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scintilla: A tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling staid - Sedate, respectable, and unadventurousd hypocritical - Behaving in a way

that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case declaim - utter or deliver words or a speech in a rhetorical or impassioned way, as if to an audience; [ no obj. ] (declaim against) forcefully protest against or criticize (something). rhapsodize - speak or write about someone or something with great enthusiasm and delighta adumbrate - report or represent in outline; sketch out in vague way; indicate fa intly; foreshadow or symbolize; overshadow lysis - The disintegration of a cell by rupture of the cell wall or membrane; Th e gradual decline of disease symptoms. quiescence - in a state or period of inactivity or dormancy pellucid - translucently clear; lucid in style or meaning; easily understood; (o f music or other sound) clear and pure in tone factitious - artificially created or developed; sun. artificial, false, unnatura l, affected, spurious diegesis - Diegesis is a style of fiction storytelling which presents an interio r view of a world and is: that world itself experienced by the characters in sit uations and events of the narrative; telling, recounting, as opposed to showing, enacting cathect: inject with libidinal energy; To invest emotional energy in (a person, object or idea) cathexis: the concentration of mental energy on one particular person, idea, or object (esp. to an unhealthy degree). catachresis: the use of a word in a way that is not correct; misapplication of a word, especially in a mixed metaphor winsome - Attractive or appealing in appearance or character steel (w/ object) - mentally prepare (oneself) to do or face something difficult limpid - (of a liquid) Free of anything that darkens; completely clear ambit - The scope, extent, or bounds of something nostrum - A medicine, esp. one that is not considered effective, prepared by an unqualified person doxastic: relating to an individual's beliefs orrery: a mechanical model of the solar system, or of just the sun, earth, and m oon, used to represent their relative positions and motions diachronic - Concerned with the way in which something, esp. language, has devel

oped and evolved through time embourgeoisement - the proliferation in a society of values perceived as charact eristic of the middle class, esp. of materialism. hypostatize - treat or represent (something abstract) as a concrete reality. lacuna - an unfilled space or interval; a gap: a missing portion in a book or ma nuscript renascent - becoming active or popular again unregenerate - Not reforming or showing repentance; obstinately wrong or bad. allegorize - interpret or represent symbolically temporize - Avoid making a decision or committing oneself in order to gain time purvey - spread or promote (an idea, view, etc.) mimesis - imitation, in particular: representation or imitation of the real worl d in art and literature; the deliberate imitation of the behavior of one group o f people by another as a factor in social change resumption - the action of beginning something again after a pause or interrupti on empyrian - Belonging to or deriving from heaven. veridical - truthful; coinciding with reality ossify - (often as adj. ossified) cease developing; be stagnant or rigid rapprochement - (esp. in international relations) an establishment or resumption of harmonious relations palliative - (of a treatment or medicine) relieving pain or alleviating a proble m without dealing with the underlying cause: aleatory - Depending on the throw of a die or on chance; random idiom - a characteristic mode of expression in music or art recondite -(of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse fulminate - express vehement protest contradistinction - distinction made by contrasting the different qualities of t wo things parley - hold a conference with the opposing side to discuss terms interpellate - (of an ideology or discourse) bring into being or give identity t o (an individual or category). factitious - artificially created or developed vituperation - bitter and abusive language importunate - persistent, esp. to the point of annoyance or intrusion wont - (of a person) in the habit of doing something; accustomed homily - a tedious moralizing discourse; A religious discourse that is intended primarily for spiritual edification rather than doctrinal instruction; a sermon dyad (dyadic) - something that consists of two elements or parts contrivance - a thing that is created skillfully and inventively to serve a part icular purpose; a device, esp. in literary or artistic composition, that gives a sense of artificiality; the use of skill to bring something about or create som ething paunch - A large or protruding abdomen or stomach. fructify - make (something) fruitful or productive. berceuse - a lullaby accede - assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty; assume an office or po sition yoke - cause (two people or things) to be joined in a close relationship askance - With an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval clearinghouse: An agency or organization that collects and distributes something , esp. information. recension - A revised edition of a text; an act of making a revised edition of a text diffident - Modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence verve - Vigor and spirit or enthusiasm tony - Fashionable among wealthy or stylish people unbridled - Uncontrolled; unconstrained sempiternal - dateless: having no known beginning and presumably no end; eternal

and unchanging; everlasting cabal - A secret political clique or faction scion - A descendant of a notable family. claptrap - Absurd or nonsensical talk or ideas raconteur - a person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way louche - Disreputable or sordid in a rakish or appealing way adulation - Obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise peregrine - (adj) foreign; not native atavistic - Relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or an cestral occlude - Stop, close up, or obstruct (an opening, orifice, or passage); shut (s omething) in congeries - A disorderly collection; a jumble ferment - Agitation and excitement among a group of people, typically concerning major change and leading to trouble or violence cipher - a secret or disguised way of writing; a code: conversant - Familiar with or knowledgeable about something disabuse (undeceive, disillusion): To free from a falsehood or misconception; P ersuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken hector - Talk to (someone) in a bullying way regime - A system or planned way of doing things, esp. one imposed from above.; syn. order orthodoxy - Authorized or generally accepted theory, doctrine, or practice; The quality of conforming to such theories, doctrines, or practices heterodoxy - any opinions or doctrines at variance with the official or orthodox position patently - obviously: unmistakably (`plain' is often used informally for `plainl y') peregrination - traveling or wandering around pat - Simple and somewhat glib or unconvincing. ramify - Cause to branch or spread out deposition - The action of deposing someone, esp. a monarch; The process of givi ng sworn evidence writ - One's power to enforce compliance or submission; one's authority bemuse - Puzzle, confuse, or bewilder (someone) screed - A long speech or piece of writing, typically one regarded as tedious. purchase - A hold or position on something for applying power advantageously, or the advantage gained by such application trammel - A restriction or impediment to someone's freedom of action: "free from the trammels of materialism"; (verb) deprive of freedom of action sybaritic - Fond of sensuous luxury or pleasure; self-indulgent apposite - Apt in the circumstances or in relation to something arrogate - Take or claim (something) for oneself without justification betroth - Enter into a formal agreement to marry short thrift - Rapid and unsympathetic dismissal tincture - Be tinged, flavored, or imbued with a slight amount of hermetic - Insulated or protected from outside influences largesse - Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others sinew - verb: Strengthen with or as if with sinews; The parts of a structure, sy stem, or thing that give it strength or bind it together; tendons sinuous - Having many curves and turns; lithe and supple quietism - Calm acceptance of things as they are without attempts to resist or c hange them exoteric - (esp. of a doctrine or mode of speech) Intended for or likely to be u nderstood by the general public inestimable - Too great to calculate sedulous - Diligent in application or pursuit; constant, steady, and persevering in business, or in endeavors to effect an object; steadily industrious excrescence - A distinct outgrowth on a human or animal body or on a plant, esp. one that is the result of disease or abnormality; an unattractive or superfluou

s addition or feature telos - An ultimate object or aim extant - (esp. of a document) Still in existence; surviving exposition - A comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory contraindicate - to give an indication against guileless - Devoid of guile; innocent and without deception crucible - A place or occasion of severe test or trial continence - the exercise of self constraint in sexual matters imprimateur - Official approval; sanction harangue - Lecture (someone) at length in an aggressive and critical manner. uneluctable - Unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable purvey - Provide or supply (food, drink, or other goods) as one's business putative - Generally considered or reputed to be atavistic - Relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or an cestral metropole - The metropole, from the Greek Metropolis 'mother city' (polis being a city state, hence also used for any colonizing 'mother country' supervenient - In a relationship with another set such that membership in the ot her set implies membership in the present set; Supervening; occurring subsequent ly; coming after something, especially when not causally connected syndicate - control of manage by a syndicate; (noun) A group of individuals or organizations combined to promote some common interest polysemous: Having a diversity of meanings. jeremiad - A long, mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes tendentious - Expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, esp. a controversial one founder: (of a ship) Fill with water and sink teleology - The explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than b y postulated causes. irruption - a sudden violent entrance; a bursting in intone - Say or recite with little rise and fall of the pitch of the voice lineament - A distinctive feature or characteristic, esp. of the face propound - Put forward (an idea, theory, or point of view) for consideration diaphanous: very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent.; delicately hazy celerity - Swiftness of movement metonymy - The substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of t he thing meant, for example suit for business executive coterminous - Having the same boundaries or extent in space, time, or meaning polyvalent - Having many different functions, forms, or facets blinkered - Having or showing a limited outlook protean - Tending or able to change frequently or easily; Able to do many differ ent things; versatile magisterial - Having or showing great authority; domineering; dictatorial abnegate - Renounce or reject (something desired or valuable) seethe - (of a liquid) bubble up as a result of being boiled ferment - Agitation and excitement among a group of people, typically concerning major change and leading to trouble or violence piquant - Pleasantly stimulating or exciting to the mind; having a pleasantly sh arp taste or appetizing flavor highbrow - Scholarly or rarefied in taste antinomy - A contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are in themse lves reasonable; a paradox grandiloquent - Pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, esp. in a way that is intended to impress aberrant - Departing from an accepted standard etiology: The cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condi tion. percipient - (of a person) Having a good understanding of things; perceptive analogize - Make a comparison of (something) with something else to assist under

standing. operationalize - put into operation or use; Express or define (something) in ter ms of the operations used to determine or prove it apogee: The highest point in the development of something; the climax or culmina tion interpellate - (of an ideology or discourse) Bring into being or give an identit y to (an individual or category) eave - the overhang at the lower edge of a roof collate - Compare and analyze (texts or other data); Collect and combine (texts, information, or sets of figures) in proper order snigger - A smothered or half-suppressed laugh. "betwixt and between" - (idiom) betwixt and between. In an intermediate position ; neither wholly one thing nor another. modulate Exert a modifying or controlling influence on puckish - Playful, esp. in a mischievous way compunction - A feeling of guilt or moral scruple that follows the doing of some thing bad: "spend the money without compunction saddle - burden (someone) with an onerous responsibility or task braggart - A person who boasts about achievements or possessions credulity -A tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true wither - cause harm or damage to conjugates - A mathematical value or entity having a reciprocal relation with an other unpack - Analyze (something) into its component elements hog-tie - Impede or hinder greatly lothario - A man who behaves selfishly and irresponsibly in his sexual relations hips with women mandate - Give (someone) authority to act in a certain way; Require (something) to be done; make mandatory hidebound - Unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or convention rapt - Completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing infantilize - Treat (someone) as a child or in a way that denies their maturity in age or experience originate - Create or initiate (something) withered - The action of becoming dry and shriveled confabulate - Engage in conversation; talk; Fabricate imaginary experiences as c ompensation for loss of memory unassuming - Not pretentious or arrogant; modest mea culpa - An acknowledgment of one's fault or error voluble - Speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently aplomb - Self-confidence or assurance, esp. when in a demanding situation expedite - Make (an action or process) happen sooner or be accomplished more qui ckly expeditious - Done with speed and efficiency assuming - Arrogant or presumptuous swaddle - Wrap (someone, esp. a baby) in garments or cloth recant - Say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, esp. one considered heretical solvency: the ability to meet maturing obligations as they come due mien - A person's look or manner, esp. one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood lithe - (esp. of a person's body) Thin, supple, and graceful harried: feeling strained as a result of having demands persistently made on one ; harassed preciosity: Overrefinement in art, music, or language, esp. in the choice of wor ds abstemious: Not self-indulgent, esp. when eating and drinking patina - an impression or appearance of something; a similar film or coloring ap pearing gradually on some other substance saturnine - sluggish in temperament; gloomy; taciturn

requite - Make appropriate return for (a favor or service); reward doggerel - (of verse) comic or burlesque, and usually loose or irregular in meas ure; rude; crude; poor torpor - sluggish inactivity or inertia; lethargic indifference; a state of susp ended physical powers and activities; dormancy torpid - inactive or sluggish crater - Form a crater in (the ground or a planet) doldrums - Low spirits; a feeling of boredom or depression; A period of inactivi ty or a state of stagnation witticism - A witty remark undergird - Provide support or a firm basis for exculpatory - clearing of guilt or blame affectation - Behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to im press embody - Be an expression of or give a tangible or visible form to (an idea, qua lity, or feeling) enactment: A process of acting something out; The process of passing legislation ; A law that is passed "on an even keel" - balanced ensnarl - Cause to become caught up in complex difficulties or problems ideation - The formation of ideas or concepts cerebral: betraying or characterized by the use of the intellect rather than int uition or instinct penury - extreme poverty; destitution; dearth probity - integrity and uprightness; honest genteel - Polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or ostentatious way immiserate - to make miserable haggiography - The writing of the lives of saints inbuilt - Existing as an original or essential part of something or someone encomium - A speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly impish - Inclined to do slightly naughty things for fun; mischievous legerdemain - Skillful use of one's hands when performing conjuring tricks effuse - to pour out or forth; to exude; flow out ecumenical - general; universal; pertaining to the whole Christian church turpitude - vile, shameful, or base character; depravity impasto - the laying on of paint thickly somnolent - sleepy; drowsy; tending to cause sleep dolor - sorrow; grief democratize - Make (something) accessible to everyone circumscribe - to draw a line around; encircle; to enclose within bounds; define ; delimit; limit or confine esp. narrowly dictum - an authoritative pronouncement; a saying; maxim pallid - pale; faint or deficient in color; lacking in vitality or interest scurrilous - grossly or obscenely abuseive; chracterized by or using low buffoon ery; coarsely jocular or derisive contravene - to come or be in conflict with; go or act against; deny or oppose; to violate, infringe, or transgress declaim - to speak aloud in an oratorical manner; to inveigh (usually followed b y against) interlocutor - a person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue; a person w ho questions mawkish - chracterized by sickly sentimentality; weakly emotional; maudly; sligh tly nauseating rhapsodic: ecstatic; feeling great rapture or delight plutocracy: government run by the wealthy--an elite or ruling class of people wh ose power derives from their wealth heterodox: Of or pertaining to creeds, beliefs, or teachings, especially religio us ones, that are different from the norm ('orthodox'), but not sufficiently dif ferent to be called heretical

entreat: ask for or request earnestly instantiate - Represent by an instance; provide an actual example apprise (often followed by "of"): to give notice to; inform; advise obviate: remove (a need or difficulty); Avoid; prevent hapless - unlucky; luckless; unfortunate mendacious: telling lies, esp. habitually; dishonest; untruthful; false or untru e antinome: something that is contradictory or opposite to anther; a logical contr adiction ideogram: a written symbol that represents an idea or object directly rather tha n a particular word or speech sound, as a Chinese character apprehensible: capable of being understood sacral: of or pertaining to sacred rites or observances centripetal: directed toward the center subaltern: lower in rank; subordinate apologetics: Reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typic ally a theory or religious doctrine categorical: without exceptions or conditions; absolute; unqualified and uncondi tional lollop: to move forward with a bounding or leaping motion paucity: smallness of quantity; scarcity; scatiness; insufficiency of a number apperceive - (in psychology) to comprehend (a new idea) by assimilation with the sum of one's previous knowledge and experience derogate - to stray in chracter or conduct; degenerate (usually fol. by from) perfidious: deliberately faithless; treacherous; deceitful parsimony: extreme or excessive economy or frugality imbricate: overlapping in sequence, as tiles or shingles on a roof; overlap forswear: to reject or renounce under oath; to deny vehemently or under oath reprobate: noun--a depraved, unprncipled, or wicked person; verb--to disapprove, condemn, or censure elide: to omit (a vowel, consonant, or syllable) in pronunciation; to suppress; omit; ignore; passover propitious - presenting favorable conditions; indicative of favor; auspicious salutary: favorable to or promoting health; healthful; conductive to some benefi cial purpose; wholesome prandial: of or pertaining to a meal, esp. dinner perfunctory: performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm snarl: to growl threateningly or viciously, esp. with a raised upper lip to bare the teeth, as a dog flout: to treat with disdain, scorn, or contempt unremitting: not slackening or abating; incessant feckless: unthinking and irresponsible; (of a person) Lacking in efficiency or v itality belie: (of an appearance) Fail to give a true notion or impression of (something ); disguise or contradict: "his alert manner belied his years"; Fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray nurturant: providing physical and emotional care and nourishment balkanize: Divide (a region or body) into smaller mutually hostile states or gro ups pyrrhic: of or relating to or resembling Pyrrhus or his exploits (especially his sustaining staggering losses in order to defeat the Romans); "a Pyrrhic victory " upshot: The final or eventual outcome or conclusion of a discussion, action, or series of events austerity: Sternness or severity of manner or attitude; Extreme plainness and si

mplicity of style or appearance redux: Brought back; revived rapier: (esp. of speech or intelligence) Quick and incisive; A thin, light, shar p-pointed sword used for thrusting malfeasance: Wrongdoing, esp. by a public official ancillary: A person whose work provides necessary support to the primary activit ies of an organization, institution, or industry; Something that functions in a supplementary or supporting role inchoate: just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary taciturn: Habitually reserved and uncommunicative aesthete: a person who has or affects to have a special appreciation of art and beauty perpetuity: the property of being perpetual (seemingly ceaseless) heretical: Believing in or practicing religious heresy; Holding an opinion at od ds with what is generally accepted resplendent: glorious; having great beauty and splendor obeisance: Deferential respect aria: an elaborate song for solo voice ballast: an attribute that tends to give stability in character and morals; some thing that steadies the mind or feelings sophism: A flawed argument superficially correct in its reasoning, usually desig ned to deceive. An intentional fallacy sophistic: plausible but misleading penance: Voluntary self-punishment inflicted as an outward expression of repenta nce for having done wron succor: help in a difficult situation vertiginous: causing vertigo, esp. by being extremely high or steep; relating to or affected by vertigo. sentry: lookout; a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event ardor: Enthusiasm or passion feather in the cap: a symbol of honor and achievement zealot: A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religio us, political, or other ideals pillory: attack or ridicule publically, put (someone in the pillory) coeval: having the same age or date or origin; contemporary, ex. these lavas wer e coeval with the volcanic activity incorrigible: impervious to correction by punishment

reprisal: act of retaliation prolapse: (of a part or organ of the body) Slip forward or down apostasy: the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes) sacrosanct: inviolable: must be kept sacred rarefy: make more subtle or refined penumbra: a fringe region of partial shadow around an umbra moribund: (of a person) At the point of death totalize: comprehend in an all-encompassing way circumambulate: walk all the way around (something) ambulate: walk; move about senescent: growing old; aging envisage: Contemplate or conceive of as a possibility or a desirable future even t insolvency: the lack of financial resources epochal: highly significant or important especially bringing about or marking th e beginning of a new development or era phantasmagoric: characterized by fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtaposition s recrimination: n accusation in response to one from someone else blithe: Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or i mproper euphonious: having a pleasant sound; (of speech or dialect) pleasing in sound; n ot harsh or strident bravura: Great technical skill and brilliance shown in a performance or activity lodge: [ trans. ] present (a complaint, appeal, claim, etc.) formally to the pro per authorities : he has 28 days in which to lodge an appeal insouciant: carefree; nonchalant; indifferent; casually unconcerned acculturate: assimilate or cause to assimilate to a different culture, typically the dominant one brio: Vigor or vivacity of style or performance incumbent: (incumbent on/upon) necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibili ty immanent: existing or operating within; inherent straw man: a sham argument set up to be defeated

suborn: bribe or otherwise induce (someone) to commit an unlawful act such as pe rjury programmatic: of the nature of or according to a program, schedule, or method flaunt: Display (something) ostentatiously, esp. in order to provoke envy or adm iration or to show defiance essentialism: the view that categories of people, such as women and men, or hete rosexuals and homosexuals, or members of ethnic groups, have intrinsically diffe rent and characteristic natures or dispositions gynocentric: centered on or concerned exclusively with women; taking a female (o r specifically a feminist) point of view edifice: a complex system of belief inducement: a thing that persuades or influences someone to do something cache: a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place sotto voce: (of singing or a spoken remark) in a quiet voice, as if not to be ov erheard abide: be unable to tolerate (someone or something), ex. can/could not abide cachet: the state of being respected or admired; prestige docent: a person who acts as a guide, typically on a voluntary basis, in a museu m, art gallery, or zoo bandwidth: (figurative) the breadth of a person's interests or mental capacity vitiate: spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of alterity: the state of being other or different; otherness disrepute: the state of being held in low esteem by the republic, syn. ignominy impute: represent (something, esp. something undesirable) as being done, caused, or possessed by someone; attribute : the crimes imputed to Richard. sterling: (of a person or their work, efforts, or qualities) excellent or valuab le polity: an organized society; a state as a political entity; a form or process o f civil government or constitution rhapsody: an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling ex. rhaps odies of priase opprobrium: harsh criticism or censure; the public disgrace arising from one's s hameful conduct albatross: source of frustration or guilt; an encumbrance pallid: (of a person's face) pale, typically because of poor health; feeble or i nsipid habituate: to turn into a habit; make psychologically or physically used (to som

ething) egress: a way out encomium - A speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly virulent: bitterly hostile avail: (avail oneself of) use or take advantage of (an opportunity or available resource) unitary: single; uniform; unified; whole enjoin: instruct or urge (someone) to do something; prescribe (an action or atti tude) to be performed or adopted--"the charitable deeds enjoined on him by relig ion); (enjoin someone from), prohibit someone from performing (a particular acti on) by issuing an injunction diffidence: modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence adduce: cite as evidence noblesse oblige: the inferred responsibility of privileged people to act with ge nerosity and nobility toward those less privileged. comity: courtesy and considerate behavior toward others; an association of natio ns for their mutual benefit neophyte: a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief; a new convert to a religion restive: (of a person) unable to keep still or silent and becoming increasingly difficult to control, esp. because of impatience, dissatisfaction, or boredom ignoble: not honorable in character or purpose; of humble origin or social statu s androcentric: focused or centered on men forswear: Agree to give up or do without (something); Swear falsely; commit perj ury prise - pry: to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open lode: [in sing] figurative: a rich source of something putative - Generally considered or reputed to be entwine: wind or twist together interstitial: of, forming, or occupying interstices, which are an intervening sp ace, esp. a very small one post hoc: occurring or done after the event recumbent: (esp. of a person or human figure) lying down reticent: Temperamentally disinclined to talk, Cool and formal in manner, reluct ant to draw attention to yourself forbearing: showing patient and unruffled self-control and restraint under adver sity illiberal: opposed to liberal principals; restricting freedom of thought or beha vior; uncultured or unrefined; not generous; mean

tract: an area of indefinite extent, typically a large one; an indefinitely larg e extent of something profundity: deep insight; great depth of knowledge or thought; great depth or in tensity of a state, quality, or emotion distended: cause (something) to/ to swell out by stretching it from inside escarpment: a long, steep slope, esp. at the edge of a plateau or separating are as of land at different heights indictment: a thing that serves to illustrate that a system or situation is bad and deserves to be condemned; a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime acrimonious: (typically of speech or a debate) angry and bitter abet: encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular, to com mit a crime or other offense profusion: an abundance or large quantity of something recuse: challenge (a judge, prosecutor, or juror) as unqualified to perform lega l duties because of a possible conflict of interest of impartiality germinate: come into existence and develop sophist: a person who reasons with clever but fallacious arguments dreck: rubbish; trash couch: (be couched in) express (something) in language of a specified style dire straits: a state of extreme distress; a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs indecorous: failure to conform to good taste, propriety, or etiquette spare: with no excess fat, thin; elegantly simple; meager, nearly adequate effusive: expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestra ined or heartfelt manner, SYN. sentimental, gushing fulsome: complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree. of large size or qu antity; disgusting because overdone, excessive simulacrum: an image or representation of someone or something; an unsatisfactor y imitation or substitute canard: an unfounded rumor or story accoutrements - Additional items of dress or equipment, carried or worn by a per son or used for a particular activity fever pitch: a state of extreme excitement constellation: a group or cluster of related things trappings: the outward signs, features, or objects associated with a particular situation, role, or thing typology: a classification according to general type, esp. in archaeology, psych

ology, or the social sciences; study or analysis using such classification; the study and interpretation of types and symbols, originally esp. in the Bible noesis: in philosophy: understanding, as the ability to sense, or know something , immediately; noetic: of or relating to mental activity or the intellect ornate: made in an intricate shape or decorated with complex patterns; (of a lit erary style) using unusual words and complex constructions revile: criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner skein - A tangled or complicated arrangement, state, or situation; a length of t hread or yarn, loosely coiled and knotted portent: a sign or warning that something, esp. something momentous or calamitou s, is likely to happen; SYN. omen, augury, harbinger, presage lodestar: figurative: a person or thing that serves as a guide pithy: Concise and full of meaning exegesis: critical explanation or interpretation of a text, esp. of scripture supposition: an uncertain belief exposition: a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory epistolary: relating to or denoting the writing or literary works in the form of letters: an epistolary novel--a novel written as a series of documents dither: be indecisive garish: obtrusively bright and showy; lurid vagaries - An unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior hermeneutic: ADJ. concerning interpretation, esp. of the Bible or literary texts ; NOUN a method or theory of interpretation callous: showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others extol: praise enthusiastically multifarious: many and of various types; having many varied parts of aspects enervate: cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; SYN. debilitate , enfeeble default: fail to fulfill an obligation, esp. to repay a loan or to appear in a c ourt of law; revert automatically to (a preselected option) inveigh: (inveigh against) speak or write about (something) with great hostility cerebral: intellectual rather than emotional or physical episodic: containing or consisting of a series of loosely connected parts or eve nts brash: self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way; strong, energetic, o r irreverent permutation: a way, esp. one of several possible variations, in which a set or n

umber of things can be ordered or arranged; SYN. arrangement, form, configuratio n, incarnation, order, selection paramour: a lover, esp. the illicit partner of a mrried person abrogate: repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement); SYN. repea l, revoke, rescind, repudiate, disallow, cancel, invalidate, withdraw, abolish combative/truculent: ready or eager to fight; pugnacious plurality: the fact or state of being plural; [in sing.] a large number of peopl e or things arrogate: take or claim (something) for oneself without justification wrest: forcibly pull (something) from a person's grasp; take (something, esp. po wer or control) from someone or something else after considerable effort or diff iculty messianic: fervent or passionate aspersions: (cast on) an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or som ething fountainhead: an original source of something craven: contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly pusillanimous: showing a lack of courage or determination; timid timorous: showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence benighted: In a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance , typically owing to a lack of opportunity collate: Collect and combine (texts, information, or sets of figures) in proper order culpable: deserving blame triumphalism: excessive exultation over one's success or achievements suffuse: gradually spread through or over bray: make a loud, harsh cry or sound; [trans.] say (something) in a loud, harsh way impassive: not feeling or showing emotion hallow: honor as holy clearinghouse: An agency or organization that collects and distributes something , esp. information clinical: efficient and unemotional; coldly detached; (of a room or building) ba re, functional, and clean exogenous: relating to, or developing from external factors endogenous: having an internal cause or origin cagey: reluctant to give information owing to caution or suspicion circumspect: wary and unwilling to take risks; GUARDED exponent: a person who believes in and promotes the truth or benefits of an idea or theory

ensconce: establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe, or secret place luminary: a person who inspires or influences others, esp. one prominent in a pa rticular sphere sprightly: (esp. of an old person) lively; full of energy invidious: ADJ. (of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others; (of a comparison or distinction) unfairly disciminating; un just upheaval/cataclysm: a violent or sudden change or disruption to something connive: (VERB: connive at/in) secretly allow (something considered immoral, ill egal, wrong, or harmful) to occur; conspire to do soemthing considered immoral, illegal, or harmful expropriate: take away (property) from its owner; dispossess (someone) of proper ty provident: making or indicative of timely preparation for the future; economical jurisprudence: the theory or philosophy of law militate: VERB (of a fact or circumstance) be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing; SYN: hinder, discourage, tend to prevent, be detrimental to remit: cancel or refrain from exacting or inflicting (a debt or punishment ) coterie: a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, esp. one that is exclusive of other people diminution: a reduction in size, extent, or importance of something "under the auspices of": with the help, support, or protection of rhapsodize: speak or write about someone or something with great enthusiasm and delight subservient/biddable/passive/docile: prepared to obey others unquestioningly; le ss important; subordinate deleterious: causing harm or damage imbroglio: an extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation gerund: a form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a noun, in Engl ish ending in -ing, e.g., asking in do you mind my asking you? groundswell: a buildup of opinion or feeling in a large section of the populatio n prescient: having or showing knowledge of events before they take place cogent: (of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing politic: (of an action) seeming sensible and judicious under the circumstances impolitic: failing to possess or display prudence

abreast: (figurative) up to date with the latest news, ideas, or information; si de by side and facing the same way; alongside or even with something rend: tear (something) into two or more pieces astute: having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people a nd turn this to one's advantage discrete: individually separate and distinct felicity: intense happiness; the ability to find appropriate expression for one' s thoughts; a particularly effective feature of a work of literature or art embellish: a decorative detail or feature added to something to make it more att ractive disjunct: disjoined and distinct from one another felicitous: well chosen or suited to the circumstances; pleasing and fortunate belabor: argue or elaborate (a subject) in excessive detail beset: (of a problem or difficulty) trouble or threaten persistently; surround a nd harass; assail on all sides fabulate: relate (an event or events) as fable or story; relate untrue or invent ed stories acumen: the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a p articular domain preternatural: beyond what is normal or natural assail: make a concerted or violent attack on; criticize strongly contrite: feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt fatuous: silly and pointless mordant: (esp. of humor) having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting fractious: easily irritated; bad-tempered; (of an organization) difficult to con trol; unruly valorize: give or ascribe value or validity to (something) excoriate: censure or criticize severely coeval: adj. having the same age or date of origin; contemporary; NOUN: a person of roughly the same age as oneself; a contemporary elfin: small and delicate, typically with an attractively mischievous or strange charm depose: remove from office suddenly and forcefully indict: formally accuse or charge (someone) with a serious crime inviolate: free or safe from injury or violation inviolable: never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored

virtual: almost or nearly as described, but not completely or according to stric t definition zenith: the highest point reached by a celestial or other object give a wide berth: steer well clear of something while passing it; stay away fro m someone or something manifold: many and various; having many different forms or elements parlance: a particular way of speaking or using words, esp. a way common to thos e with a particular job or interest piecemeal: characterized by unsystematic partial measures taken over a period of time redolent: ( redolent of/with) strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something beneficent: (of a person) generous or doing good; resulting in good plait: a single length of hair or other flexible material made up of three or mo re interlaced strands; a braid; VERB: form (hair or other material) into a plait or plaits primacy: the fact of being primary, preeminent, or more important bacchanalian: characterized by or given to drunk revelry; riotously drunken subsume: include or absorb (something) in something else desultory: lacking a plan, purpose or enthusiasm; (of conversation or speech) go ing constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way; unfocused castigate: reprimand (someone) severely bifurcate: divide into two branches or forks remonstrate: make a forcefully reproachful protest consign - Deliver (something) to a person's custody, typically in order for it t o be sold caustic: sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way airily: In a way that shows that one is not treating something as serious; casua lly touchstone: a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized internecine: destructive to both sides in a conflict re capitulate: Cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender aphorism: A short pithy instructive saying vicissitude: a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelco me or unpleasant; alternation between opposite or contrasting things terse: Brief and to the point; effectively cut short inextricable: Not permitting extrication; incapable of being disentangled or unt ied inveterate: having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-establ

ished and unlikely to change axiom/maxim: A saying that is widely accepted on its own merits preliminary: Something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follo ws apoplectic: overcome with anger; extremely indignant interpolate: insert (something) between fixed points : illustrations were interp olated in the text broach: raise (a sensitive or difficult subject) for discussion prolix: (of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously len gthy consilient: agreement between the approaches to a topic of different academic su bjects, especially science and the humanities. intercede: intervene on behalf of another pursuant (pursuant to): in accordance with (a law or a legal document or resolut ion) hermetic: insulated or protected from outside influences trenchant: vigorous or incisive in expression or style; having a sharp edge pliant: flexible jejune: naive, simplistic, and superficial; dry and uninteresting untoward: unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient rarefied: esoterically distant from the lives and concerns of ordinary people quotidian: of or occurring every day; daily, esp. when mundane abtruse: difficult to understand; obscure pathology: mental, social, or linguistic abnormality or malfunction frenetic: fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way acerbic: (esp. of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright pernicious: having a harmful effect, esp. in a gradual or subtle way harbinger: a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; a forerunner of something spurious: not being what it purports to be; false or fake; apparently but not ac tually valid scurrilous: making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intenti on of damaging their reputation accrete: grow by accumulation or coalescence comport: (comport oneself) conduct oneself; behave, (comport with) accord with; agree with

intransigent: unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about some thing purview: the scope of the influence or concerns of something affront: an action or remark that causes outrage or offense recourse: a source of help in a difficult situation stultify: cause to lose enthusiasm and initiative, esp. as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine; cause (someone) to appear foolish or absurd aggrandize: increase the power, status, or wealth of; enhance the reputation of (someone) beyond what is justified by the facts supplant: supercede and replace transpose: cause (two or more things) to change places with each other; transfer to a different place or context metastasize: (of a condition or circumstance) spread or grow, esp. unfavorably; (of a cancer) spread to other sites in the body by metastasis inexorable: impossible to stop or prevent coy/demure - Affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way delimit - determine the limits or boundaries of demarcate - set the boundaries or limits of; separate or distinguish from anodyne - not likely to provoke dissent or offense; uncontentious or inoffensive , often deliberately so gravitas - Formality in bearing and appearance codify - arrange (law or rules) into a systematic code; arrange according to a p lan or system doctrinaire - seeking to impose a doctrine in all circumstances without regard t o practical considerations provenance - the beginning of something's existence; something's origin mores - the essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a community antithesis - The juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas to give a feeling o f balance bravado: a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate constitutive: having the power to establish or give organized existence to somet hing; forming a part or constituent of something; component; forming an essentia l element of something aporia - an irresolvable internal contradiction or logical disjunction in a text , argument, or theory leaven - permeate and modify or transform (something) for the better germane - relevant to a subject under consideration adversative/antithetical - Expressing antithesis or opposition rejoinder/retort/quip - A quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witt

y or critical one) dialectic - the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions; inquir y into metaphysical contradictions and their solutions overture - an introduction to something more substantial; an approach or proposa l made to someone with the aim of opening negotiations or establishing a relatio nship impugn - dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement or motive); cal l into question obstreperous - noisy and difficult to control perspicacious - having a ready insight into and understanding of things affable - Diffusing warmth and friendliness monolith - a large and impersonal political, corporate, or social structure rega rded as intractably indivisible and uniform devices - An inclination or desire; used in the plural in the phrase 'left to yo ur own devices ineffable - too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words proposition - a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false incipient - in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop explicate - Make plain and comprehensible, Elaborate, asof theories and hypothese s oblivion - the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening; the s tate of being forgotten; extinction estrange - cause (someone) to be no longer close or affectionate to someone duality - Being twofold; a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses predicate - Affirm or declare as an attribute or quality of throe - Hard or painful trouble or struggle salacious - Characterized by lust; Suggestive of or tending to moral looseness burgeon - Grow and flourish onerous - Not easily borne; wearing preeminent - Standing above others in quality or position hazard - Put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation conjuncture - A critical combination of events or circumstances prosaic - Not challenging; dull and lacking excitement; Not fanciful or imaginat ive taut: stretched or pulled tight; not slack tensile: of or relating to tension; capable of being drawn out or stretched umbrage - A feeling of anger caused by being offended adamantine - Impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason precocious - Characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early developme nt or maturity (especially in mental aptitude) implacable - Incapable of being placated; relentless; unstoppable genteel - Marked by refinement in taste and manners flank - Be located at the sides of something or somebody brusque - Marked by rude or peremptory shortness commensurate - Corresponding in size or degree or extent duly - At the proper time exult/jubilate - To express great joy; Feel extreme happiness or elation

periphery - The outside boundary or surface of something outlier - An extreme deviation from the mean concert - Contrive (a plan) by mutual agreement; Settle by agreement tautology - an unnecessary repetition of meaning, using different words that eff ectively say the same thing twice bombast - high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people; Po mpous or pretentious talk or writing chasten - Restrain or temper; Correct by punishment or discipline earnest/solemn - Characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions; Not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal deference/defer - A disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others augur - Indicate by signs; Predict from an omen sublimate - Direct energy or urges into useful activities sublime - of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe proselytize - Convert to another faith or religion panoptic - Broad in scope or content; Including everything visible in one view evenly - In a level and regular way bromide/platitude/banality - A trite or obvious remark untenable - (of theories etc) incapable of being defended or justified divest - deprive of status or authority; take possessions away from someone canvass - Consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover ess ential features or meaning versimilitude - the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true dilettante - An amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions an d who pretends to have knowledge; Showing frivolous or superficial interest; ama teurish misbegotten: badly conceived, designed, or planned topical - Of interest at the present time prolific/fecund - Intellectually productive ignominious - deserving or causing public disgrace or shame philistine - Smug and ignorant and indifferent or hostile to artistic and cultur al values grandstand - Perform ostentatiously in order to impress the audience and with an eye to the applause confluence - A place where things merge or flow together (especially rivers); A flowing together; A coming together of people postulate - Maintain or assert; Require as useful, just, or proper posit - Put forward; Put (something somewhere) firmly; Take as a given; assume a s a postulate or axiom decry - Express strong disapproval of amenable - Disposed or willing to comply; Readily reacting to suggestions and in fluences dissident - A person who dissents from some established policy; ADJ. Characteriz ed by departure from accepted beliefs or standards mollify/pacify - Cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of; Mak e more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate subjugate - Make subservient; force to submit or subdue controvert - Be resistant to; Prove to be false or incorrect inscrutable - Of an obscure nature indefatigable - Showing sustained enthusiastic action with unflagging vitality homogeneity - The quality of being similar or comparable in kind or nature heterogeneity - diverse in character or content immaculate - Free from stain or blemish; Free from stain or blemish meticulous - Marked by extreme care in treatment of details saccharine - Overly sweet antiquated/archaic - So extremely old as seeming to belongto an earlier period opulent/sumptuous - Rich and superior in quality

insurrection - Organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one factio n tries to wrest control from another serenity/ataraxis - The absence of mental stress or anxiety redact - Prepare for publication or presentation by correcting, revising, or ada pting seachange - A profound transformation proffer - Present for acceptance or rejection append: State or say further; Fix to; attach diametrically - used to emphasize how completely different two or more things ar e panoply - A complete and impressive array attenuate - Become weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude parity - equality, as in amount, status, or character. tenuous - Having little substance or significance magnanamous - Noble and generous in spirit; Generous and understanding and toler ant affix - Attach to byzantine - Highly complex or intricate alacrity: Brisk and cheerful readiness secular - Having only slow changes, or changing only over a long or indefinite p eriod of time; happening only once in a long time, esp. once a century conflate - Mix together different elements homogenous - All of the same or similar kind or nature infringe/encroach/impinge - Go against, as of rules and laws; Advance beyond the usual limit officious - Intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner arbiter - Someone with the power to settle matters at will genesis - A coming into being liminal - Of a stimulus just strong enough to be consciously experienced; At a t hreshold or transitional stage facile - Arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth; Expressing yourse lf readily, clearly, effectively facsimile - An exact copy or reproduction disconsolate - Sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled; Causing dejec tion assiduous - Marked by care and persistent effort venal - Capable of being corrupted bastardize - Change something so that its value declines; for example, art forms volition - The capability of conscious choice and decision and intention; The ac t of making a choice incontrovertible - Impossible to deny or disprove; Necessarily or demonstrably t rue refute - Overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof; Prove to be false or incorre ct delineate - Show the form or outline of; Determine the essential quality of; Des cribe in vivid detail elucidate - Make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear lucid - transparently clear; easily understandable, Capable of thinking and expr essing yourself in a clear and consistent manner mutable - Capable of or tending to change in form or quality or nature perspicuous (syn. lucid) - transparently clear; easily understandable expound - Add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and disc ourse in a learned way, usually inwriting pedantic - Marked by a narrow focuson or display of learning especially its trivi al aspects dubious - Fraught with uncertainty or doubt; Open to doubt or suspicion promulgate - State or announce; Put a law into effect by formal declaration appropriate - Give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause; Take po ssession of by force, as after an invasion

corroborate - Establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts vigorous - Characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity; Strong an d active physically or mentally capitulate - Surrender under agreed conditions stalwart - Having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships vaunt - Show off dissuade - Turn away from by persuasion renascent/resurgent - Rising again as to new life and vigor ivory tower - designates a world or atmosphere where intellectuals engage in pur suits that are disconnected from the practical concerns of everyday life. As suc h, it has a pejorative connotation, denoting a willful disconnect from the every day world; heresy - Any opinions or doctrines atvariance with the official or orthodox posit ion aberration - A state or condition markedly different from the norm; A disorder i n one's mental state ebullient/exuberant - Joyously unrestrained militant - Showing a fighting disposition lethargy - Weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy effrontery - Audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to bereft - Sorrowful through loss or deprivation pervert - Change the inherent purpose or function of something; Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality consummate - Perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualiti es; Having or revealing supreme mastery or skill reductive - Characterized by or causing diminution or curtailment philander - Talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions defect - Desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the oppo sing cause, country, or army obsequious - Attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery indolent - Disinclined to work or exertion totality - The state of being total and complete derelict - Worn and brokendown by hard use; Forsaken by owner or keeper; Failing in what duty requires; In deplorable condition elocution - An expert manner of speaking involving control of voice and gesture lambaste/reprimand/berate/chide - Censure severely or angrily discourse - Extended verbal expression in speech or writing locution - A word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations vitriolic - Harsh or corrosive in tone cognizant - (sometimes followed by 'of') having or showing knowledge or understa nding or realization or perception erudite - Having or showing profound knowledge amorphous - Having no definite form or distinct shape consecrate - Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause fastidious - Giving careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively con cerned with cleanliness preface - Furnish with a preface or introduction peremptory - Offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power; Not allowing contradiction or refusal imbibe - Take in, also metaphorically belligerent - Characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight combatant - Engaging in or ready for combat indictment - An accusation of wrongdoing crystallize - Cause to take on a definite and clear shape benevolent - Intending or showing kindness; Showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity relegate - Refer to another person for decision or judgment abate - Make less active or intense auxiliary - Someone who acts as an assistant; Functioning in a subsidiary or sup porting capacity

dubiety - The state of being unsure of something vernacular - A characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves); ADJ. Being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language vascillate - Be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions o r coursesofaction; Move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern oscillate - Be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or coursesofaction; Move or swing from side to side regularly latent - Potentially existing but not presently evident or realized; Not present ly active logistics - Handling an operation that involves providing labor and materials be supplied as needed prevarication/fabrication - A statement that deviates from or perverts the truth ; Intentionally vague or ambiguous seditious - Arousing to action or rebellion; In opposition to a civil authority or government hegemony - The dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over others commensalism - The relation between two different kinds of organisms when one re ceives benefits from the other without damaging it symbiosis - The relation between two different species of organisms that are int erdependent; each gains benefits from the other sequester - Keep away from others; Requisition forcibly, as of enemy property misanthrope - Someone who dislikes people in general surreptitious - Marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid b eing observed faculty - One of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind sapient - Acutely insightful and wise maven - Someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field pragmatic - Guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory; C oncerned with practical matters placid - Not easily irritated exquisite - Of extreme beauty; Delicately beautiful volatile - Liable to lead to sudden change or violence; Tending to vary often or widely banal/hackneyed - Repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse ephemeral - Lasting a very short time esoteric - Confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle ingratiate - Gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts replete - Fill to satisfaction bedrock - Principles from which other truths can be derived lament - Express grief verbally streamlined - Made efficient by stripping off nonessentials; Designed or arrange d to offer the least resistance to fluid flow ubiquitous - Being present everywhere at once pugnacious - Tough and callous by virtue of experience invective - Abusive or venomous language usedto express blame or censure or bitte r deep-seated ill will politic - Smoothly agreeable and courteous with a degree of sophistication; Mark ed by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness heuristics - A commonsense rule (or set of rules) intended to increase the proba bility of solving some problem sycophant - A person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal adv antage effusive - Uttered with unrestrained enthusiasm; Extravagantly demonstrative brazen - Unrestrained by convention or propriety; VERB: Face with defiance or im pudence audacious/intrepid - Invulnerable to fear or intimidation foment - Try to stir up public opinion reconcile - Make compatible with; Accept as inevitable; Come to terms imminent - Close in time; about to occur ethereal - Characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as impalpable or int

angible as air a priori - Involving deductivereasoning from a general principle to a necessary e ffect; not supported by fact ad hominem - arising from or appealing to personal considerations (rather than t o fact or reason or logic); ad infinitum - To infinity; without or seemingly without limit buffet - Strike against forcefully; Strike, beat repeatedly pique - to excite (interest, curiosity, etc.); to arouse an emotion or provoke t o action prerogative - A right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (espe cially a hereditary or official right) malign - Speak unfavorably about beatific - Experiencing or bestowing celestial joy; Marked by utter benignity; r esembling or befitting an angel or saint partition - Divide into parts, pieces, or sections virtuoso - Someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field; ADJ. Having or reveal ing supreme mastery or skill parry - Impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball); Avoid or try to avoid fu lfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues) eminent - standing above others in character or attainment or reputation; Standi ng above others in quality or position; iniquity - Absence of moral or spiritual values; Morally objectionable behavior; An unjust act ruminate - Reflect deeply on a subject furnish - Provide or furnish with sardonic - Disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking discern - Detect with the senses convivial - Occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company, SYN. gregari ous, congenial, jovial, affable, amiable; (of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable mire - Entrap; Cause to getstuck asif in a mire; Be unable to move further quagmire - A soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot ideologue - An advocate of some ideology provincial - Characteristic of the provinces or their people render - Cause to become; Give an interpretation or rendition of consonance - The property of sounding harmonious mainstay - A central cohesive source of support and stability eviscerate - Takeaway a vital or essential part of ardent - Characterized by intense emotion; Glowing or shining like fire austere - Severely simple; Of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect recalcitrant - Stubbornly resistant to authority or control privy - (followed by 'to') informed about something secret or not generally know n omnibus - Providing for many things atonce languish - Lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief; Have a desire for som ething or someone who is not present apocryphal - Being of questionable authenticity mobility - The quality of moving freely conjecture/surmise - Infer from incomplete evidence; Imagine to be the case or t rue or probable negotiate - Succeed inpassing through, around, or over megalomaniac - pathological egotist elliptical - Characterized by extreme economy of expression or omission of super fluous elements presumptuous - Excessively forward enigma - Something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained; A difficu lt problem squalor - Sordid dirtiness idiosyncrasy - A behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an ind

ividual zeitgeist - The spirit of the time; the spirit characteristic of an age or gener ation ethos - (anthropology) the distinctive spirit of a culture or an era gesticulate - Show, express or direct through movement heraldic - Indicative of or announcing something to come herald - Praise vociferously; Foreshadow or presage autodidactic - having taught oneself didactic - Instructive (especially excessively) strident/vociferous - Conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outc ry mundane - Found in the ordinary course of events flagrant - Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible obstinate - Stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing; VERB: Persist stubbornly unabashed - not embarassed veritable - Not counterfeit or copied pejorative - Expressing disapproval sophomoric - Of or relating to a sophomore; immature and silly incense - Make furious multilateral - Having many parts or sides indelible - Cannot be removed, washedaway or erased placate/appease - Cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the goodwill of unilateral - Involving only one part or side glean - Gather, asof natural products draconian - (of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe; unusual ly severe or cruel parse - Analyze syntactically by assigning a constituent structure to (a sentenc e) augment - Enlarge or increase propensity - An inclination to do something; A disposition to behave in a certai n way preponderant - Having superior power and influence callow - Young and inexperienced decadence - The state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities decadent - Marked by excessive self-indulgence and moral decay antipathy - A feeling of intense dislike colloquial - Characteristic of informal spokenlanguage or conversation colloquialism - A colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or writtencommu nication that seeks to imitate informal speech paradigm - A standard or typical example quintessential - Representing the perfect example of a class or quality debase - Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality eclectic - Selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas remedial - Tending or intended to rectify or improve meteoric - Like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience encapsulate - Putin a short or concise form; reduce in volume histrionic - Characteristic of acting or a stage performance; often affected tantamount - Being essentially equalto something fruition - Something that is made real or concrete; Enjoyment derived from use o r possession pretense - Pretending with intention to deceive; A false or unsupportable qualit y extrapolate/infer - Draw from specific cases for more general cases superlative - The highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of devel opment; An exaggerated expression (usually of praise) cursory - Hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough visceral - Obtained through intuition rather than from reasoning or observation savant - Someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field dulcet -Extremely pleasant in a gentle way passable - just good enough to be acceptable; satisfactory

aplomb - Great coolness and composure under strain uppity - Presumptuously arrogant uppish - (used colloquially) overly conceited or arrogant engender/generate - Callforth despondent - Without or almost without hope effulgent/radiant - Radiating or asif radiating light irascible - Quickly aroused to anger; Characterized by anger inert - Unable to move or resist motion; Slow and apathetic vex - Disturb the peaceofmind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress; Be a mystery or bewildering to disparity - Inequality or difference in some respect imperturbable - Not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure rote - Memorization by repetition procure - Getby special effort insular - Suggestive of the isolated life of an island; Narrowly restricted in o utlook or scope inundate - Fill quickly beyond capacity; as with a liquid autonomous - Existing as an independent entity pathos - A quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow) hyperbolize - To enlarge beyond bounds or the truth dejected - Affected or marked by lowspirits provision - A stipulated condition; The activity of supplying or providing somet hing stipulation - An assumption on which rests the validity or effect of something e lse fusillade/salvo - Rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms ineffectual - Not producing an intended effect; Lacking in power or forcefulness pedant - A person who pays more attention to formal rules and book learning than they merit candor - Ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty; The q uality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech impervious - Not admitting of passage or capable of being affected imperious - Able to deal authoritatively with affairs malevolent - Wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense i llwill or hatred iconoclast - Someone who attacks cherished ideas or traditional institutions idiosyncratic - Peculiar to the individual wistful - Showing pensive sadness indiscretion - A petty misdeed incur - Make oneself subject to; bring upon oneself; become liable to remiss - Failing in what duty requires garrulous/loquacious - Full of trivial conversation insurmountable - Not capable of being surmounted or overcome sesquipedalian - Given to the overuse of long words imperceptible - Impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses supercilious - Having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those on e views as unworthy bijou - a small and delicate piece; ADJ: Small and elegant predilection - A predisposition infavorof something; A strong liking contentious - Inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits ; Involving or likely to cause controversy inveigle - Influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering wheedle - Influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering palaver - Speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly; Have a len gthy discussion, usually between people of different backgrounds equivocate - Be deliberately ambiguous or unclear inorderto mislead or withhold in formation proliferate - Grow rapidly surrogate - A person appointed to represent or acton behalf of others

unctuous/smarmy - Unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner o r speech espouse - Choose and follow; asof theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans stifle - Smother or suppress genial - Diffusing warmth and friendliness; Agreeable, conducive to comfort deign - Do something that one considers to be below one's dignity chastise - Censure severely paradoxical - Seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true obtrusive - Undesirably noticeable concession - The act or condition of conceding or yielding; A point conceded or yielded stratification - The act or process or arranging persons into classes or social strata; a layered configuration intelligible - Capable of being apprehended or understood; Well articulated or e nunciated, and loud enough to be heard distinctly capacious - Large in capacity censure - Rebuke formally sanction - Give authority or permission to; Formal and explicit approval nexus - The means of connection between things linked inseries repugnant - Offensive to the mind admonish - Warn strongly; puton guard; Admonish or counsel in terms of someone's behavior caveat - A warning against certain acts emphatic - Sudden and strong; Forceful and definite in expression or action strife - Lack of agreement or harmony; Bitter conflict; heated often violent dis sension paragon - An ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept incisive - Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinction s impasse - A situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is poss ible precipitous - Donewith very great haste and without due deliberation, Extremely s teep intone - Utter monotonously and repetitively and rhythmically; Speak carefully, as with rising and falling pitch or in a particular tone sordid - Morally degraded, Unethical or dishonest, Foul and run-down and repulsi ve avarice - Reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth, Extreme g reed for material wealth cupidity - Extreme greed for material wealth allay - Lessen the intensity of or calm impetus - A force that moves something along benign - Not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor), Pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence dullard - A person who is not very bright, A person who evokes boredom lummox - An awkward stupidperson languid - Lacking spirit or liveliness ingenue - The role of an innocent artless youngwoman in a play insidious - Beguiling but harmful exacerbate - make worse artless - Characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious;Simpl e and natural; without cunning or deceit eschew - Avoid and stayaway from deliberately; stay clear of sententious - Aboundingin or given to pompous or aphoristic moralizing salient - Having a quality that thrusts itself into attention hail - Praise vociferously, Callfor trepidation - A feeling of alarm or dread devolution - The process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effectiv e power or vitality or essential quality encumber - Holdback

valence - the capacity of one person or thing to react with or affect another in some special way, as by attraction or the facilitation of a function or activit y. obfuscate - Make obscure or unclear dalliance - The deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working litany - Any long and tedious address or recital credo/creed - Any system of principles or beliefs communion - Sharing thoughts and feelings wrought - Shaped to fit by or asif by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort) penchant - a strong liking bulwark - An embankment built around a space for defensive purposes collude - Act inunison or agreement and insecret towards a deceitful or illegal pu rpose anathema - A detested person gentrify - Renovate so as to makeit conformto middle-class aspirations deft - Skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands sanctimonious - Excessively or hypocritically pious solicitous - Full of anxiety and concern fetter - Restrain with fetters malaise - Physical discomfort (as mild sickness or depression) subterfuge - Something intended to misrepresent thetrue nature of an activity evocation - Imaginative re-creation; Calling up supposed supernatural forces by spells and incantations sublime - Inspiring awe; Worthy of adoration or reverence; Of high moral or inte llectual value; elevated in nature or style exalt - Praise, glorify, or honor; Fill with sublime emotion; tickle pink; Heigh ten or intensify cloister - Seclude from the world in or asif in a cloister; Residence that is a p lace of religious seclusion (such as a monastery) consternation - Fear resulting from the awareness of danger laud- Praise, glorify, or honor solvent - A statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem marvel - Be amazed at, Express astonishment or surprise about something overt - Open and observable; not secret or hidden flippant - Showing inappropriate levity demagog - An orator who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his audience Orate - Talk pompously commiserate - To feel or express sympathy or compassion acuity - A quick and penetrating intelligence diatribe - Thunderous verbal attack obtuse - Slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity custody - A state of being confined (usually for a short time) complacent - Contented toafault with oneself or one's actions extraneous - Not pertinent to the matter underconsideration; Not essential asinine/vacuous - Devoid of intelligence ; Devoid of significance or point duplicity - Acting in bad faith; deception by pretending to entertain one set of intentions while acting under the influence of another ; A fraudulent or duplic itous representation exhort - Urgeon or encourage especially by shouts; Force or impel in an indicated direction expedient - Serving to promote your interest; Appropriate to a purpose; practica l robust - Physically strong, Strong enough to withstand or overcome intellectual challenges or adversity evince - Give expression to harrowing - Extremely painful sedate - Cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to; ADJ.: Char acterized by dignity and propriety; Dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

mitigate - Lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of maudlin - Effusively or insincerely emotional palpable - Capable of being perceived by the senses or the mind; especially capa ble of being handled or touched or felt agent - An active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect; A substance that exerts some force or effect treacly/cloying - overly sweet propagate - Become distributed or widespread wonky - Turned or twisted toward one side; Inclined to shake as from weakness or defect acquiesce - To agree or express agreement assent - To agree or express agreement dissent - Express opposition through action or words munificence - liberality in bestowing gifts; extremely liberal and generous of s pirit subversive - A radical supporter of political or social revolution; ADJ. In oppo sition to a civil authority or government subvert - Cause the downfall of; of rulers; Corrupt morally or by intemperance o r sensuality; Destroy completely accede - Submit or yield to another's wish or opinion manifesto - A public declaration of intentions (as issued by a politicalparty or government) anesthetic - Characterized by insensibility blas - Uninterested because of frequent exposure or indulgence; Nonchalantly unco ncerned licentitious/unchaste - Lacking moral discipline; especially sexually unrestrain ed demur: raise doubts or objections or show reluctance catachresis - The use of a word in a way that is not correct, for example, the u se of mitigate for militate misgiving: a feeling of doubt or apprehension about the outcome or consequences of something insouciance: casual lack of concern; indifference chaste - Pure and simple in design or style; Morally pure (especially not having experienced sexualintercourse) coalesce - Fuse or cause to grow together; ADJ. Growing together, fusing petulant - Easily irritated or annoyed contingent - Determined by conditions or circumstances notyet established dismissive - Showing indifference or disregard derisive - Abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule abjure/recant - Formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure deride - Treat or speak of with contempt apt - At risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant ; Menta lly quick and resourceful ; Being of striking appropriateness and pertinence efface - Remove completely from recognition or memory; Make inconspicuous extrapolate - Draw from specific cases for more general cases; Gain knowledge of (an area not known or experienced) by extrapolating bloviate - Orate verbosely and windily entrenched - Established firmly and securely; VERB: Fix firmly or securely; Impi nge or infringe upon aegis - Kindly endorsement and guidance; Armor plate that protects the chest; th e front part of a cuirass levity - Feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness convalescence - Gradual healing (through rest) after sickness or injury mercurial - Liable to sudden unpredictable change cavalier - Given to haughty disregard of others

tractable - Easily managed (controlled or taught or molded); Readily reacting to suggestions and influences precarious - Affording no ease or reassurance; Dangerously insecure irreverent - Showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally t aken seriously; Showing lack of due respect or veneration; Characterized by a li ghtly pert and exuberant quality revelatory - (usually followed by 'of') pointingout or revealing clearly vapid/insipid - Lacking taste or flavor or tang, Lacking significance or impact, Lacking significance or liveliness or spirit or zest

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