-
abnegation
the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief
-
abrogate
revoke formally
-
abscission
the act of cutting something off
-
abscond
run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
-
abstemious
marked by temperance in indulgence
-
abstruse
difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
-
abysmal
resembling an abyss in depth; so deep as to be unmeasurable
-
accoutre
provide with military equipment
-
adventitious
associated by chance and not an integral part
-
aegis
armor plate that protects the chest; the front part of a cuirass
-
aerie
the lofty nest of a bird of prey (such as a hawk or eagle)
-
affected
acted upon; influenced
-
aggrandize
add details to
-
alacrity
liveliness and eagerness
-
alimentary
of or providing nourishment
-
allegory
a short moral story (often with animal characters)
-
alloy
a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten
-
ambrosia
(classical mythology) the food and drink of the gods; mortals who ate it became immortal
-
amity
a state of friendship and cordiality
-
amok
wildly; without self-control
-
anachronism
something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred
-
animus
a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
-
anneal
bring to a desired consistency, texture, or hardness by a process of gradually heating and cooling
-
anthropoid
resembling human beings
-
antic
ludicrously odd
-
ape
any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all
-
aphasia
inability to use or understand language (spoken or written) because of a brain lesion
-
aphorism
a short pithy instructive saying
-
apiary
a shed containing a number of beehives
-
aplomb
great coolness and composure under strain
-
apocalyptic
of or relating to an apocalypse
-
apocryphal
being of questionable authenticity
-
apostate
not faithful to religion or party or cause
-
apothecary
a health professional trained in the art of preparing and dispensing drugs
-
apothegm
a short pithy instructive saying
-
apotheosis
model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
-
apparition
a ghostly appearing figure
-
appellation
identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others
-
apposite
being of striking appropriateness and pertinence
-
approbation
official approval
-
appropriate
suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc
-
appurtenances
-
apropos
of an appropriate or pertinent nature
-
aquiline
curved down like an eagle's beak
-
arabesque
position in which the dancer has one leg raised behind and arms outstretched in a conventional pose
-
arcade
a structure composed of a series of arches supported by columns
-
archaic
so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
-
argot
a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
-
array
an impressive display
-
arroyo
a stream or brook
-
artless
simple and natural; without cunning or deceit
-
ascertain
learn or discover with certainty
-
asperity
harshness of manner
-
assiduous
marked by care and persistent effort
-
astringent
tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue
-
atavism
a reappearance of an earlier characteristic
-
attribute
an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of an entity
-
aureole
the outermost region of the sun's atmosphere; visible as a white halo during a solar eclipse
-
axiom
(logic) a proposition that is not susceptible of proof or disproof; its truth is assumed to be self-evident
-
azure
of a deep somewhat purplish blue color similar to that of a clear October sky
-
bacchanalian
used of riotously drunken merrymaking
-
badinage
frivolous banter
-
baleful
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
-
balk
refuse to comply
-
baneful
deadly or sinister
-
beatific
marked by utter benignity; resembling or befitting an angel or saint
-
bedizen
decorate tastelessly
-
beguile
attract; cause to be enamored
-
behoove
be appropriate or necessary
-
belie
be in contradiction with
-
benison
a spoken blessing
-
bilious
relating to or containing bile
-
bivouac
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
-
blase
nonchalantly unconcerned
-
bluff
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
-
blot
a blemish made by dirt
-
bouillon
a clear seasoned broth
-
bowdlerize
edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
-
brindled
having a grey or brown streak or a pattern or a patchy coloring; used especially of the patterned fur of cats
-
brocade
thick heavy expensive material with a raised pattern
-
buffet
a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers
-
bullion
a mass of precious metal
-
burlesque
a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor; consists of comic skits and short turns (and sometimes striptease)
-
burnish
polish and make shiny
-
cadge
obtain or seek to obtain by cadging or wheedling
-
callow
young and inexperienced
-
calorific
heat-generating
-
calumny
a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions
-
canard
a deliberately misleading fabrication
-
candor
the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
-
canny
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
-
canon
a collection of books accepted as holy scripture especially the books of the Bible recognized by any Christian church as genuine and inspired
-
cant
a slope in the turn of a road or track; the outside is higher than the inside in order to reduce the effects of centrifugal force
-
cantata
a musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text
-
canter
a smooth three-beat gait; between a trot and a gallop
-
canto
a major division of a long poem
-
captious
tending to find and call attention to faults
-
caricature
a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect
-
carrion
the dead and rotting body of an animal; unfit for human food
-
catcall
a cry expressing disapproval
-
cavalcade
a procession of people traveling on horseback
-
cavil
raise trivial objections
-
celerity
a rate that is rapid
-
censorious
harshly critical or expressing censure
-
censure
harsh criticism or disapproval
-
cerebration
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
-
chaff
material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
-
charlatan
a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes
-
chary
characterized by great caution and wariness
-
chase
go after with the intent to catch
-
chauvinist
a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
-
checkered
patterned with alternating squares of color
-
chicanery
the use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them)
-
chisel
an edge tool with a flat steel blade with a cutting edge
-
choleric
characterized by anger
-
ciliated
having a margin or fringe of hairlike projections
-
cipher
a secret method of writing
-
clemency
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
-
codicil
a supplement to a will; a testamentary instrument intended to alter an already executed will
-
coeval
of the same period
-
cogitate
consider carefully and deeply; reflect upon; turn over in one's mind
-
cognate
related by blood
-
cohort
a band of warriors (originally a unit of a Roman Legion)
-
collate
to assemble in proper sequence
-
collation
assembling in proper numerical or logical sequence
-
colloquy
formal conversation
-
colossus
someone or something that is abnormally large and powerful
-
comestible
suitable for use as food
-
comity
a state or atmosphere of harmony or mutual civility and respect
-
commensurate
corresponding in size or degree or extent
-
complaisant
showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
-
comport
behave in a certain manner
-
compunction
a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
-
concatenate
add by linking or joining so as to form a chain or series
-
concentric
having a common center
-
concomitant
following or accompanying as a consequence
-
concord
a harmonious state of things in general and of their properties (as of colors and sounds); congruity of parts with one another and with the whole
-
condign
fitting or appropriate and deserved; used especially of punishment
-
conflate
mix together different elements
-
congruence
the quality of agreeing; being suitable and appropriate
-
congruent
corresponding in character or kind
-
conjure
summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
-
connivance
agreement on a secret plot
-
connoisseur
an expert able to appreciate a field; especially in the fine arts
-
connubial
of or relating to marriage or to the relationship between a wife and husband
-
consanguinity
(anthropology) related by blood
-
conservatory
a schoolhouse with special facilities for fine arts
-
consonance
the property of sounding harmonious
-
consort
keep company with; hang out with
-
consummate
having or revealing supreme mastery or skill
-
content
satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are
-
continence
voluntary control over urinary and fecal discharge
-
contingent
determined by conditions or circumstances that follow
-
controvert
be resistant to
-
contumacious
wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient
-
contusion
an injury that doesn't break the skin but results in some discoloration
-
conversant
(usually followed by `with') well informed about or knowing thoroughly
-
convivial
occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
-
coquette
talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions
-
cornice
the topmost projecting part of an entablature
-
corporeal
having material or physical form or substance
-
coterie
an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
-
countenance
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
-
cozen
be false to; be dishonest with
-
craven
lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
-
credulity
tendency to believe readily
-
crone
an ugly evil-looking old woman
-
cupidity
extreme greed for material wealth
-
cynosure
something that provides guidance (as Polaris guides mariners)
-
dappled
having spots or patches of color
-
declivity
a downward slope or bend
-
decollete
(of a garment) having a low-cut neckline
-
decorum
propriety in manners and conduct
-
defray
bear the expenses of
-
deign
do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
-
deleterious
harmful to living things
-
demagogue
a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices
-
demur
take exception to
-
demure
affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
-
denouement
the outcome of a complex sequence of events
-
depredation
an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding
-
descry
catch sight of
-
desiccate
lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless
-
despoil
steal goods; take as spoils
-
desuetude
a state of inactivity or disuse
-
desultory
marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another
-
diadem
an ornamental jeweled headdress signifying sovereignty
-
dialectical
of or relating to or employing dialectic
-
diaphanous
so thin as to transmit light
-
diatribe
thunderous verbal attack
-
didactic
instructive (especially excessively)
-
diffidence
lack of self-confidence
-
dilatory
wasting time
-
dilettante
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
-
disapprobation
an expression of strong disapproval; pronouncing as wrong or morally culpable
-
discomfit
cause to lose one's composure
-
disconsolate
sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled
-
discursive
proceeding to a conclusion by reason or argument rather than intuition
-
disinter
dig up for reburial or for medical investigation; of dead bodies
-
disinterested
unaffected by self-interest
-
disjunction
state of being disconnected
-
disport
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
-
disputatious
inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits
-
disquietude
feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable
-
disquisition
an elaborate analytical or explanatory essay or discussion
-
dissimulate
hide (feelings) from other people
-
distrait
having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety
-
diurnal
having a daily cycle or occurring every day
-
doggerel
a comic verse of irregular measure
-
dolorous
showing sorrow
-
dotage
mental infirmity as a consequence of old age; sometimes shown by foolish infatuations
-
ductile
capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
-
dulcet
pleasing to the ear
-
dyspeptic
suffering from dyspepsia
-
ebullient
joyously unrestrained
-
efface
remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing
-
effete
marked by excessive self-indulgence and moral decay
-
effluvium
a foul-smelling outflow or vapor (especially a gaseous waste)
-
effrontery
audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to
-
effusion
an unrestrained expression of emotion
-
ejaculation
the discharge of semen in males
-
elysian
relating to the Elysian Fields
-
emend
make improvements or corrections to
-
emendation
a correction by emending; a correction resulting from critical editing
-
emetic
a medicine that induces nausea and vomiting
-
emolument
compensation received by virtue of holding an office or having employment (usually in the form of wages or fees)
-
encomiastic
formally expressing praise
-
encomium
a formal expression of praise
-
endue
give qualities or abilities to
-
enervate
weaken mentally or morally
-
enfranchise
grant freedom to; as from slavery or servitude
-
enmity
a state of deep-seated ill-will
-
ennui
the feeling of being bored by something tedious
-
ensconce
fix firmly
-
ephemeral
anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form
-
epigram
a witty saying
-
epistemologist
a specialist in epistemology
-
equable
not varying
-
equanimity
steadiness of mind under stress
-
equipoise
equality of distribution
-
eulogistic
formally expressing praise
-
eulogy
a formal expression of praise for someone who has died recently
-
evanescent
tending to vanish like vapor
-
evince
give expression to
-
exceptionable
liable to objection or debate; used of something one might take exception to
-
exculpate
pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
-
execrable
unequivocally detestable
-
execrate
curse or declare to be evil or anathema or threaten with divine punishment
-
exegesis
an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of the Bible)
-
exigency
a pressing or urgent situation
-
exiguous
extremely scanty
-
expiate
make amends for
-
exploit
use or manipulate to one's advantage
-
extant
still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost
-
extenuate
lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
-
extirpate
destroy completely, as if down to the roots
-
factotum
a servant employed to do a variety of jobs
-
fallacious
containing or based on a fallacy
-
fatuous
devoid of intelligence
-
febrile
of or relating to or characterized by fever
-
feckless
generally incompetent and ineffectual
-
fecundity
the state of being fertile; capable of producing offspring
-
feint
any distracting or deceptive maneuver (as a mock attack)
-
felicitous
exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style
-
fell
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
-
ferment
cause to undergo fermentation
-
fetter
a shackle for the ankles or feet
-
filch
make off with belongings of others
-
flail
an implement consisting of handle with a free swinging stick at the end; used in manual threshing
-
floe
a flat mass of ice (smaller than an ice field) floating at sea
-
florid
elaborately or excessively ornamented
-
flute
a high-pitched woodwind instrument; a slender tube closed at one end with finger holes on one end and an opening near the closed end across which the breath is blown
-
foil
hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
-
founder
a person who founds or establishes some institution
-
fractious
easily irritated or annoyed
-
fructify
make productive or fruitful
-
fulminate
cause to explode violently and with loud noise
-
funereal
suited to or suggestive of a grave or burial
-
furtive
secret and sly or sordid
-
fusillade
rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
-
gainsay
take exception to
-
gall
a digestive juice secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder; aids in the digestion of fats
-
galleon
a large square-rigged sailing ship with three or more masts; used by the Spanish for commerce and war from the 15th to 18th centuries
-
gambol
play boisterously
-
genuflect
bend the knees and bow in a servile manner
-
glib
artfully persuasive in speech
-
glutinous
having the sticky properties of an adhesive
-
guile
shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
-
guileless
free of deceit
-
gustatory
of or relating to gustation
-
hackles
a feeling of anger and animosity
-
halcyon
a mythical bird said to breed at the time of the winter solstice in a nest floating on the sea and to have the power of calming the winds and waves
-
hale
exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health
-
hermetic
completely sealed; completely airtight
-
heterodox
characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards
-
hibernal
characteristic of or relating to winter
-
hireling
a person who works only for money
-
hortatory
giving strong encouragement
-
hovel
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
-
hue and cry
loud and persistent outcry from many people
-
hummock
a small natural hill
-
humus
partially decomposed organic matter; the organic component of soil
-
hypercritical
inclined to judge too severely
-
hypocritical
professing feelings or virtues one does not have
-
ignominy
a state of dishonor
-
imbroglio
an intricate and confusing interpersonal or political situation
-
imbue
spread or diffuse through
-
immolate
offer as a sacrifice by killing or by giving up to destruction
-
immutable
not subject or susceptible to change or variation in form or quality or nature
-
impassive
having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
-
impecunious
not having enough money to pay for necessities
-
importunate
expressing earnest entreaty
-
importune
beg persistently and urgently
-
imprecation
the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult)
-
improvident
not provident; not providing for the future
-
impuissance
powerlessness revealed by an inability to act
-
inchoate
only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
-
incipient
only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
-
incommodious
uncomfortably or inconveniently small
-
incontinent
not having control over urination and defecation
-
indigent
poor enough to need help from others
-
indite
produce a literary work
-
indolent
disinclined to work or exertion
-
ineffable
defying expression or description
-
ineluctable
impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"
-
inept
generally incompetent and ineffectual
-
ingenious
showing inventiveness and skill
-
ingenuous
lacking in sophistication or worldliness
-
ingrate
a person who shows no gratitude
-
ingratiate
gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
-
inimical
not friendly
-
inimitable
defying imitation; matchless
-
iniquitous
characterized by iniquity; wicked because it is believed to be a sin
-
insalubrious
detrimental to health
-
insensate
devoid of feeling and consciousness and animation
-
insouciant
marked by blithe unconcern
-
intimate
imply as a possibility
-
intractable
not tractable; difficult to manage or mold
-
intransigence
the trait of being intransigent; stubbornly refusing to compromise
-
inured
made tough by habitual exposure
-
inveigle
influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
-
inveterate
habitual
-
invidious
containing or implying a slight or showing prejudice
-
jaded
exhausted
-
jaundiced
affected by jaundice which causes yellowing of skin etc
-
jingoist
an extreme bellicose nationalist
-
jocose
characterized by jokes and good humor
-
jocund
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
-
knave
a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
-
labile
liable to change
-
lachrymose
showing sorrow
-
laity
in Christianity, members of a religious community that do not have the priestly responsibilities of ordained clergy
-
lancet
a surgical knife with a pointed double-edged blade; used for punctures and small incisions
-
languid
lacking spirit or liveliness
-
languor
inactivity; showing an unusual lack of energy
-
lassitude
a feeling of lack of interest or energy
-
latent
potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
-
lechery
unrestrained indulgence in sexual activity
-
legerdemain
an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers
-
leonine
of or characteristic of or resembling a lion
-
libel
a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person
-
libido
(psychoanalysis) a Freudian term for sexual urge or desire
-
ligneous
consisting of or containing lignin or xylem
-
limn
make a portrait of
-
limpid
clear and bright
-
list
a database containing an ordered array of items (names or topics)
-
litotes
understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)
-
maladroit
not adroit
-
malediction
the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult)
-
malefactor
someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
-
manumit
free from slavery or servitude
-
martial
suggesting war or military life
-
mendacious
given to lying
-
mendicant
practicing beggary
-
misogamy
hatred of marriage
-
mnemonic
of or relating to or involved the practice of aiding the memory
-
modicum
a small or moderate or token amount
-
modish
in the current fashion or style
-
mollycoddle
treat with excessive indulgence
-
mote
(nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
-
mountebank
a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes
-
mulct
money extracted as a penalty
-
notation
a comment or instruction (usually added)
-
natty
marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
-
necromancy
conjuring up the dead, especially for prophesying
-
neologism
a newly invented word or phrase
-
noisome
causing or able to cause nausea
-
nonplus
be a mystery or bewildering to
-
nostrum
patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable
-
nubile
of girls or women who are eligible to marry
-
nugatory
of no real value
-
numismatist
a collector and student of money (and coins in particular)
-
obloquy
a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions
-
obstreperous
noisily and stubbornly defiant
-
obtuse
of an angle; between 90 and 180 degrees
-
oculist
a person skilled in testing for defects of vision in order to prescribe corrective glasses
-
odious
unequivocally detestable
-
odium
hate coupled with disgust
-
officious
intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
-
opportune
suitable or at a time that is suitable or advantageous especially for a particular purpose
-
opprobrium
a state of extreme dishonor
-
oracular
of or relating to an oracle
-
osseous
composed of or containing bone
-
overweening
presumptuously arrogant
-
pachyderm
any of various nonruminant hoofed mammals having very thick skin: elephant; rhinoceros; hippopotamus
-
palimpsest
a manuscript (usually written on papyrus or parchment) on which more than one text has been written with the earlier writing incompletely erased and still visible
-
pall
burial garment in which a corpse is wrapped
-
palliate
lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
-
panegyric
formally expressing praise
-
parley
a negotiation between enemies
-
paroxysm
a sudden uncontrollable attack
-
pastiche
a work of art that imitates the style of some previous work
-
patois
a regional dialect of a language (especially French); usually considered substandard
-
pecuniary
relating to or involving money
-
pell-mell
in a wild or reckless manner
-
pellucid
transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
-
pendulous
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
-
penury
a state of extreme poverty or destitution
-
peon
a laborer who is obliged to do menial work
-
peregrination
traveling or wandering around
-
perennial
lasting three seasons or more
-
perfidious
tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans
-
peripatetic
traveling especially on foot
-
pernicious
exceedingly harmful
-
peroration
(rhetoric) the concluding section of an oration
-
perquisite
an incidental benefit awarded for certain types of employment (especially if it is regarded as a right)
-
perspicacious
mentally acute or penetratingly discerning
-
perspicuity
clarity as a consequence of being perspicuous
-
perspicuous
(of language) transparently clear; easily understandable
-
pert
characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
-
pertinacious
stubbornly unyielding
-
philatelist
a collector and student of postage stamps
-
philology
the humanistic study of language and literature
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phylum
(biology) the major taxonomic group of animals and plants; contains classes
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physiognomy
the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British)
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piebald
having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly
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pinion
wing of a bird
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pique
a sudden outburst of anger
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piscatorial
relating to or characteristic of the activity of fishing
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plaudit
enthusiastic approval
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polemic
a controversy (especially over a belief or dogma)
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ponderous
having great mass and weight and unwieldiness
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poseur
a person who habitually pretends to be something he is not
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poultice
a medical dressing consisting of a soft heated mass of meal or clay that is spread on a cloth and applied to the skin to treat inflamed areas or improve circulation etc.
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prate
speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
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precipitous
extremely steep
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precis
a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
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precocious
characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
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prelate
a senior clergyman and dignitary
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presumptuous
excessively forward
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preternatural
existing outside of or not in accordance with nature
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prevaricate
be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information
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prodigious
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
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profound
situated at or extending to great depth; too deep to have been sounded or plumbed
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prolixity
boring verbosity
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propinquity
the property of being close together
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propitiate
make peace with
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prosaic
lacking wit or imagination
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proscenium
the part of a modern theater stage between the curtain and the orchestra (i.e., in front of the curtain)
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prosody
the study of poetic meter and the art of versification
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protean
taking on different forms
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protuberance
something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings
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provenance
where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence
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provident
providing carefully for the future
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prurient
characterized by lust
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puerile
displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
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pugilist
someone who fights with his fists for sport
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pugnacity
a natural disposition to be hostile
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puissant
powerful
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pulchritude
physical beauty (especially of a woman)
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punctilious
marked by precise accordance with details
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pusillanimous
lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearful
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putative
purported; commonly put forth or accepted as true on inconclusive grounds
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quarry
animal hunted or caught for food
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queasy
causing or able to cause nausea
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querulous
habitually complaining
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quiescent
being quiet or still or inactive
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quisling
someone who collaborates with an enemy occupying force
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quotidian
found in the ordinary course of events
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raiment
especially fine or decorative clothing
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ratiocination
the proposition arrived at by logical reasoning (such as the proposition that must follow from the major and minor premises of a syllogism)
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reactionary
extremely conservative
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rebus
a puzzle where you decode a message consisting of pictures representing syllables and words
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recalcitrant
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
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recidivism
habitual relapse into crime
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recondite
difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
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redolent
having a strong pleasant odor
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redoubtable
inspiring fear
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refectory
a communal dining-hall (usually in a monastery)
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refractory
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
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refulgent
radiating or as if radiating light
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regale
provide with choice or abundant food or drink
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regicide
the act of killing a king
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remission
(law) the act of remitting (especially the referral of a law case to another court)
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remonstrance
the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
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repast
the food served and eaten at one time
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repine
express discontent
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reprove
take to task
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requiem
a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
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resilient
recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like