abacus	frame with balls for calculating 
abate	to lessen to subside 
abdication	giving up control authority 
aberration	straying away from what is normal 
abet	help/encourage smb (in doing wrong) 
abeyance	suspended action 
abhor	to hate to detest 
abide	be faithful to endure 
abjure	promise or swear to give up 
abraded	rubbed off worn away by friction 
abrogate	repeal or annul by authority 
abscond	to go away suddenly (to avoid arrest) 
abstruse	difficult to comprehend obscure 
abut	border on 
abysmal	bottomless extreme 
acarpous	effete no longer fertile worn out 
acclaimed	welcomed with shouts and approval 
accolade	praise approval 
accretion	the growing of separate things into one 
accrue 	accumulate
adamant	kind of stone inflexible 
admonitory	containing warning 
adorn	add beauty decorate 
adulteration	making unpure poorer in quality 
affable	polite and friendly 
affinity	close connection relationship 
aggravate	make worse irritate 
agile	active quick-moving 
agog	eager/excited 
ail	trouble be ill 
alacrity	eager and cheerful readiness 
alcove	recess/partially enclosed place 
ale	fermented alcoholic beverage similar to but heavier than beer
aleck	one who considers himself smarter than others
allegiance	duty support loyalty 
alleviate	make (pain) easier to bear 
alloy	to debase by mixing with something inferior 
aloof	reserved indifferent 
amalgamate	mix combine unite societies 
ambidextrous	able to use the left hand or the right equally well 
ambiguous	doubtful uncertain 
ambivalent	having both of two contrary meanings 
ambrosial	extremely pleasing to taste 
ameliorate	improve make better 
amortize	end (a debt) by setting aside money 
anguish	severe suffering 
animosity	strong dislike 
antidote	medicine used against a poison or a disease 
antithetical	direct opposing 
apartheid	brutal racial discrimination 
aplomb	self-confidence 
apostate	one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions 
apotheosis	deification glorification to godliness 
appease	make quiet or calm 
apprehensive	grasping understanding fear unhappy feeling about future 
apprise	give notice to inform 
approbation	approval 
apropos	appropriate to the situation apt 
apt	well-suited quick-witted 
arabesque	a complex ornate design 
arboreal	of connected with trees 
ardor	enthusiasm 
arduous	steep difficult ascent laborious 
argot	jargon slang 
arrant	in the highest degree 
arrogance	proud superior manner of behaviour 
articulate	speak distinctly connect by joints 
ascend	go or come up 
ascertain	get to know 
ascetic	practicing self-denial austere stark 
ascribe	consider to be the origin of or belonging to 
aseptic	surgically clean 
asperity	roughness harshness ill temper irritability 
aspersion	slander 
assail	with attack violently 
assiduous	diligent hard-working sedulous 
assuage	make something (pain desire) less 
asterisk	the mark * (e.g.. omitted letters) 
astringent	substance that shrinks 
astute	clever quick at seeing to get an advantage 
atonement	repayment death of Jesus 
attenuate	make thin. weaken enervate 
attune	bring into harmony 
audacious	daring foolishly bold impudent 
augury	omen sign 
august	majestic venerable 
auspicious	favorable successful prosperous 
austere	severely moral and strict simple and plain 
auxiliary	helping supporting 
aver	affirm assert prove justify 
aversion	strong dislike 
avid	eager greedy 
avow	admit. Declare openly 
baleful	harmful ominous causing evil 
balk	obstacle purposely to get on the way of 
baneful	causing harm or ruin pernicious destructive 
barrage	artificial obstacle built across a river 
barren	not good enough unable to have young ones without value 
bask	in enjoy warmth and light 
beatify	to bless make happy or ascribe a virtue to 
bedizen	to adorn especially in a cheap showy manner 
belabor	beat hard 
bellicose	belligerent pugnacious warlike 
belligerent	(person nation) waging war 
benefactor	person who has given help 
benevolence	wish or activity in doing good 
benign	kind and gentle mild (climate) 
bequest	arrangement to give something at death 
berate	scold sharply 
bereft	rob or dispossess of something (material) 
bewilder	puzzle confuse 
bigot	stubborn narrow-minded person 
bilge	bulge the protuberance of a cask 
blandishment	flattery coaxing 
blandness	polite manner comforting uninteresting 
blatant	noisy and rough 
blithe	cheerful casual carefree 
bogus	sham counterfeit not genuine 
boisterous	loud noisy rough lacking restraint 
bolster	give greatly needed support 
boorish	crude offensive rude 
brash	hasty rush cheeky saucy 
brass	yellow metal (mixing copper and zinc) 
brazen	made of brass 
breach	opening broken place breaking 
brittle	easily broken 
broach	bring up announce begin to talk about 
brook	to tolerate endure 
buoyant	able to float light-hearted 
burgeon	grow forth send out buds 
burnish	to polish rub to a shine 
cabal	a scheme or plot a group of plotters 
cadge	to beg to get by begging 
cajole	use flattery or deceit to persuade 
calipers	metal supports attached to the legs measuring instrument 
calumny	slander aspersion 
candid	frank straight-forward 
cant	insincere talk/jargon 
cantankerous	bad-tempered/quarrelsome 
canvass	discuss thoroughly sort of touting 
castigate	to chastise correct by punishing 
castigation	severe punishment 
catalyst	substance that causes speeding up 
caustic	biting sarcastic 
censure	expression of blame or disapproval a rebuke 
centurion	leader of a unit of 100 soldiers 
chary	cautious wary 
chastened	corrected punished 
chastisement	punishment 
chauvinist	a blindly devoted patriot 
chicanery	legal trickery/false argument 
chisel	steel tool for shaping materials 
churl	bad-tempered person 
clamor	shout complain with a lot of noise 
clientele	customers 
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 something 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 
cognizant	being fully aware of 
cohort	a group or band of people
colander	bowl-shaped vessel with many holes used to drain off water 
collusion	secret agreement for a deceitful purpose 
combustion	process of burning 
commemorate	keep the memory of 
commodious	having plenty of space for what is needed 
commuter	person who travels regularly 
complaisance	tending to comply obliging willingness to please 
compunction	feeling of regret for one's action 
conceal	hide keep secret 
conceit	over-high opinion of too much pride 
conciliatory	reconciling soothing comforting mollifying 
concord	agreement or harmony 
concur	agree in opinion happen together 
condense	increase in density strength make laconic 
Conduce	To bring about
condone	forgive 
congeal	make or become stiff and solid 
conjoin	to join together 
connoisseur	a person with good judgement (e.g.. in art) 
connotation	suggestion in addition to 
consequential	pompous self important 
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 
contrite	filled with deep sorrow for wrongdoing 
contumacious	insubordinate rebellious 
conundrum	a riddle dilemma enigma 
conviction	convincing firm belief 
convoke	call together summon 
convoluted	complicated coiled twisted 
cordial	warm and sincere 
cordon	line (of police acting as a guard) 
cornucopia	abundant supply 
corporeal	physical of or for the body 
correlate	have a mutual relation 
corroboration	additional strengthening evidence 
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) 
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 
crush	press lose shape subdue overwhelm 
cryptic	secret with a hidden meaning 
cumbersome	burdensome heavy and awkward to carry 
curmudgeon	bad-tempered person 
curriculum	course of study 
cursory	quick hurried 
curtail	make shorter then was planned 
dainty	pretty/delicate(food)/difficult to please 
daunt	intimidate make fearful 
dawdler	person who is slow waste of time 
dearth	shortage 
debacle	a breakup overthrow sudden disaster 
decorum	propriety properness 
decree	order given by authority 
decry	disapprove of 
defer	postpone give way (to show respect) 
deferential	showing respect 
defiance	open disobedience or resistance 
delineate	to portray depict sketch out 
deluge	great flood heavy rush of water 
demagogue	person appealing not to reasons 
demur	to hesitate raise objections 
denigrate	blacken belittle sully defame 
denouement	an outcome or solution the unraveling of a plot 
deplete	use until none remains 
deposition	dethronement depositing 
deprave	make morally bad corrupt 
deprecate	protest against express disapproval of 
dereliction	deserting and leaving to fall into ruins 
derision	ridicule mockery deriding 
derivative	unoriginal obtained from another source 
derogatory	insulting tending to damage 
descry	catch sight of see something in the distance 
desiccant	substance used to absorb moisture 
desuetude	cessation of use disuse 
desultory	aimless haphazard digressing at random 
deter	discourage hinder 
detraction	slandering verbal attack aspersion 
detumescence	diminishing or lessening of swelling 
deviance	being different in moral standards (from normal) 
dexterity	skill (esp. in handling) 
diaphanous	transparent gauzy 
diatribe	bitter and violent attack in words 
didactic	intended to instruct
diffidence	shyness 
dilate	speak comprehensively become wider large 
disallow	refuse to allow or accept as a correct 
discern	see with an effort but clearly 
discomfit	confuse embarrass 
disconcert	upset the self-possession of 
discountenance	refuse to approve of 
discourse	speech lecture 
discredit	refuse to believe 
discreet	careful/prudent 
discrete	individually distinct 
disdain	look on with contempt 
disencumber	free from encumbrance 
disheveled	untidy 
disingenuous	sophisticated artful trying to deceive cunning 
disinter	dig up from the earth 
dislodge	move force from the place occupied 
dismal	sad gloomy miserable 
disparate	essentially different 
disproof	proof to the contrary 
dissemble	speak or behave so as to hide something (in mind) 
disseminate	distribute (esp. ideas) 
dissent	have a different opinion refuse to assent 
dissolution	disintegration looseness in morals 
distraught	distracted violently upset in mind 
divergence	getting farther apart from a point 
divestiture	taking off getting rid of giving up 
divulge	make known something secret 
doggerel	trivial poorly constructed verse 
dogmatic	positive certain arbitrary without room for discussion 
dolt	stupid fellow 
dormant	in a state of inactivity but awaiting development 
dote	show much fondness center one's attention 
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 something 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 
ebullience	exuberance outburst of feeling 
ebullient	overflowing with enthusiasm showing excitement 
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 
effete	infertile worn out weak 
efficacy	production of a desired result 
effluvia	outflow in a stream of particles a noxious odor or vapor 
effrontery	boldness impudence arrogance 
egress	way out exit 
elaborate	worked out with much care in great detail 
elegy	a lament a melancholy composition 
elicit	draw out 
eloquence	fluent speaking skillful use of language 
emaciate	make thin and weak 
embellish	make beautiful 
embezzle	use in a wrong way for one's own benefit 
emote	stir up excite 
empirical	relying on experiment 
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	epidemic 
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	something that is puzzling 
enmity	hatred being an enemy 
ensign	flag/badge 
entangle	put into difficulties 
enthral	please greatly/enslave (fig) 
entice	tempt or persuade 
entreat	ask earnestly 
enunciate	pronounce (words)/express a theory 
enzyme	catalyst 
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 
erratic	irregular in behaviour or opinion 
erudite	learned scholarly 
eschew	avoid 
esoteric	abstruse intended only for a small circle of 
espouse	marry give one's support to 
eulogy	formal praise panegyric 
euphoria	elation state of pleasant excitement 
euthanasia	easy and painless death 
evasive	tending to evade 
evince	to show clearly to indicate 
evoke	call up bring out 
excoriation	severe criticism 
exculpate	to clear from a charge of guilt 
exhaustive	complete thorough 
exigency	emergency an urgent situation 
exoneration	set smb clear free (e.g.. from blame) 
exorbitant	much too high or great 
expatiate	to roam wander freely 
expedient	likely to be useful for a purpose 
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 
extant	still in existence 
extempore	without previous thought or preparation 
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 
extricable	that can be freed 
extrovert	cheerful person 
exuberance	state of growing vigorously being full of life 
facetious	humorous funny jocular 
facile	easily done 
fagged	too tired, exhausted
fallacious	based on error 
falter	waver/move in an uncertain manner 
fatuous	without sense foolish self-satisfaction 
fawn	young deer try to win smb's favor 
feckless	lacking purpose or vitality ineffective careless 
fecund	fertile 
feint	pretend 
felicitous	apt suitably expressed well chosen apropos 
felon	person guilty of murder 
ferment	substance become excited 
ferocity	savage cruelty 
ferret	discover by searching search 
fervid	showing earnest feeling 
fervor	warmth of feelings earnestness 
fetid	stinking 
fetter	to shackle put in chains 
feud	bitter quarrel over a long period of time 
fidelity	loyalty accuracy 
fidget	move restlessly make nervous 
figurehead	carved image on the prow of a ship 
finesse	delicate way of dealing with a situation 
finical	too fussy about food clothing etc. 
finicky	finical 
fission	splitting or division (esp. of cells) 
fixate	stare at 
flak	criticism/anti-aircraft guns 
flamboyant	brightly colored florid 
flaunting	show off complacently 
flax	pale yellow (hair) a plant 
fledged	able to fly trained experienced 
fleet	number of ships quick-moving 
flinch	draw move back wince 
flop	fail/move/fall clumsily 
florid	very much ornamented naturally red (e.g.. of face) 
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 something warm (to lessen the pain) 
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) 
forestall	prevent by taking action in advance preempt 
forfeit	suffer the loss of something
forge	workshop for the shaping of metal to shape metal lead 
forgery	counterfeit 
forswear	renounce disallow repudiate 
foster	nurture care for 
fracas	noisy quarrel 
fragile	easily injured broken or destroyed 
fragrant	sweet-smelling 
frantic	wildly excited with joy pain anxiety 
frenetic	frantic frenzied 
fret	worry irritation wear away 
fringe	edge ornamental border part of hair over the forehead 
froward	intractable not willing to yield or comply stubborn 
frugal	careful economical 
fulmination	bitter protest 
fulsome	disgusting offensive due to excessiveness 
gainsay	to deny to oppose
garble	make unfair selection from facts 
garner	to gather and save to store up 
garrulity	talkativeness 
garrulous	too talkative 
gaucherie	socially awkward tactless behavior 
germane	relevant pertinent to 
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 
glut	supply to much fill to excess 
gnaw	waste away bite steadily 
goad	something urging a person to action 
gorge	eat greedily/narrow opening with a stream 
gossamer	soft light delicate material 
gouge	tool for cutting grooves in wood 
gourmand	a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess 
grandiloquent	using pompous words 
grave	serious requiring consideration 
graze	touch or scrape lightly in passing 
gregarious	living in societies liking the company 
grievous	causing grief or pain serious dire grave 
grovel	crawl humble oneself 
guile	deceit cunning 
gullible	easily gulled 
gush	burst out suddenly/talk ardently 
gust	outburst of feeling sudden rain wind fire etc. 
hack	cut roughly hired horse 
halcyon	calm and peaceful 
hallow	to make holy consecrate 
harangue	a long passionate speech 
harbinger	something or smb that foretells the coming of 
harrow	to distress create stress or torment 
haughty	arrogant conceited 
heed	attention/give notice to 
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) 
highbrow	(person) with superior tastes 
hirsute	hairy shaggy 
hoax	mischievous trick played on smb for a joke 
hoi	polloi the masses the rabble 
hollow	not soled with hole 
holster	leather case for a pistol 
homiletics	act of preaching 
hone	stone used for sharpening tools 
hoodwink	trick mislead 
hospitable	liking to give hospitality 
hubris	arrogant pride 
hush	make or become silent 
husk	worthless outside part of anything 
hypocrisy	falsely making oneself appear to be good 
iconoclast	person who attacks popular beliefs 
idiosyncrasy	personal mannerism 
idolatry	excessive admiration of 
idyll	a carefree episode or experience 
ignoble	dishonorable common undignified 
ignominious	shameful dishonorable undignified disgraceful 
illicit	unlawful forbidden 
imbroglio	complicated and embarrassing situation 
immaculate	pure faultless 
imminent	likely to come or happen soon 
immutable	that cannot be changed 
impair	worsen diminish in value 
impassive	unmoved feeling no sign of passion 
impecunious	having little or no money 
impede	hinder get in the way of 
impediment	something that hinders (e.g. stammer) 
impending	imminent being about to happen expected 
imperative	urgent essential 
imperious	commanding haughty arrogant 
impermeable	that cannot be permeated 
imperturbable	calm not capable of being excited 
impervious	not allowing to pass through (of materials) 
imperviousness	haughty arrogant commanding 
impetuous	having sudden energy impulsive thrusting ahead forceful 
impiety	lack of reverence or dutifulness 
implacable	incapable of being placated unpleasable 
implicate	show that smb has a share 
implicit	implied though not plainly expressed
implosion	collapse bursting inward 
importune	beg urgently solicit (of a prostitute) 
imprecation	an invocation of evil a curse 
impromptu	without preparation 
impudent	rash indiscreet 
impugned	challenged to be doubted 
impute	to attribute to a cause or source ascribe 
inadvertent	not paying proper attention 
inane	silly senseless 
inasmuch	since because 
incense	make angry 
incessant	often repeated continual 
inchoate	not yet fully formed rudimentary elementary 
incipient	beginning 
incise	engrave make a cut in 
incite	stir up rouse 
inclined	directing the mind in a certain direction 
incongruous	out of place not in harmony or agreement 
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 
indigence	poverty 
indigenous	native 
indistinct	not easily heard seen clearly marked 
indolence	laziness 
indomitable	not easily discouraged or subdued 
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 
inferno	hell 
infuriate	fill with fury or rage 
infuse	put pour fill 
ingenuous	naive young artless frank honest sincere 
ingest	take in by swallowing 
inimical	harmful or friendly 
inimitable	defying imitation unmatchable 
innocuous	causing no harm 
inscrutable	incapable of being discovered or understood 
insensible	unconscious unresponsive unaffected 
insinuate	suggest unpleasantly make a way for something gently 
insipid	without taste or flavor 
insouciant	unconcerned carefree 
insularity	narrow-mindedness isolated 
insurrection	rising of people to open resistance to 
interdict	prohibit forbid 
interim	as an installment 
intersperse	place here and there 
intransigence	unwillingness to compromise stubbornness intractability 
intransigent	uncompromising 
intrepid	fearless brave undaunted 
introspection	examining one's own thoughts and feelings 
inundate	flood cover by overflowing 
inured	accustomed to adapted 
invective	abusive language curses 
inveigh	to attack verbally denounce deprecate 
inveterate	deep-rooted. long-established 
invincible	too strong to be defeated 
involute	complex 
irascible	irritable easily angered 
irate	angry 
ire	anger 
irksome	tiresome 
irresolute	hesitating undecided 
irrevocable	final and unalterable 
itinerate	to travel from place to place to peregrinate 
jabber	talk excitedly utter rapidly 
jagged	notched, rough
jibe	gibe make fun of 
jocular	meant as a joke 
judicious	sound in judgment wise 
knit	draw together unite firmly 
labyrinthine	to entangle the state of affairs 
lachrymose	causing tears tearful 
lackluster	(of eyes) dull 
lament	show feel great sorrow 
lassitude	weariness tiredness 
latent	present but not yet active developed or visible 
laudatory	expressing or giving praise 
lavish	giving or producing freely liberally or generously 
legacy	something handed down from ancestors 
levee	formal reception/embankment 
levity	lack of seriousness 
libel	statement that damages reputation 
liberality	free giving generosity 
libertine	immoral person 
lien	legal claim until a debt on it is repaid 
limn	paint portray 
limp	lacking strength walking unevenly 
lionize	treat as a famous person 
lithe	bending twisting 
loll	rest to sit or stand in a lazy way hang (dog's tongue)
lope	move along with long strides 
loquacious	talkative garrulous 
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 
lurk	be out of view ready to attack 
lustrous	being bright polished 
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 
massacre	cruel killing of a large number of people 
matriculation	be admitted enter a university as a student 
maudlin	sentimental in a silly or tearful way 
maul	hurt by rough handling 
maverick	rebel nonconformist 
mellifluous	sweetly flowing 
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 
mite	Avery small amount, portion, or particle
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 
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) 
noisome	offensive disgusting (smell) 
nonchalant	not having interest 
nonplused	greatly surprised 
nostrum	a quack remedy an untested cure 
noxious	harmful 
nugatory	trifling/worthless 
obdurate	hardened and unrepenting 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 
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 
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 
ostracism	shut out from society refuse to meet talk 
overhaul	examine thoroughly to learn about the condition 
overweening	presumptuously arrogant overbearing immoderate being a jerk 
paean	song of praise or triumph 
palate	roof of the mouth sense of taste 
palatial	magnificent 
palliate	lessen the severity of 
palpability	can be felt touched understood 
palpitate	tremble beat rapidly and irregularly 
panegyric	formal praise eulogy 
paradigm	a model example or pattern 
parenthesis	sentence within another one something separated 
pariah	an outcast a rejected and despised person 
parley	negotiation, discussion between enemies
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 
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) 
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 something 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 
poncho	large piece of cloth 
ponderous	heavy bulky dull 
portent	omen marvelous threatening 
precarious	uncertain risky dangerous 
precepts	rules establishing standards of conduct 
preclude	prevent make impossible 
precursory	preliminary anticipating 
predilection	special liking mental preference 
predominate	have more power than others 
preen	tidy/show self-satisfaction 
premature	doing or happening something 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 
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 something inquire too curiously 
pucker	wrinkle 
pugnacious	fond of in the habit of fighting 
puissance	strength 
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 something
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 
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 something
quixotic	generous unselfish 
quotidian	banal everyday 
rabble	mob crowd the lower classes of populace 
raconteur	person who tells anecdotes 
raffish	low vulgar base tawdry 
ramify	to be divided or subdivided to branch out 
rancorous	feeling bitterness spitefulness 
rant	use extravagant language 
rapacious	greedy (esp for money) 
rarefy	to make thin to make less dense to purify or refine 
rave	act with excessive enthusiasm 
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 
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 
recreancy	cowardice a cowardly giving up 
recuperate	become strong after illness loss exhaustion 
redeem	get back by payment compensate 
redoubtable	formidable causing fear 
refine	make or become pure cultural 
refractory	stubborn unmanageable untractable 
refulgent	shining brilliant 
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 
reminiscent	viewing the past
remonstrate	to protest object 
render	deliver provide represent 
renovate	restore something to better condition 
renowned	celebrated famous 
repast	meal 
repel	refuse to accept/cause dislike 
repine	at be discontented with 
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 
resort	to frequently visit 
restive	refusing to move reluctant to be controlled 
resuscitation	coming back to consciousness 
retard	check hinder 
reticent	reserved untalkative silent taciturn 
retrospective	Looking back on past
revere	have deep respect for 
reverent	feeling or showing deep respect 
riddle	puzzling person or thing 
rift	split crack dissension 
rivet	fix take up secure metal pin 
roll	call calling of names 
rotund	rich and deep plump and round 
ruffian	violent cruel man 
rumple	make rough 
sagacious	having sound judgment perceptive wise like a sage 
salacious	obscene 
salubrious	healthful 
salutary	remedial wholesome causing improvement 
sanctimony	self-righteousness hypocritical with FALSE piety 
sanction	approval (by authority) penalty 
sanguine	cheerful confident optimistic 
sanity	health of mind soundness of judgment 
sash	long strip worn round the waist 
satiate	satisfy fully 
saturnine	gloomy dark sullen morose 
savant	person of great learning 
savor	taste flavor something
sawdust	tiny bits of wood 
scabbard	sheath for the blade 
scent	smell (especially pleasant) 
scorch	become discolored/dry up/go at high speed 
scribble	write hastily 
scurvy	mean contemptible 
secular	material (not spiritual) living outside monasteries 
sedulous	persevering 
seminal	like a seed constituting a source originative 
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 
shallow	little depth not earnest 
shard	piece of broken earthenware 
sheath	cover for the blade of a weapon or a tool 
shrewd	astute showing sound judgement 
shrill	sharp piercing 
shun	keep away from avoid 
shunt	send from one track to another lay aside evade discussion 
sidestep	step to one side 
simper	(give a) silly/self-conscious smile 
sinuous	winding undulating serpentine 
skiff	small boat 
skit	short piece of humorous writing 
slack	sluggish dull not tight 
slake	to assuage to satisfy allay 
slate	king of blue-grey stone propose criticize 
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 
solvent	of the power of forming a solution 
somatic	of the body 
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 
spear	weapon with a metal point on a long shaft 
specious	illogical of questionable truth or merit 
splenetic	bad-tempered irritable 
splice	join (two ends) 
sponge	porous rubber for washing live at once expense 
spurious	FALSE counterfeit 
spurn	have nothing to do reject or refuse 
squalid	foul filthy 
squander	spend wastefully 
squat	crouch/settle without permission 
stanch	to stop the flow of a fluid 
steeply	rising or falling sharply 
stentorian	extremely loud and powerful 
stickler	person who insists on importance of something
stigma	mark of shame or disgrace 
stigmatize	describe smb scornfully 
sting	something 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 
stray	wander lose one's way 
streak	long thin move very fast 
striated	striped grooved or banded 
stride	walk with long steps 
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 something to commit perjury 
subpoena	written order requiring a person to appear in a low court 
substantiation	giving facts to support (statement) 
subsume	include under a rule 
succor	assistance relief in time of distress 
suffice	be enough 
suffocate	cause or have difficulty in breathing 
sullied	to be stained or discredited 
summarily	briefly without delay 
sumptuous	magnificent 
sundry	various miscellaneous separate 
supercilious	disdainful characterized by haughty scorn 
superfluous	more then is needed or wanted 
superimpose	put something 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 
suppress	prevent from being known put an end to 
surcharge	additional load/charge 
surfeit	satiate feed to fulness or to excess 
susceptibility	sensitiveness 
swerve	change direction suddenly 
sycophant	person who flatter to the rich and powerful 
synopsis	summary or outline 
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 
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 
teetotal	oppose to alcohol 
telltale	That gives warning or information
temerity	boldness brashness intrepidness 
temperance	abstinence from alcohol self-control moderation 
temperate	showing self-control 
tenacity	firmness persistency adhesiveness tending to hang on 
tenuous	insubstantial flimsy weak 
tepid	lukewarm 
terse	brief and to the point 
testiness	witness/evidence 
thrift	care economy thriving prosperous 
thwart	obstruct/frustrate 
timid	shy easily frightened 
timorous	fearful timid afraid 
toady	obsequious flatterer 
tonic	something 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 
tout	person who worries others to buy something to use his service 
tractable	easily controlled or guided 
transgress	break go beyond (a limit) 
transient	temporary fleeting 
transitory	brief 
travesty	parody/imitation 
trenchant	forceful effective vigorous extremely perceptive incisive 
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 
umbrage	offense resentment 
uncouth	rough awkward 
underbid	make a lower bid then smb else 
undermine	weaken gradually at the base make something under 
undulate	to move in wavelike fashion fluctuate 
unearth	discover and bring to light 
unencumbered	easy-going trifle 
unfeigned	not pretended sincere 
unscathed	unharmed unhurt 
untoward	unfortunate inconvenient 
upbraid	scold reproach 
urbane	elegant refined in manners 
vacillation	being uncertain hesitating 
vagary	strange act or idea 
vain	without use result conceited 
valiant	brave 
valorous	brave 
vanquish	conquer 
variegate	To mark with different shade or colors
veer	change direction 
venal	ready to do something dishonest 
veneer	surface appearance covering the TRUE nature 
veneration	regard with deep respect 
veracity	truth 
verdant	fresh and green 
verisimilitude	appearing TRUE or real 
veritable	real rightly named 
verve	spirit vigor enthusiasm 
vestige	trace or sign 
vex	annoy distress trouble 
vigilance	watchfulness self-appointed group who maintain order 
vigilant	member of a vigilance committee 
vigorous	strong energetic 
vilify	slander say evil things 
vindictive	having a desire to revenge 
virago	a loud domineering woman a scold or nag 
visceral	of the internal organs of the body 
viscous	sticky/semi-fluid 
vitiate	lower the quality weaken the strength 
vituperate	curse abuse in words 
vivacious	lively high-spirited 
volatile	changeable inconstant fickle unstable explosive 
volubility	fluency verbosity easy use of spoken language 
voluble	fluent 
waffle	talk vaguely and without much result 
waft	scent waving movement carry lightly through 
wag	merry person 
warmonger	person who stirs up war 
warrant	authority written order guarantee 
wean	to turn away (from a habit) 
weigh	measure hoe heavy something is 
welter	turmoil a bewildering jumble 
wend	to go proceed 
whimsical	full of odd and fanciful ideas 
wince	show bodily or mental pain 
woo	try to win 
writ	written order 
yarn	tale story fibers for knitting 