wordly wise book 12

Kang Ho Kim (South Korea)
356 words 54 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. acolyte
    a devoted follower or assistant
  2. bibulous
    given to or marked by the consumption of alcohol
  3. coalesce
    fuse or cause to come together
  4. covert
    secret or hidden
  5. declaim
    recite in a skilled and formal way
  6. delineate
    represented accurately or precisely
  7. demagogue
    a leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions
  8. demagoguery
    political rhetoric appealing to popular prejudice or emotion
  9. encomium
    a formal expression of praise
  10. obdurate
    stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
  11. obduracy
    resoluteness by virtue of being unyielding and inflexible
  12. prescience
    the power to foresee the future
  13. prescient
    perceiving the significance of events before they occur
  14. protagonist
    the principal character in a work of fiction
  15. sedulous
    marked by care and persistent effort
  16. trenchant
    having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought
  17. utopia
    ideally perfect state
  18. utopian
    pertaining to or resembling an ideally perfect state
  19. valedictory
    a farewell oration
  20. valediction
    a farewell oration
  21. absolve
    grant remission of a sin to
  22. adumbrate
    describe roughly or give the main points or summary of
  23. apothegm
    a short pithy instructive saying
  24. aspersion
    a disparaging remark
  25. coadjutor
    an assistant to a bishop
  26. congenital
    present at birth but not necessarily hereditary
  27. germane
    relevant and appropriate
  28. hiatus
    an interruption in the intensity or amount of something
  29. immure
    lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
  30. ineluctable
    impossible to avoid or evade
  31. internecine
    within a group or organization
  32. invoke
    request earnestly; ask for aid or protection
  33. prototype
    a standard or typical example
  34. quadrennium
    a period of four years
  35. amalgam
    a combination or blend of diverse things
  36. antediluvian
    of or relating to the period before the biblical flood
  37. apothecary
    a health professional who prepares and dispenses drugs
  38. ascetic
    someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
  39. beneficent
    doing or producing good
  40. charlatan
    a flamboyant deceiver
  41. denizen
    a plant or animal naturalized in a region
  42. doyen
    a man who is the senior member of a group
  43. doyenne
    the most experienced or respected woman in some field
  44. flora
    all the plant life in a particular region or period
  45. imbibe
    take in liquids
  46. nostrum
    patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable
  47. obviate
    do away with
  48. perennial
    lasting an indefinitely long time
  49. putative
    purported
  50. savant
    a learned person
  51. approbation
    official acceptance or agreement
  52. benighted
    overtaken by darkness
  53. bourgeois
    being of the property-owning class
  54. credo
    any system of principles or beliefs
  55. empirical
    derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
  56. eschew
    avoid and stay away from deliberately
  57. expatiate
    add details to clarify an idea
  58. iconoclast
    someone who attacks cherished ideas or institutions
  59. iconoclastic
    characterized by attack on established beliefs
  60. indigence
    a state of extreme poverty or destitution
  61. indigent
    poor enough to need help from others
  62. laudable
    worthy of high praise
  63. mandate
    a formal statement of a command to do something
  64. ostensible
    appearing as such but not necessarily so
  65. recalcitrant
    stubbornly resistant to authority or control
  66. recalcitrance
    the trait of being unmanageable or uncooperative
  67. regurgitate
    pour or rush back
  68. risible
    arousing or provoking laughter
  69. archaic
    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
  70. carouse
    celebrate or enjoy something in a noisy or wild way
  71. chicanery
    the use of tricks to deceive someone
  72. contentious
    showing an inclination to disagree
  73. dissemble
    behave unnaturally or affectedly
  74. egregious
    conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
  75. execrate
    curse or declare to be evil or anathema
  76. execration
    hate coupled with disgust
  77. fealty
    the loyalty that one owes to a country, sovereign, or lord
  78. microcosm
    a miniature model of something
  79. paroxysm
    a sudden uncontrollable attack
  80. pecuniary
    relating to or involving money
  81. rectitude
    righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest
  82. stratagem
    an elaborate or deceitful scheme to deceive or evade
  83. stultify
    deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless
  84. vendetta
    a blood feud between members of opposing parties
  85. actuate
    put in motion
  86. brackish
    slightly salty
  87. cognitive
    relating to or involving the mental process of knowing
  88. dissertation
    a treatise advancing a point of view resulting from research
  89. dolorous
    showing sorrow
  90. endemic
    native to or confined to a certain region
  91. fecund
    capable of producing offspring or vegetation
  92. genealogy
    the study or investigation of ancestry and family history
  93. inebriated
    stupefied or excited by a chemical substance
  94. insidious
    working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
  95. interloper
    someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another
  96. precursor
    something indicating the approach of something or someone
  97. presentiment
    a feeling of evil to come
  98. ramification
    a consequence, especially one that causes complications
  99. torpor
    a state of motor and mental inactivity
  100. torpid
    in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
  101. abjure
    formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
  102. amorphous
    having no definite form or distinct shape
  103. animus
    a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
  104. dichotomy
    a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses
  105. exemplar
    a person or thing to be imitated; ideal model
  106. exemplary
    worthy of imitation
  107. herculean
    extremely difficult; requiring great strength
  108. inchoate
    only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
  109. invidious
    containing or implying a slight or showing prejudice
  110. nefarious
    extremely wicked
  111. nihilism
    complete denial of established authority and institutions
  112. nihilistic
    relating to a complete rejection of moral values and beliefs
  113. ratify
    approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
  114. subsume
    contain or include
  115. variegated
    having an assortment of colors
  116. vitiate
    make imperfect
  117. aborigine
    an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
  118. aboriginal
    having existed from the beginning
  119. abrogate
    revoke formally
  120. appurtenance
    equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles
  121. bivouac
    temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
  122. bivouac
    temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
  123. cetacean
    large aquatic carnivorous mammal with fin-like forelimbs
  124. cetacean
    large aquatic carnivorous mammal with fin-like forelimbs
  125. decry
    express strong disapproval of
  126. desuetude
    a state of inactivity or disuse
  127. leviathan
    the largest or most massive thing of its kind
  128. mawkish
    very sentimental or emotional
  129. misapprehend
    interpret in the wrong way
  130. misapprehension
    an understanding of something that is not correct
  131. parochial
    relating to or supported by or located in a parish
  132. purvey
    supply with provisions
  133. purveyor
    someone who supplies provisions, especially food
  134. recourse
    act of turning to for assistance
  135. replete
    filled to satisfaction with food or drink
  136. waive
    do without or cease to hold or adhere to
  137. waiver
    a formal written statement of relinquishment
  138. apposite
    being of striking appropriateness and pertinence
  139. calumny
    a false accusation of an offense
  140. calumnious
    harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign
  141. domain
    a particular environment or walk of life
  142. dorsal
    on or near the back of an animal or organ
  143. enervate
    weaken physically, mentally, or morally
  144. epicure
    a person who takes great pleasure in fine food and drink
  145. exculpate
    pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
  146. exculpatory
    clearing of guilt or blame
  147. heterogeneous
    consisting of elements not of the same kind or nature
  148. infinitesimal
    immeasurably small
  149. lateral
    situated at or extending to the side
  150. primeval
    having existed from the beginning
  151. quintessence
    the most typical example or representative of a type
  152. quintessential
    representing the perfect example of a class or quality
  153. serrated
    notched like a saw with teeth pointing toward the apex
  154. veritable
    not counterfeit or copied
  155. viviparous
    producing living young and not eggs
  156. acumen
    shrewdness shown by keen insight
  157. apotheosis
    model of excellence or perfection of a kind
  158. askew
    turned or twisted to one side
  159. chasten
    censure severely
  160. chastening
    a rebuke for making a mistake
  161. demarcation
    the boundary of a specific area
  162. dictum
    an authoritative declaration
  163. erstwhile
    belonging to some prior time
  164. forte
    an asset of special worth or utility
  165. nonplus
    be a mystery or bewildering to
  166. peripatetic
    traveling especially on foot
  167. prodigal
    recklessly wasteful
  168. prodigal
    recklessly wasteful
  169. sycophant
    a person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage
  170. sycophantic
    attempting to win favor by flattery
  171. vacuous
    devoid of matter
  172. wraith
    a ghostly figure, especially one seen shortly before death
  173. wraithlike
    lacking in substance
  174. cacophony
    loud confusing disagreeable sounds
  175. cacophonous
    having an unpleasant sound
  176. confrere
    a person who is member of one's class or profession
  177. convoke
    call together
  178. convocation
    the act of calling to a meeting
  179. filial
    designating the generation following the parental generation
  180. fractious
    easily irritated or annoyed
  181. fulminate
    cause to explode violently and with loud noise
  182. fulmination
    the act of exploding with noise and violence
  183. jocular
    characterized by jokes and good humor
  184. jocularity
    a feeling of facetious merriment
  185. nugatory
    of no real value
  186. obloquy
    state of disgrace resulting from public abuse
  187. palpable
    capable of being perceived
  188. parity
    functional equality
  189. peruse
    examine or consider with attention and in detail
  190. polemic
    a verbal or written attack, especially of a belief or dogma
  191. polemical
    of or involving dispute or controversy
  192. polemicist
    a writer who argues in opposition to others
  193. supplicate
    ask for humbly or earnestly, as in prayer
  194. supplicant
    someone who prays to God
  195. supplication
    the act of communicating with a deity
  196. temporize
    draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time
  197. apprise
    inform somebody of something
  198. beatific
    resembling or befitting an angel or saint
  199. cogent
    powerfully persuasive
  200. colloquy
    formal conversation
  201. deprave
    corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
  202. depravity
    moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
  203. discrete
    constituting a separate entity or part
  204. efface
    remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing
  205. elucidate
    make clear and comprehensible
  206. inferno
    a very intense and uncontrolled fire
  207. infernal
    characteristic of or resembling Hell
  208. lachrymose
    showing sorrow
  209. morbid
    suggesting the horror of death and decay
  210. omniscient
    knowing, seeing, or understanding everything
  211. omniscience
    the state or quality of having infinite knowledge
  212. palliative
    moderating pain or sorrow by making it easier to bear
  213. palliative
    moderating pain or sorrow by making it easier to bear
  214. preternatural
    existing outside of or not in accordance with nature
  215. salutary
    tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health
  216. abut
    lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
  217. adjure
    command solemnly
  218. descry
    catch sight of
  219. desecrate
    violate the sacred character of a place or language
  220. desecration
    blasphemous behavior
  221. dilettante
    an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention
  222. equivocal
    open to two or more interpretations
  223. equivocate
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
  224. exhume
    dig up for reburial or for medical investigation
  225. extirpate
    destroy completely, as if down to the roots
  226. foible
    a minor weakness or peculiarity in someone's character
  227. insolvent
    unable to meet or discharge financial obligations
  228. jocose
    characterized by jokes and good humor
  229. portal
    a grand and imposing entrance
  230. progenitor
    an ancestor in the direct line
  231. propitiate
    make peace with
  232. restitution
    the act of restoring something to its original state
  233. acerbic
    sour or bitter in taste
  234. canard
    a deliberately misleading fabrication
  235. debonair
    having a sophisticated charm
  236. deign
    do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
  237. dotage
    mental infirmity as a consequence of old age
  238. foist
    force onto another
  239. insipid
    lacking interest or significance or impact
  240. misconstrue
    interpret in the wrong way
  241. narcissism
    an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself
  242. narcissistic
    having an inflated idea of one's own importance
  243. overweening
    presumptuously arrogant
  244. paean
    a hymn of praise
  245. repartee
    adroitness and cleverness in reply
  246. repine
    express discontent
  247. sartorial
    of or relating to tailoring or clothing
  248. svelte
    being of delicate or slender build
  249. anachronism
    locating something at a time when it couldn't have existed
  250. apiary
    a shed containing a number of beehives
  251. archetype
    something that serves as a model
  252. carcinogen
    any substance that produces cancer
  253. carcinogenic
    causing or tending to cause cancer
  254. checkered
    patterned with alternating squares of color
  255. cornucopia
    a horn filled with fruit and grain symbolizing prosperity
  256. devolve
    pass on or delegate to another
  257. equitable
    fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience
  258. exigency
    a pressing or urgent situation
  259. fatalism
    a doctrine that all events are predetermined in advance
  260. fatalistic
    accepting that everything that happens is inevitable
  261. gustatory
    of or relating to the sense of taste
  262. minutia
    a small or minor detail
  263. motley
    consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
  264. prospectus
    a document that sets forth a plan for a business enterprise
  265. vernal
    suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh
  266. apocalyptic
    of or relating to a catastrophe
  267. concatenation
    the act of linking together as in a series or chain
  268. convulse
    move or stir about violently
  269. convulsion
    a violent uncontrollable contraction of muscles
  270. decree
    a legally binding command or decision
  271. decree
    a legally binding command or decision
  272. expatriate
    a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country
  273. expatriate
    a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country
  274. fetid
    offensively malodorous
  275. holocaust
    an act of mass destruction and loss of life
  276. infraction
    a violation of a law or rule
  277. insouciance
    a casual or lighthearted feeling of unconcern
  278. insouciant
    marked by unconcern
  279. minion
    a servile or fawning dependent
  280. sanguinary
    accompanied by bloodshed
  281. staccato
    (music) separating the notes
  282. sybaritic
    displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses
  283. thespian
    a theatrical performer
  284. verisimilitude
    the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true
  285. abnegate
    deny or renounce
  286. ancillary
    furnishing added support
  287. badinage
    frivolous banter
  288. bedizen
    decorate tastelessly
  289. celerity
    a rate that is rapid
  290. cynosure
    something that provides guidance
  291. itinerary
    an established line of travel or access
  292. lissome
    moving and bending with ease
  293. milieu
    the environmental condition
  294. obstreperous
    noisily and stubbornly defiant
  295. paragon
    a perfect embodiment of a concept
  296. perquisite
    an incidental benefit for certain types of employment
  297. staid
    characterized by dignity and propriety
  298. symbiotic
    of organisms living together, especially to mutual advantage
  299. symbiosis
    the relation between two interdependent species of organisms
  300. tyro
    someone new to a field or activity
  301. abortive
    failing to accomplish an intended result
  302. arrogate
    seize and take control without authority
  303. cadaver
    the dead body of a human being
  304. cadaverous
    of or relating to a corpse
  305. cerebral
    of or relating to the brain
  306. coma
    a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness
  307. comatose
    in a state of deep and usually prolonged unconsciousness
  308. consanguinity
    relation by blood
  309. consanguineous
    related by blood
  310. ghoul
    an evil spirit or ghost
  311. ghoulish
    suggesting the horror of death and decay
  312. infringe
    advance beyond the usual limit
  313. lassitude
    a feeling of lack of interest or energy
  314. nadir
    the lowest point of anything
  315. nuptials
    the social event at which the marriage ceremony is performed
  316. nuptial
    of or relating to a wedding
  317. onus
    a burdensome or difficult concern
  318. protocol
    forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by officials
  319. refractory
    stubbornly resistant to authority or control
  320. sanguine
    confidently optimistic and cheerful
  321. appellation
    identifying words by which someone or something is called
  322. conjugal
    relating to the relationship between a wife and husband
  323. didactic
    instructive, especially excessively
  324. efflorescence
    the time and process of budding and unfolding of blossoms
  325. efflorescent
    bursting into flower
  326. effulgence
    the quality of being bright and sending out rays of light
  327. effulgent
    radiating or as if radiating light
  328. exegesis
    an explanation or critical interpretation
  329. genre
    a kind of literary or artistic work
  330. limn
    make a portrait of
  331. miscreant
    a person without moral scruples
  332. mordant
    harshly ironic or sinister
  333. mores
    the conventions embodying the fundamental values of a group
  334. nemesis
    a personal foe or rival that cannot be easily defeated
  335. peccadillo
    a petty misdeed
  336. prolix
    tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at length
  337. prolixity
    boring verbosity
  338. taciturn
    habitually reserved and uncommunicative
  339. taciturnity
    the trait of being uncommunicative
  340. despoil
    plunder or steal goods
  341. despoliation
    the act of stripping and taking by force
  342. educe
    construe a meaning or elicit a principle
  343. equable
    not varying
  344. happenstance
    an accidental event that seems to have been arranged
  345. insular
    relating to or characteristic of or situated on an island
  346. mayhem
    violent and needless disturbance
  347. parlous
    fraught with danger
  348. pellucid
    transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
  349. preclude
    make impossible, especially beforehand
  350. propinquity
    the property of being close together
  351. rapacious
    living by preying on other animals
  352. schism
    division of a group into opposing factions
  353. sublimate
    change directly from a solid into a vapor without melting
  354. talisman
    a trinket thought to be a magical protection against evil
  355. talismanic
    possessing or believed to possess magic power especially protective power
  356. terrestrial
    of or relating to or characteristic of the planet Earth
Created on Wed Nov 27 02:41:13 EST 2013 (updated Wed Nov 27 21:21:22 EST 2013)

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