulminate	to attack loudly; denounce
fulsome	so excessive as to be disgusting

fusion	union; synthesis
futile	ineffective; useless; fruitless
gainsay	to deny; dispute; oppose
gambol	to frolic; leap playfully
garrulous	very talkative; wordy
gauche	coarse and uncouth; clumsy
geniality	cheerfulness; kindliness; sociability
gerrymander	to divide an area into voting districts in a way that favors a political party
glib	fluent in an insincere way; offhand
goad	to prod; urge on
gossamer	sheer; light and delicate; like cobwebs
gouge	to tear out; scoop out; overcharge
grandiloquent	pompous; bombastic
gregarious	outgoing; sociable
grouse	to complain
guileless	free of cunning or deceit; artless
guise	outward appearance; false appearance
gullible	easily deceived
gustatory	affecting the sense of taste
halcyon	calm and peaceful; happy; golden; prosperous
hallowed	holy; sacred
harangue	long, pompous speech; tirade
harrowing	extremely distressing; terrifying

herbivorous	an animal that feeds mainly on plants
hermetic	tightly sealed; magical
heterodox	not widely accepted
hieroglyphics	a system of writing in which pictorial symbols represent meanings or sounds; writing or symbols that are difficult to decipher
hirsute	covered with hair
histrionic	relating to exaggerated emotional behavior calculated for effect; theatrical acts or performances
homeostasis	automatic maintenance by an organism in balance with itself
homily	sermon; tedious moralizing lecture
homogeneous	composed of identical parts; uniform in composition
hyperbole	purposeful exaggeration for effect
iconoclastic	attacking cherished traditions
idolatry	idol worship; blind or excessive devotion
igneous	produced by fire; volcanic
imbroglio	complicated situation; an entanglement
immutable	unchangeable
impair	to damage; injure
impassive	showing no emotion
impecunious	poor; having no money
impede	to hinder; block
impermeable	impossible to permeate
imperturbable	not easily disturbed
impervious	incapable of being affected; impossible to penetrate
impinge	to strike; encroach

implacable	inflexible; incable of being pleased or calmed down
implausible	unlikely; unbelievable
implicit	implied; understood but not stated
implode	collapse inward violently
imprecation	curse; damnation
impute	to attribute the fault to; relate to a particular cause or source
inadvertently	carelessly; unintentionally
incarnate	having bodily form
inchoate	imperfectly formed or formulated
incongruity	state of not fitting
inconsequential	insignificant; unimportant
incorporate	introduce something into another thing already in existence
incursion	sudden invasion
indeterminate	uncertain; indefinite
indigence	poverty
indolent	habitually lazy; idle
ineluctable	not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable
inert	unable to move; sluggish
ingenuous	naive and trusting; lacking sophistication
inherent	firmly established by nature or habit
innocuous	harmless
insensible	unconscious; unresponsive
insinuate	to suggest; say indirectly; imply
insipid	lacking in flavor; dull

insouciant	indifferent; lacking concern or care
insularity	narrow-mindedness; isolation
insuperable	insurmountable; unconquerable
intangible	not material
interdict	to forbid; prohibit
internecine	deadly to both sides
interpolate	to insert; change by adding new words or material
interregnum	interval between reigns; gap in continuity
intimate	marked by close acquaintance
intractable	not easily managed
intransigence	stubbornness; refusal to compromise
introspective	contemplating one's own thoughts and feelings
inundate	to cover with water, overwhelm
inured	hardened; accustomed; used to
invective	verbal abuse
inveigh	to disapprove; protest vehemently
inveigle	to win over by flattering or coaxing
inveterate	confirmed; long standing
invidious	likely to provoke ill will
irascible	easily angered
irresolute	unsure of how to act; weak
itinerant	wandering from place to place; unsettled
itinerary	route of a traveler's journey
jaundiced	having a yellowish discoloration of the skin; affected by envy

jibe	to be in agreement
jocose	fond of joking; jocular
juggernaut	huge force destroying everything in its path
junta	group of people united in political intrigue
juxtapose	place side by side
kudos	fame; glory; honor
labile	likely to change
laconic	using few words
lambaste	to trash verbally or physically
lascivious	lustful
lassitude	lethargy; sluggishness
latent	dormant; potential not apparent
laud	praise
lethargic	inactive
levee	en embankment that prevents a river from overflowing
levity	light manner or attitude
liberal	tolerant; broad-minded
libertine	one without moral restraint
libido	sexual desire
Lilliputian	extremely small
limn	to draw, describe
limpid	clear; transparent
linguistic	pertaining to language
litany	lengthy recitation; repetitive chant

literati	scholarly of learned persons
litigation	legal proceedings
log	record of a voyage; record of daily activities
loquacious	talkative
lucid	bright; clear; intelligible
lucre	money or profits
luminous	bright; brilliant; glowing
lustrous	shining
Machiavellian	crafty; double-dealing
machinations	plots or schemes
maelstrom	whirlpool; turmoil
magnanimity	generosity; nobility
malign	to speak evil of
malinger	to feign illness to escape duty Nevertheless, paradoxical though it may seem, cases of pure malingering of mental disease are comparatively ________ in actual practice. sporadic illogical intermittent obvious contradictory compelling
malleable	capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionate
maverick	dissenter
megalomania	delusions of power or importance
menagerie	a variety of animals kept together

mendacious	dishonest
mendicant	beggar
meretricious	gaudy; specious; falsely attractive
mesmerize	to hypnotize
metamorphosis	change; transformation
metaphysics	a branch of philosophy that investigates the ultimate nature of reality
meteorological	concerned with the weather
meticulous	very careful; picky; fastidious
mettle	courage; endurance
mettlesome	full of courage and fortitude
microcosm	a small system having analogies to a larger system
militate	to work against
minatory	threatening; menacing
minuscule	very small
minutia	petty details
misanthrope	one who hates humanity; one who dislikes others
miscellany	mixture of writings on various subjects
miscreant	villain; criminal
misogynist	one who hates women
mitigate	alleviate; to become less severe
mnemonic	related to memory; assisting memory
modicum	limited quantity
mollify	to soothe
monolithic	solid and uniform; constituting a single, unified whole

morose	ill-humored; sullen
motley	many colored; made up of many parts
multifarious	diverse
mundane	worldly as opposed to spiritual; concerned with the ordinary
necromancy	black magic
negate	to cancel out; nullify
neologism	new word or expression
neophyte	novice; beginner
nexus	a means of connection; a center
nonplussed	bewildered
nostalgia	sentimental longing for a past time
nostrum	medicine or remedy of doubtful effectiveness
nugatory	trifling; invalid
obdurate	stubborn
obsequious	overly submissive
obsequy	funeral ceremony
obviate	to make unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent
occlude	to shut; block
occult	relating to practices connected with supernatural phenomena
odyssey	a long, adventurous voyage; a quest
officious	too helpful; meddlesome
olfactory	concerning the sense of smell
oligarchy	form of government in which power belongs to only a few leaders
onerous	burdensome

onomatopoeia	formation or use of words that imitate sounds of the actions they refer to
opprobrium	public disgrace; contempt
ornithologist	scientist who studies birds
oscillate	to move back and forth
ostentatious	showy; pretentious
overweening	presumptuous; arrogant
paean	song of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy
paleonthology	study of past geological eras through fossil remains
pallid	lacking color or liveliness
panegyric	elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
paragon	model of perfection or excellence
partisan	one-sided; committed to a party, group or cause
pathological	departing from normal condition
patois	jargon; a regional dialect
paucity	scarcity
pedantic	showing off learning
pellucid	transparent; easily understood
penchant	inclination
penury	extreme poverty
peregrination	wandering from place to place
peremptory	imperative; leaving no choice
perennial	present throughout the years; persistent
perfidious	faithless; disloyal; untrustworthy

perfunctory	superficial; performed really as a duty
perigee	point in an orbit that is closest to the earth
permeable	penetrable
perturb	to disturb greatly; make uneasy or anxious
pervasive	spread throughout every part
petulant	rude; peevish
phlegmatic	unemotional; calm in temperament
phoenix	anything that is restored after suffering great destruction
physiognomy	facial features
piety	devoutness
piquant	pleasantly pungent; attractive
pique	fleeting feeling or hurt pride
placate	soothe; pacify
placid	calm
plaintive	melancholy; mournful
plasticity	pliability; condition of being able to be shaped or formed
platitude	stale; overused expression
platonic	spiritual; theoretical
plethora	excess; overabundance
plumb	to examine deeply; determine the depth
plummet	to fall; plunge
plutocracy	society ruled by the wealthy
porous	full of holes; permeable to liquids
poseur	person who affects an attitude to impress others

pragmatic	practical
prate	to talk idly; chatter
prattle	meaningless, foolish talk
preamble	preliminary statement
precarious	uncertain
precept	principle; law
precipitate	rash; hasty; sudden; done without deliberation
precipitate	to cause to happen; throw down from a height
precursor	forerunner; predecessor
preempt	to supersede; appropriate for oneself
prehensile	capable of grasping
premonition	forewarning; presentiment
presage	to foretell; indicate in advance
presumptuous	rude; improperly bold
preternatural	supernatural; beyond the normal use of nature
prevaricate	to quibble; evade the truth
primordial	original; existing from the beginning
pristine	untouched; uncorrupted
probity	honesty; high-mindness
problematic	posing a problem; doubtful
prodigal	wasteful; extravagant; lavish
profound	deep, not superficial
prohibitive	so high as to prevent the purchase or use of, forbidding
proliferate	to increase rapidly

propensity	inclination, tendency
propitiate	to win over, appease
propriety	correct conduct, fitness
proscribe	to condemn, forbid, outlaw
provident	providing for future need, frugal
puissant	powerful
punctilious	careful in observing rules of behavior
pungent	penetrating, caustic, to the point
purport	to profess, suppose, claim
pusillanimous	cowardly
quagmire	marsh, difficult situation
quail	to cower, lose heart
qualified	limited, restricted
qualm	sudden feeling of faintness or nausea
query	question
quibble	to argue over insignificant and irrelevant details
quiescent	inactive, still
quorum	number of member necessary to conduct a meeting
raconteur	witty, skillful storyteller
rail	to scold with bitter or abusive language
raiment	clothing
ramification	implication, consequence
rarefied	refined
rationale	fundamental reason

rebu	puzzle in whic pictures or symbols represent words
recalcitrant	resisting authority or control
recant	retract a statement of opinion
recluse	person who lives in seclusion and often in solitude
recondite	abstruse, profound
redoubtable	formidable, arousing fear
refractory	stubborn, resisting ordinary methods of treatment
refulgent	brightly shining, resplendent
refute	to contradict, disprove
regale	to entertain
relegate	to consign to an inferior position
remonstrate	to object or protest
renege	to go back on one's word
reparation	amends, compensation
repine	fret, complain
reprise	repetition, especially of a piece of music
reproach	to find fault with, blame
reprobate	morally unprincipled person
repudiate	to reject as having no authority
rescind	to cancel
resolution	determination, resolve
resolve	determination, firmness of purpose
reticent	nor speaking freely, reserved, reluctant
reverent	expressing deep respect, worshipful

riposte	retaliatory action or retort
rococo	excessively ornate
rubric	protocol, title or heading
rue	regret
ruse	trick, crafty stratagem
sage	wise
salacious	lascivious, lustful
salubrious	healthful
salutary	expecting an improvement, favorable to health
sanction	to approve, ratify, permit
sardonic	cynical, scornfully mocking
sartorial	pertaining to tailors
satiate	to satisfy
saturate	imbue throughout, soak thoroughly
saturnine	gloomy
satyr	a creature that is half-man, half beast, with the horns and legs of a goat
savor	to enjoy, have a distinctive flavor or smell
schematic	relating to or in the form of an outline or diagram
secrete	produce and release substance into organism
sedition	behavior prompting rebellion
sedulous	diligent, assiduous
seismic	relating to earthquakes
sensual	relating to the senses, gratifying the physical (sexual) senses
sensuous	relating to the senses

sentient	aware, conscious, able to perceive
servile	submissive, obedient
sextant	navigation tool that determines latitude and longitude
shard	a piece of broken glass or pottery
sidereal	relating to the stars
simian	apelike, relating to apes
simile	comparison of one thing with another using "like" or "as"
sinecure	well-paying job that requires little or no work
singular	unique, extraordinary, odd
sinuous	intricate, complex
skeptic	one who doubts
sobriety	seriousness
sodden	thoroughly soaked, saturated
solicitous	concerned, attentive, eager
soliloquy	literary or dramatic speech by one character, not addressed to others
solvent	able to meet financial obligations
somatic	relating to or affecting the body, corporeal
soporific	sleep producing
sordid	filthy, contemptible and corrupt
specious	seeming to be logical and sound, but not really so
spectrum	band of color, broad range of related ideas or objects
spendthrift	person who spends money recklessly
sporadic	irregular
squalor	filthy, wretched condition

staccato	marked by abrupt, clear-cut sounds
stanch	to stop or check the flow of
stentorian	extremely loud
stigma	mark of disgrace or inferiority
stint	to be sparing
stipulate	to specify as an essential condition
stolid	having or showing little emotion
stratified	arranged in layers
striated	marked with thin, narrow grooves or channels
stricture	something that restrains, negative criticism
strident	loud, harsh, unpleasantly noisy
strut	to swagger, display to impress others
stultify	to impair or reduce to uselessness
stupefy	to dull the senses of, stun, astonish
stygian	dark and gloomy, hellish
subpoena	notice ordering someone to appear in court
subside	to settle down, grow quiet
substantiate	to support with proof or evidence
substantive	essential
subsume	to include, incorporate
subversive	intended to undermine or underthrown, especially an established government
succor	relief, help in time of distress or want
suffrage	the right to vote

sundry	various
supersede	to replace, especially to displace as inferior or antiquated
supine	lying in the back, marked by lethargy
supplant	to replace, substitute
suppliant	beseeching
supplicant	one who asks humbly and earnestly
supposition	the act of assuming to be true or real
syllogism	a form of deductive reasoning with a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion
sylvan	related to the woods or forest
tacit	silently understood, implied
talisman	charm to bring good luck and avert misfortune
tangential	peripheral, irrelevant, digressing
tautology	unnecessary repetition
taxonomy	science of classification
tenet	belief, doctrine
tenuous	weak, insubstantial
terrestrial	earthly, commonplace
theocracy	government by priests representing a god
thespian	an actor or actress
timbre	voice tone color
tirade	long, violent speech, verbal assault
toady	flatterer, yes-man
tome	book, usually large and academic

torpor	lethargy, dormancy, sluggishness
torque	a turning or twisting force
tortuous	having many twists and turns, highly complex
tout	to promote or praise energetically
tractable	obedient, yielding
transgression	act of trespassing or violating a law or rule
transient	temporary, fleeting
translucent	partially transparent
travail	work, especially arduous work
travesty	parody, exaggerated imitation, caricature
treatise	article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly
tremulous	trembling, frugal, timid
trepidation	fear and anxiety
truculence	aggressiveness, ferocity
tryst	agreement between lovest to meet, rendez-vous
tumid	swollen, distended
turbid	muddy, opaque, in a state of great confusion
turgid	swollen, pompous
tutelary	serving as a guardian or protector
uncanny	mysterious, strange
undulating	moving in waves
unfeigned	not false, genuine
untenable	indefensible

untoward	not favorable, troublesome, unruly
usury	a practice of lending money at exorbitant rates
vacillate	to waver, oscillate
vacuous	empty, void, lacking intelligence
valedictory	pertaining to a farewell
vapid	tasteless, dull
variegated	varied, marked with different colors
vaunt	to boast, drag
venal	mercenary, corruptible
vendetta	prolonged feud marked by bitter hostility
venerate	to adore, honor, respect
veracious	truthful, accurate
verbose	wordy
vertigo	dizziness
vexation	irritation, annoyance
viable	practicable, capable of developing
vindictive	vengeful, unforgiving
virtuoso	someone with master skills, expert musician
visage	appearance, aspect
viscous	thick, syrupy
vitiate	to impair the quality of, corrupt morally
vituperative	using or containing harsh, abusive censure
vivisection	dissection, surgery, or painful experiments performed on a living animal for the purpose of scientific research

x

Terms	Definitions
abate	to decrease; reduce
abdicate	to give up a position, right, or power
aberrant	deviating from what is normal
abeyance	temporary suppression or suspension
abject	miserable; pitiful
abjure	to reject; abandon formally
abscission	the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant
abscond	to depart secretly
abstemious	moderate in appetite
abstinence	the giving up of certain pleasures
abysmal	very bad
accretion	growth in size or increase in amount
accrue	to accumulate; grow by additions
adamant	uncompromising; unyielding
adjunct	something added, attached, or joined
admonish	to caution or reprimand
adulterate	to corrupt or make impure
aesthetic	relating to beauty or the arts
affected	pretentious; phony
affinity	fondness; liking; similarity

vogue	prevailing fashion or practice
volatile	tending to vary frequently, fickle
vortex	whirlpool, center of turbulence
warranted	justified
wary	careful, cautious
welter	wallow or roll, toss about, be in turmoil
whimsical	fanciful, unpredictable
wistful	vaguely longing, sadly thoughtful
zealot	one who is fanatically devoted to a cause