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grimace
contort the face to indicate a certain mental state
gossamer
a gauze fabric with an extremely fine texture
crucial
of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
facetious
cleverly amusing in tone
didactic
instructive, especially excessively
ascetic
someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
anarchy
a state of lawlessness and disorder
alacrity
liveliness and eagerness
genealogy
the study or investigation of ancestry and family history
blithe
carefree and happy and lighthearted
abash
cause to be embarrassed
allay
lessen the intensity of or calm
consummate
having or revealing supreme mastery or skill
fictitious
formed or conceived by the imagination
expatiate
add details to clarify an idea
consensus
agreement in the judgment reached by a group as a whole
cynical
believing the worst of human nature and motives
approbation
official acceptance or agreement
exploit
use or manipulate to one's advantage
impale
pierce with a sharp stake or point
bibliophile
someone who loves and usually collects books
import
bring in from abroad
genesis
a coming into being
castigate
inflict severe punishment on
cringe
draw back, as with fear, pain, or embarrassment
ensue
take place or happen afterward or as a result
avarice
reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth
acumen
shrewdness shown by keen insight
countenance
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
discursive
tending to cover a wide range of subjects
exceptionable
likely to cause objection or disapproval
entreat
ask for or request earnestly
curt
brief and to the point
confederate
united in a league
gesticulate
show, express, or direct through movement
augment
enlarge or increase
forensic
used in the investigation of facts or evidence in court
disconcert
cause to lose one's composure
ambiguous
having more than one possible meaning
devoid
completely wanting or lacking
erratic
liable to sudden unpredictable change
impervious
not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
blandishment
flattery intended to persuade
depraved
deviating from what is considered moral or right or proper
flamboyant
tending to attract attention; marked by ostentatious display
flagrant
conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
fetish
sexual desire in which gratification depends on some object
credible
capable of being believed
abrogate
revoke formally
callous
emotionally hardened
devout
deeply religious
idiosyncrasy
a behavioral attribute peculiar to an individual
congenial
suitable to your needs
abet
assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
authentic
not counterfeit or copied
clandestine
conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
impeccable
without error or flaw
expurgate
edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
allure
the power to entice or attract
curb
the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
clamorous
conspicuously and offensively loud
corpulent
excessively large
coterie
an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
condone
excuse, overlook, or make allowances for
analogy
drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
hail
precipitation of ice pellets
bereave
deprive through death
immune
of the condition in which an organism can resist disease
diverting
providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining
armistice
a state of peace agreed to between opponents
demure
shy or modest, often in a playful or provocative way
banal
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
feasible
capable of being done with means at hand
epigram
a witty saying
auspicious
indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
chauvinist
a person with a prejudiced belief in his own superiority
egregious
conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
histrionic
overly dramatic or emotional
emissary
someone sent to represent another's interests
amiable
diffusing warmth and friendliness
dilettante
an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention
affluent
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
assiduous
marked by care and persistent effort
elicit
call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
fervid
characterized by intense emotion
apt
being of striking appropriateness and relevance
fatuous
devoid of intelligence
fathom
a linear unit of measurement for water depth
concede
give over
implacable
incapable of being appeased or pacified
dispassionate
unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice
circumspect
careful to consider potential consequences and avoid risk
diffident
showing modest reserve
fluctuate
move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern
bland
lacking taste or flavor or tang
cadaverous
of or relating to a corpse
credulous
showing a lack of judgment or experience
apathy
an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
dogmatic
pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
candid
openly straightforward and direct without secretiveness
anthology
a collection of selected literary passages
apprise
inform somebody of something
consecrate
give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
cacophonous
having an unpleasant sound
fracas
a noisy, angry argument or fight between people
frustrate
hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
deplete
use up, as resources or materials
celestial
relating to or inhabiting a divine heaven
exultation
the utterance of sounds expressing great joy
bucolic
devoted to raising sheep or cattle
ghastly
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
fealty
the loyalty that one owes to a country, sovereign, or lord
belie
be in contradiction with
banter
light teasing repartee
impervious
not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
bumptious
offensively self-assertive
culpable
deserving blame or censure as being wrong or injurious
bombastic
ostentatiously lofty in style
acrimonious
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
homonym
a word pronounced or spelled the same with another meaning
heinous
extremely wicked or deeply criminal
accord
concurrence of opinion
allude
make an indirect reference to
distraught
deeply agitated especially from emotion
discourse
an extended communication dealing with some particular topic
implicit
suggested though not directly expressed
disconsolate
sad beyond comforting; incapable of being soothed
crass
so unrefined as to be offensive or insensitive
civil
of or occurring between or among citizens of the state
capricious
determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
haughty
having or showing arrogant superiority
bizarre
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
dictum
an authoritative declaration
cabal
a clique that seeks power usually through intrigue
blemish
a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something
hoax
something intended to deceive
contemptuous
expressing extreme scorn
convivial
occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
admonish
scold or reprimand; take to task
dolorous
showing sorrow
articulate
express or state clearly
glib
artfully persuasive in speech
hypothesis
a tentative insight that is not yet verified or tested
biased
favoring one person or side over another
extinct
no longer in existence
affable
diffusing warmth and friendliness
archetype
something that serves as a model
dispel
cause to separate and go in different directions
dispatch
the act of sending off something
deference
courteous regard for people's feelings
artful
not straightforward or candid
flaunt
display proudly
fortuitous
lucky; occurring by happy chance
conjecture
believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
buffoon
a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior
complacent
contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
adversary
someone who offers opposition
fallacious
containing or based on incorrect reasoning
imminent
close in time; about to occur
caricature
a representation of a person exaggerated for comic effect
delinquent
a young offender
dissent
a difference of opinion
coercion
using force to cause something to occur
expedient
appropriate to a purpose
heresy
a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion
adversity
a state of misfortune or affliction
flaccid
drooping without elasticity
apprehensive
in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
devastation
the state of being decayed or destroyed
deity
a supernatural being worshipped as controlling the world
asseverate
state categorically
devious
turning away from a straight course
epicurean
devoted to pleasure
accolade
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
effete
excessively self-indulgent, affected, or decadent
ejaculate
eject semen
autocratic
characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule
fleeting
lasting for a markedly brief time
discrete
constituting a separate entity or part
cryptic
having a secret or hidden meaning
cogent
powerfully persuasive
aristocracy
a privileged class holding hereditary titles
animus
a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
anachronism
locating something at a time when it couldn't have existed
baneful
evil or sinister
clement
(of weather or climate) mild
forbear
refrain from doing
equanimity
steadiness of mind under stress
cantankerous
stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate
calumniate
charge falsely or with malicious intent
anonymous
having no known name or identity or known source
blight
any plant disease resulting in withering without rotting
abridge
lessen, diminish, or curtail
cursory
hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
expatriate
a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country
deplore
express strong disapproval of
ecclesiastic
of or associated with a church
cosmopolitan
composed of people from many parts of the world
dilemma
state of uncertainty in a choice between unfavorable options
harangue
a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion
academic
associated with an educational institution
delineate
represented accurately or precisely
depreciate
decline in value
epithet
descriptive word or phrase
hovel
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
accelerate
move faster
dissolute
unrestrained by convention or morality
coalition
the union of diverse things into one body or form or group
credence
the mental attitude that something is believable
dynamic
characterized by action or forcefulness of personality
craven
lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
belligerent
characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
diverse
distinctly dissimilar or unlike
abstemious
marked by temperance in indulgence
ephemeral
anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day
esoteric
understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
attribute
a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity
cumbrous
difficult to handle or use, especially because of size or weight
bellicose
having or showing a ready disposition to fight
garnish
decorate, as with parsley or other ornamental foods
hyperbole
extravagant exaggeration
dearth
an insufficient quantity or number
disparity
inequality or difference in some respect
edify
make understand
err
make a mistake
circumvent
surround so as to force to give up
exodus
a journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment
compendium
a publication containing a variety of works
delectable
extremely pleasing to the sense of taste
extemporaneous
with little or no preparation or forethought
antithesis
exact opposite
denounce
speak out against
boorish
ill-mannered and coarse in behavior or appearance
divulge
make known to the public information previously kept secret
gregarious
temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
creditable
deserving limited praise or approval
aesthetic
characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
demeanor
the way a person behaves toward other people
hiatus
an interruption in the intensity or amount of something
asylum
a shelter from danger or hardship
compatible
able to exist and perform in harmonious combination
consternation
sudden shock or dismay that causes confusion
captious
tending to find and call attention to faults
amenable
disposed or willing to comply
gluttonous
given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink
engender
call forth
harbinger
something indicating the approach of something or someone
feign
make believe with the intent to deceive
festoon
a decorative representation of a string of flowers
deluge
a heavy rain
exotic
characteristic of another place or part of the world
abdicate
give up power, duties, or obligations
impeach
bring an accusation against
besmirch
smear so as to make dirty or stained
expound
add details to clarify an idea
chicanery
the use of tricks to deceive someone
ignominious
deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
aggressive
characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
ennui
the feeling of being bored by something tedious
immaculate
completely neat and clean
benevolent
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
arid
lacking sufficient water or rainfall
copious
large in number or quantity
delete
cut or eliminate
exemplary
worthy of imitation
atheist
someone who denies the existence of god
edict
a formal or authoritative proclamation
deprecate
express strong disapproval of; deplore
heedless
marked by or paying little attention
gibe
laugh at with contempt and derision
egotistic
having an inflated idea of one's own importance
bog
wet spongy ground of decomposing vegetation
condole
express one's sympathy on the occasion of someone's death
bulwark
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
fulsome
unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating
baton
a metal rod wielded or twirled by a drum major or majorette
collusion
secret agreement
epitaph
an inscription in memory of a buried person
exculpate
pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
askance
with suspicion or disapproval
elucidate
make clear and comprehensible
compensation
the act of making amends for service, loss, or injury
condign
fitting or appropriate and deserved
arbiter
someone chosen to judge and decide a disputed issue
awry
turned or twisted to one side
alienate
arouse hostility or indifference in
erudite
having or showing profound knowledge
extirpate
destroy completely, as if down to the roots
chronic
long-lasting or characterized by long suffering
abandon
forsake; leave behind
extraneous
not belonging to that in which it is contained
felicity
pleasing and appropriate manner or style
construe
make sense of; assign a meaning to
compunction
a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed
fiasco
a complete failure or collapse
accede
yield to another's wish or opinion
facade
the front of a building
demagogue
a leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions
reproduce
make a copy or equivalent of
inanimate
not endowed with life
prosper
make steady progress
haughty
having or showing arrogant superiority
transcend
go beyond the scope or limits of
blizzard
a weather event with widespread snowfall and strong winds
synopsis
a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument
hazard
an unpredictable phenomenon that causes a certain result
critique
appraise or judge in an analytical way
lucrative
producing a sizeable profit
dramatization
a representation intended for performance
adage
a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact
futile
producing no result or effect
proverb
a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact
idiotic
having a mental age of three to seven years
dough
a flour mixture stiff enough to knead or roll
tolerate
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
aid
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
permit
allow the presence of or allow without opposing
tenant
someone who pays rent to use property owned by someone else
opposition
being against something that you disapprove or disagree with
furnace
an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced for a building
racial
of or related to groups of people sharing distinctive traits
reimbursement
compensation paid for damages or money already spent
segregation
the act of keeping apart
excited
in an aroused state
frivolous
not serious in content, attitude, or behavior
tiring
producing exhaustion
supercilious
having or showing arrogant superiority
janitor
someone employed to clean and maintain a building
frivolity
the trait of being not serious or sensible
urbane
showing a high degree of refinement
triviality
a detail that is considered insignificant
mercenary
a person hired to fight for another country than their own
stratagem
an elaborate or deceitful scheme to deceive or evade
rejuvenate
make younger or more youthful
rebel
someone who exhibits independence in thought and action
abduct
take away to an undisclosed location against their will
headquarters
the main office or administrative center of a business
advent
arrival that has been awaited
quack
the sound made by a duck
charlatan
a flamboyant deceiver
accrue
grow by addition
predicament
an unpleasant or difficult situation
antedate
be earlier in time than
aura
distinctive but intangible quality around a person or thing
antipathy
a feeling of intense dislike
ineffectual
not producing an intended consequence
circumnavigate
travel completely around something
zenith
the highest point of something
collate
assemble in proper sequence
glib
artfully persuasive in speech
conducive
tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
facile
arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth
disperse
move away from each other
debonair
having a sophisticated charm
elicit
call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
doleful
filled with or evoking sadness
futile
producing no result or effect
tolerate
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
segregation
the act of keeping apart
synopsis
a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument
adage
a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact
dough
a flour mixture stiff enough to knead or roll
blizzard
a weather event with widespread snowfall and strong winds
lucrative
producing a sizeable profit
opposition
being against something that you disapprove or disagree with
critique
appraise or judge in an analytical way
supercilious
having or showing arrogant superiority
haughty
having or showing arrogant superiority
idiotic
having a mental age of three to seven years
aid
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
aspect
a characteristic to be considered
furnace
an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced for a building
reimbursement
compensation paid for damages or money already spent
tremendous
extraordinarily large in extent or amount or power
frivolity
the trait of being not serious or sensible
stratagem
an elaborate or deceitful scheme to deceive or evade
quack
the sound made by a duck
debonair
having a sophisticated charm
rejuvenate
make younger or more youthful
abduct
take away to an undisclosed location against their will
advent
arrival that has been awaited
accrue
grow by addition
antedate
be earlier in time than
circumnavigate
travel completely around something
conducive
tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
collate
assemble in proper sequence
descend
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
disperse
move away from each other
dilate
become wider
elicit
call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
intrepid
invulnerable to fear or intimidation
illicit
contrary to accepted morality or convention
irreparable
impossible to rectify or amend
intramural
carried on within the bounds of an institution or community
malediction
the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil
permeate
spread or diffuse through
perimeter
a line enclosing a plane area
precedence
status established in order of importance or urgency
predecessor
one who goes before you in time
proponent
a person who argues for a cause or puts forward an idea
semicolon
a punctuation mark used to connect independent clauses
Amish
an American follower of the Mennonite religion
aplomb
great coolness and composure under strain
awry
turned or twisted to one side
banquet
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
buffet
piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room
buoy
an anchored float that marks locations in a body of water
Celtic
relating to or characteristic of the Celts
denouement
the outcome of a complex sequence of events
entrepreneur
someone who organizes a business venture
fracas
a noisy, angry argument or fight between people
niche
a small concavity
hegemony
the dominance or leadership of one social group over others
penchant
a strong liking or preference
insouciant
marked by unconcern
posthumous
occurring or coming into existence after a person's death
khaki
a sturdy type of cloth that is a light brown color
quagmire
a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
larynx
the structure containing the vocal cords
remuneration
paying for goods or services or to recompense for losses
mausoleum
a large burial chamber, usually above ground
shallot
type of onion plant producing small clustered mild-flavored bulbs used as seasoning
toupee
a small hairpiece to cover partial baldness
vehement
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
verbiage
overabundance of words
worsted
a tightly twisted woolen yarn spun from long-staple wool
adapt
make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
authentic
not counterfeit or copied
chronic
long-lasting or characterized by long suffering
conquer
take possession of by force, as after an invasion
frustrate
hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
indulge
yield to; give satisfaction to
naive
marked by or showing unaffected simplicity
punish
impose a penalty on
relinquish
turn away from; give up
sullen
showing a brooding ill humor
seism
shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity
precursor
something indicating the approach of something or someone
vengeance
harming someone in retaliation for something they have done
pestilence
any epidemic disease with a high death rate
metamorphose
change in outward structure or looks
transition
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
phenomenon
any state or process known through the senses
illustrious
widely known and esteemed
eminent
standing above others in quality or position
elaborate
marked by complexity and richness of detail
desperation
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
craze
state of violent mental agitation
prosper
make steady progress
transcend
go beyond the scope or limits of
racial
of or related to groups of people sharing distinctive traits
proverb
a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact
composition
the way in which someone or something is put together
adolescence
the period between the beginning of puberty and adulthood
affectionate
having or displaying warmth or fondness
posed
arranged for pictorial purposes
imply
express or state indirectly
infer
conclude by reasoning
beholder
a person who becomes aware through the senses

Created on Wed Sep 26 15:20:03 EDT 2012 (updated Thu Jun 20 15:15:36 EDT 2013)

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