abase  [E5beis]
v.  [abased; abased; abasing] lower; degrade; humiliate 
Anna expected to have to curtsy to the King of Siam; when told to cast herself down on the ground before him, however she refused to abase herself. 

abash  [E5bAF]
v.  [abashed; abashed; abashing] embarrass 
He was not at all abashed by her open admiration. 

abate  [E5beit]
v.  [abated; abated; abating] subside or moderate 
Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate. 

abbreviate  [E5bri:vieit]
v.  [abbreviated; abbreviated; abbreviating] shorten 
Because we were running out of time, the lecturer had to abbreviate her speech. 

abdicate  [Abdi5keit]
v.  [abdicated; abdicated; abdicating] renounce; give up 
When Edward VII abdicated the British throne, he surprised the entire world. 

aberrant  [A5berEnt]
adj.  abnormal or deviant 
Given the aberrant nature of the data, we came to doubt the validity of the entire experiment. 

abet  [E5bet]
v.  [abetted; abetted; abetting] assist, usually in doing something wrong 
She was unwilling to abet him in the swindle he had planned. 

abeyance  [E5beiEns]
n.  suspended action 
The deal was held in abeyance until her arrival. 

abject  [5AbdVekt]
adj.  wretched; lacking pride 
On the streets of New York the homeless live in abject poverty, huddling in doorways to find shelter from the wind. 

abjure  [Eb5dVuE]
v.  [abjured; abjured; abjuring] renounce upon oath 
He abjured his allegiance to the king. 

ablution  [E5blu:FEn]
n.  washing 
His daily ablutions were accompanied by loud noises that he humorously labeled "Opera in the Bath." 

abnegation  [Abni5geiFEn]
n.  renunciation; self-sacrifice 
Though Rudolph and Duchess Flavia loved one another, their love was doomed, for she had to wed the king; their act of abnegation was necessary to preserve the kingdom. 

abominate  [E5bRmineit]
v.  [abominated; abominated; abominating] loathe; hate 
Moses scolded the idol worshippers in the tribe because he abominated the custom. 

abortive  [E5bRrtiv]
adj.  unsuccessful; fruitless 
We had to abandon our abortive attempts. 

abrasive  [E5breisiv]
adj.  rubbing away; tending to grind down 
Just as abrasive cleaning powders can wear away a shiny finish, abrasive remarks can wear away a listener's patience. 

abrogate  [5AbrEugeit]
v.  [abrogated; abrogated; abrogating] abolish 
He intended to abrogate the decree issued by his predecessor. 

abscond  [Eb5skRnd]
v.  [absconded; absconded; absconding] depart secretly and hide 
The teller absconded with the bonds and was not found. 

absolute  [5AbsElu:t]
adj.  complete; totally unlimited; certain 
Although the King of Siam was an absolute monarch, he did not want to behead his unfaithful wife without absolute evidence of her infidelity. 

absolve  [Eb5zRlv]
v.  [absolved; absolved; absolving] pardon (an offense) 
The father confessor absolved him of his sins. 

abstain  [Eb5stein]
v.  [abstained; abstained; abstaining] refrain; withhold from participation 
After considering the effect of alcohol on his athletic performance, he decided to abstain from drinking while he trained for the race. 

abstract  [5AbstrAkt]
adj.  [more abstract; most abstract] theoretical; not concrete; non-representational 
To him, hunger was an abstract concept; he had never missed a meal. 

abusive  [E5bju:siv]
adj.  coarsely insulting; physically harmful 
An abusive parent damages a child both mentally and physically. 

abut  [E5bQt]
v.  [abutted; abutted; abutting] border upon; adjoin 
Where our estates abut, we must build a fence. 

abysmal  [E5bizml]
adj.  bottomless 
His arrogance is exceeded only by his abysmal ignorance. 

accede  [Ak5si:d]
v.  [acceded; acceded; acceding] agree 
If I accede to this demand for blackmail, I am afraid that I will be the victim of future demands. 

accelerate  [Ak5selEreit]
v.  [accelerated; accelerated; accelerating] move faster 
In our science class, we learn how falling bodies accelerate. 

accessible  [Ak5sesEbl]
adj.  easy to approach; obtainable 
We asked our guide whether the ruins were accessible on foot. 

accessory  [Ak5sesEri]
n.  [accessories] additional object; useful but not essential thing 
She bought an attractive handbag as an accessory for her dress. 

acclimate  [E5klaimit]
v.  [acclimated; acclimated; acclimating] adjust to climate or environment 
One of the difficulties of our present air age is the need of travellers to acclimate themselves to their new and often strange environments. 

acclivity  [E5kliviti]
n.  [acclivities] sharp upslope of a hill 
The car could not go up the acclivity in high gear. 

accolade  [AkE5leid]
n.  award of merit 
In Hollywood, an "Oscar" is the highest accolade. 

accord  [E5kR:d]
n.  [accords] agreement 
She was in complete accord with the verdict. 

accost  [E5kRst]
v.  [accosted; accosted; accosting] approach and speak first to a person 
When the two young men accosted me, I was frightened because I thought they were going to attack me. 

accoutre  [E5ku:tE]
v.  equip 
The fisherman was accoutred with the best that the sporting goods store could supply 

accretion  [A5kri:FEn]
n.  growth; increase 
The accretion of wealth marked the family's rise in power. 

accrue  [E5kru:]
v.  [accrued; accrued; accruing] come about by addition 
You must pay the interest that has accrued on your debt as well as the principal sum. 

acidulous  [E5sidjulEs]
adj.  slightly sour; sharp; caustic 
James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks. 

acme  [5Akmi]
n.  peak; pinnacle; highest point 
Welles's success in Citizen Kane marked the acme of his career as an actor; never again did he achieve such popular acclaim. 

acquiesce  [Akwi5es]
v.  [acquiesced; acquiesced; acquiescing] assent; agree passively 
Although she appeared to acquiesce to her employer's suggestions, I could tell she had reservations about the changes he wanted made. 

acquittal  [E5kwitl]
n.  [acquittals] deliverance from a charge 
His acquittal by the jury surprised those who had thought him guilty. 

acrid  [5Akrid]
adj.  sharp; bitterly pungent 
The acrid odor of burnt gunpowder filled the room after the pistol had been fired. 

acrimonious  [Akri5mEuniEs]
adj.  stinging, caustic 
His tendency to utter acrimonious remarks alienated his audience. 

actuarial  [AktFu5ZEriEl]
adj.  calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics 
According to recent actuarial tables, life expectancy is greater today than it was a century ago. 

actuate  [5AktFueit]
v.  [actuated; actuated; actuating] motivate 
I fail to understand what actuated you to reply to this letter so nastily. 

acuity  [E5kjuiti]
n.  sharpness 
In time his youthful acuity of vision failed him, and he needed glasses. 

acumen  [E5kju:mEn]
n.  mental keenness 
His business acumen helped him to succeed where others had failed. 

adage  [5AdidV]
v.  wise saying; proverb 
There is much truth in the old adage about fools and their money. 

adamant  [5AdEmEnt]
adj.  hard, inflexible 
He was adamant in his determination to punish the wrongdoer. 

addendum  [E5dendEm]
n.  [addenda, addendums] addition; appendix to book 
Jane's editor approved her new comparative literature text but thought it would be even better with an addendum on recent developments in literary criticism. 

addle  [5Adl]
v.  [addled; addled; addling] muddle; drive crazy 
This idiotic plan is confusing enough to addle anyone. 

adherent  [Ed5hiErEnt]
n.  [adherents] supporter; follower 
In the wake of the scandal, the senator's one-time adherent quietly deserted him. 

adjunct  [5AdVQNkt]
n.  something attached to but holding an inferior position 
I will entertain this concept as an adjunct to the main proposal. 

adjuration  [AdVuE5reiFEn]
n.  solemn urging 
Her adjuration to tell the truth did not change the witnesses' testimony. 

adjutant  [5AdVutEnt]
n.  staff officer assisting the commander; assistant 
Though Wellington delegated many tasks to his chief adjutant, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Somerset was in no doubt as to who made all major decisions. 

admonish  [Ed5mRniF]
v.  [admonished; admonished; admonishing] warn; reprove 
He admonished his listeners to change their wicked ways. 

adorn  [E5dR:n]
v.  [adorned; adorned; adorning] decorate 
Wall paintings and carved statues adorned the temple. 

adroit  [E5drRit]
adj.  skillful 
His adroit handling of the delicate situation pleased his employers. 

adulation  [Adju5leiFEn]
n.  flattery; admiration 
The rock star thrived on the adulation of his groupies and yes-men. 

adulterate  [E5dQltEreit]
v.  [adulterated; adulterated; adulterating] make impure by mixing with baser substances 
It is a crime to adulterate foods without informing the buyer. 

advent  [5AdvEnt]
n.  arrival 
Most Americans were unaware of the advent of the Nuclear Age until the news of Hiroshima reached them. 

adventitious  [Adven5tiFEs]
adj.  accidental; casual 
He found this adventitious meeting with his friend extremely fortunate. 

adversary  [5AdvEsEri]
n.  [adversaries] opponent; enemy 
Batman struggled to save Gotham City from the machinations of his wicked adversary, the Joker. 

adverse  [5AdvE:s]
adj.  unfavorable; hostile 
adverse circumstances compelled him to close his business. 

adversity  [Ed5vE:siti]
n.  [adversities] poverty, misfortune 
We must learn to meet adversity gracefully. 

advert  [5AdvE:t]
v.  [adverted; adverted; adverting] refer to 
Since you advert to this matter so frequently, you must regard it as important. 

advocate  [5AdvEkit]
v.  urge; plead for 
The abolitionists advocated freedom for the slaves. 

aegis  [5i:dVis]
n.  shield; defense 
Under the aegis of the Bill of Rights, we enjoy our most treasured freedoms. 

affable  [5AfEbl]
adj.  courteous 
Although he held a position of responsibility, he was an affable individual and could be reached by anyone with a complaint. 

affected  [E5fektid]
adj.  artificial; pretended 
His affected mannerisms irritated may of us who had known him before his promotion. 

affidavit  [Afi5deivit]
n.  written statement made under oath 
The court refused to accept his statement unless he presented it in the form of an affidavit. 

affiliation  [Efili5eiFEn]
n.  joining; associating with 
His affiliation with the political party was of short duration for he soon disagreed with his colleagues. 

affinity  [E5finiti]
n.  [affinities] kinship 
She felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were her pains. 

affirmation  [AfE5meiFEn]
n.  positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath 
Despite Tom's affirmation of innocence, Aunt Polly still suspected he had eaten the pie. 

affix  [E5fiks]
v.  [affixed; affixed; affixing] attach or add on; fasten 
First the registrar had to affix his signature to the license; then he had to affix his official seal. 

affluence  [5AfluEns]
n.  abundance; wealth 
Foreigners are amazed by the affluence and luxury of the American way of life. 

affront  [E5frQnt]
v.  [affronted; affronted; affronting] insult; offend 
Accustomed to being treated with respect, Miss Challoner was affronted by Vidal's offensive behavior. 

agape  [E5geip]
adv.  openmouthed 
She stared, agape, at the many strange animals in the zoo. 

agenda  [E5dVendE]
n.  items of business at a meeting 
We had so much difficulty agreeing upon an agenda that there was very little time for the meeting. 

agglomeration  [EglRmE5reiFEn]
n.  collection; heap 
It took weeks to assort the agglomeration of miscellaneous items she had collected on her trip. 

aggrandize  [E5grAndaiz]
v.  [aggrandized; aggrandized; aggrandizing] increase or intensify; raise in power, wealth, rank or honor 
The history of the past quarter century illustrates how a President may aggrandize his power to act aggressively in international affairs without considering the wishes of Congress. 

aggregate  [5Agrigeit]
n.  sum; total 
The aggregate wealth of this country is staggering to the imagination. 

aghast  [E5ga:st]
adj.  horrified 
He was aghast at the nerve of the speaker who had insulted his host. 

agility  [E5dVilEti]
n.  nimbleness 
The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience. 

agitate  [5AdViteit]
v.  [agitated; agitated; agitating] stir up; disturb 
Her fiery remarks agitated the already angry mob. 

agnostic  [Ag5nRstik]
n.  one who is skeptical of the existence of knowability of a god or any ultimate reality 
The agnostic demanded proof before she would accept the statement of the minister. 

agog  [E5gRg]
adj.  highly excited; intensely curious 
We were all agog at the news that the celebrated movie star was giving up his career in order to enter a monastery. 

agrarian  [E5grZEriEn]
adj.  pertaining to land or its cultivation 
As a result of its recent industrialization, the country is gradually losing its agrarian traditions. 

alacrity  [E5lAkriti]
n.  cheerful promptness 
He demonstrated his eagerness to serve by his alacrity in executing the orders of his master. 

alchemy  [5Alkimi]
n.  [alchemies] medieval chemistry 
The changing of baser metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy. 

alcove  [5AlkEuv]
n.  [alcoves] nook; recess 
Though their apartment lacked a full-scale dining room, an alcove adjacent to the living room made an adequate breakfast nook for the young couple. 

alias  [5eiliAs]
n.  [aliases] an assumed name 
John Smith's alias was Bob Jones. 

alienate  [5eiljEneit]
v.  [alienated; alienated; alienating] make hostile; separate 
Her attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith in each other. 

alimentary  [Ali5mentEri]
adj.  supplying nourishment 
The alimentary canal in our bodies is so named because digestion of foods occurs there. 

alimony  [5AlimEni]
n.  payments make to an ex-spouse after divorce 
Because Tony had supported Tina through medical school, on their divorce he asked the court to award him $500 a month in alimony. 

allay  [E5lei]
v.  [allayed; allayed; allaying] calm; pacify 
The crew tried to allay the fears of the passengers by announcing that the fire had been controlled. 

allege  [E5ledV]
v.  [alleged; alleged; alleging] state without proof 
It is alleged that she had worked for the enemy. 

allegory  [5AligEri]
n.  [allegories] story in which characters are used as symbols; fable 
Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the temptations and victories of the human soul. 

alleviate  [E5li:vieit]
v.  [alleviated; alleviated; alleviating] relieve 
This should alleviate the pain; if it does not, we shall have to use stronger drugs. 

alliteration  [ElitE5reiFEn]
n.  repetition of beginning sound in poetry 
"The furrow followed free" is an example of alliteration. 

alloy  [5AlRi, E5lRi]
n.  [alloys] mixture as of metals 
alloy of gold are used more frequently than the pure metal. 

allude  [E5lu:d]
v.  [alluded; alluded; alluding] refer indirectly 
Try not to allude to this matter in his presence because the topic annoys him. 

allure  [E5ljuE]
v.  [allured; allured; alluring] entice; attract 
allured by the song of the sirens, the helmsman steered the ship toward the reef. 

allusion  [E5lu:VEn]
n.  [allusions] indirect reference 
the allusions to mythological characters in Milton's poems bewilder the reader who has not studied Latin. 

alluvial  [E5ljuvjEl]
adj.  pertaining to soil deposits left by running water 
The farmers found the alluvial deposits at the mouth of the river very fertile. 

aloft  [E5lRft]
adv.  upward 
The sailor climbed aloft into the rigging. 

aloof  [E5lu:f]
ad.  apart; reserved 
Shy by nature, she remained aloof while all the rest conversed. 

altercation  [R:ltE5keiFEn]
n.  [altercations] noisy quarrel 
Throughout the altercation, not one sensible word was uttered. 

altruistic  [Altru5istik]
adj.  unselfishly generous; concerned for others 
In providing tutorial assistance and college scholarships to hundreds of economically disadvantaged youths, Eugene Lang performed a truly altruistic deed. 

amalgamate  [E5mAlgEmeit]
v.  [amalgamated; amalgamated; amalgamating] combine; unite in one body 
The unions will attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body. 

amass  [E5mAs]
v.  [amassed; amassed; amassing] collect 
The miser's aim is to amass and hoard as much gold as possible. 

amazon  [5AmEzEn]
n.  female warrior 
Ever since the days of Greek mythology we refer to strong and aggressive women as amazons. 

ambidextrous  [Ambi5dekstrEs]
adj.  capable of using either hand with equal ease 
A switch-hitter in baseball should be naturally ambidextrous. 

ambience  [5AmbiEns]
n.  environment; atmosphere 
She went to the restaurant not for the food but for the ambience. 

ambiguous  [Am5bigjuEs]
adj.  unclear or doubtful in meaning 
His ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which road to take. 

ambivalence  [5Ambi5veilEns]
n.  the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes 
Torn between loving her parents one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by the ambivalence of her feelings. 

amble  [5Ambl]
n.  moving at an easy pace 
When she first mounted the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a gentle amble. 

ambrosia  [Am5brEuViE]
n.  food of the gods 
ambrosia was supposed to give immortality to any human who ate it. 

ambulatory  [5AmbjulEtEri]
adj.  able to walk 
He was described as an ambulatory patient because he was not confined to his bed. 

ameliorate  [E5mi:ljEreit]
v.  [ameliorated; ameliorated; ameliorating] improve 
Many social workers have attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people living in the slums. 

amenable  [E5mi:nEbl]
adj.  readily managed; willing to be led 
He was amenable to any suggestions that came from those he looked up to; he resented advice from his inferiors. 

amend  [E5mend]
v.  [amended; amended; amending] correct; change, generally for the better 
Hoping to amend his condition, he left Vietnam for the United States. 

amenities  []
n.  [amenities] convenient features; courtesies 
In addition to the customary amenities for the business traveler -- fax machines, modems, a health club -- the hotel offers the services of a butler versed in social amenities. 

amiable  [5eimjEbl]
adj.  agreeable; lovable 
His amiable disposition pleased all who had dealings with him. 

amicable  [5AmikEbl]
adj.  [more amicable; most amicable] friendly 
The dispute was settled in an amicable manner with no harsh words. 

amiss  [E5mis]
adj.  wrong; faulty 
Seeing her frown, he wondered if anything were amiss. 

amity  [5Amiti]
n.  friendship 
Student exchange programs such as the Experiment in International Living were established to promote international amity. 

amnesia  [Am5ni:zjE]
n.  loss of memory 
Because she was suffering from amnesia, the police could not get the young girl to identify herself. 

amnesty  [5Amnesti]
n.  [amnesties] pardon 
When his first child was born, the king granted amnesty to all in prison. 

amok  [E5mRk]
ad.  in a state of rage 
The police had to be called in to restrain him after he ran amok in the department store. 

amoral  [ei5mR:rEl]
adj.  non-moral 
The amoral individual lacks a code of ethics; he should not be classified as immoral. 

amorous  [5AmErEs]
adj.  moved by sexual love; loving 
Don Juan was known for his amorous adventures. 

amorphous  [E5mR:fEs]
adj.  shapeless; vague; indeterminate 
John was subject to panic attacks that left him prey to vague, amorphous fears: he knew he was terrified, but could neither define nor explain the cause of his terror. 

amphibian  [Am5fibiEn]
adj.  able to live both on land and in water 
Frogs are classified as amphibian. 

amphitheater  [5AmfiWi:EtE]
n.  [amphitheaters] oval building with tiers of seats 
The spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators. 

ample  [5Ampl]
adj.  [ampler; amplest] abundant 
He had ample opportunity to dispose of his loot before his police caught up with him. 

amplify  [5Amplifai]
v.  [amplified; amplified; amplifying] enlarge 
Her attempts to amplify her remarks were drowned out by the jeers of the audience. 

amputate  [5Ampjuteit]
v.  [amputated; amputated; amputating] cut off part of body; prune 
When the doctors had to amputate Ted Kennedy's leg to prevent the spread of cancer, he did not let the loss of his leg keep him from participating in sports. 

amulet  [5Amjulit]
n.  charm; talisman 
Around her neck she wore the amulet that the witch doctor had given her. 

anachronism  [E5nAkrE5nizEm]
n.  something or someone misplaced in time 
Shakespeare's reference to clocks in Julius Caesar is an anachronism; no clocks existed in Caesar's time. 

analgesic  [AnAl5dVi:zik]
adj.  causing insensitivity to pain 
The analgesic qualities of his lotion will provide temporary relief. 

analogous  [E5nAlEgEs]
adj.  comparable 
She called our attention to the things that had been done in an analogous situation and recommended that we do the same. 

analogy  [E5nAlEdVi]
n.  [analogies] similarity; parallelism 
Your analogy is not a good one because the two situations are not similar. 

anarchist  [5AnEkist]
n.  [anarchists] person who rebels against the established order 
Only the total overthrow of all governmental regulations would satisfy the anarchist. 

anarchy  [5AnEki]
n.  absence of governing body; state of disorder 
The assassination of the leaders led to a period of anarchy. 

anathema  [E5nAWimE]
n.  [anathemas] solemn curse; someone or something that is despised 
He heaped anathema upon his foe. 

anathematize  [E5nAWimEtaiz]
v.  [anathematized; anathematized; anathematizing] curse 
The high priest anathematized the heretic. 

anchor  [5ANkE]
v.  [anchored; anchored; anchoring] secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place 
We set the post in concrete to anchor it in place. 

ancillary  [5AnsilEri]
adj.  serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary 
In an ancillary capacity Doctor Watson was helpful; however, Holmes could not trust the good doctor to solve a perplexing case on his own. 

anecdote  [5AnikdEut]
n.  [anecdotes] short account of an amusing or interesting event 
Rather than make concrete proposals for welfare reform, President Raegan told anecdotes about poor people who became wealthy despite their impoverished backgrounds. 

anemia  [E5ni:miE]
n.  condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles 
The doctor ascribes her tiredness to anemia. 

anesthetic  [AnEs5Wetik]
n.  substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness 
His monotonous voice acted like an anesthetic; his audience was soon asleep. 

anguish  [5ANgwiF]
n.  acute pain; extreme suffering 
Visiting the site of explosion, Premier Gorbachev wept to see the anguish of the victims and their families. 

angular  [5ANgjulE]
adj.  sharp-cornered; stiff in manner 
His features, though angular, were curiously attractive. 

animadversion  [AnEmAd5vE:FEn]
n.  critical remark 
He resented the animadversions of his critics, particularly because he realized they were true. 

animated  [5AnEmeitid]
adj.  lively 
Her animated expression indicated a keenness of intellect. 

animosity  [Ani5mRsiti]
n.  [animosities] active enmity 
He incurred the animosity of the ruling class because he advocated limitations of their power. 

animus  [5AnimEs]
n.  hostile feeling or intent 
The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks. 

annals  [5AnElz]
n.  [annals] records; history 
In the annals of this period, we find no mention of democratic movements. 

anneal  [E5ni:l]
v.  [annealed; annealed; annealing] reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling 
After the glass is annealed, it will be less subject to chipping and cracking. 

annihilate  [E5naiEleit]
v.  [annihilated; annihilated; annihilating] destroy 
The enemy in its revenge tried to annihilate the entire population. 

annotate  [5AnEuteit]
v.  [annotated; annotated; annotating] comment; make explanatory notes 
In the appendix to the novel, the critic sought to annotate many of the more esoteric references. 

annuity  [E5nju:iti]
n.  [annuities] yearly allowance 
The annuity he set up with the insurance company supplements his social security benefits so that he can live very comfortably without working. 

annul  [E5nQl]
v.  [annulled; annulled; annulling] make void 
The parents of the eloped couple tried to annul the marriage. 

anodyne  [5AnEudain]
n.  drug that relieves pain; opiate 
His pain was so great that no anodyne could relieve it. 

anoint  [E5nRint]
v.  [anointed; anointed; anointing] consecrate 
The prophet Samuel anointed David with oil, crowning him king of Israel. 

anomalous  [E5namElEs]
adj.  abnormal; irregular 
He was placed in the anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures that he despised. 

anomaly  [E5nRmEli]
n.  [anomalies] irregularity 
A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly. 

anonymity  [AnE5nimiti]
n.  [anonymities] state of being nameless; anonymousness 
The donor of the gift asked the college not to mention him by name; the dean readily agreed to respect his anonymity. 

antagonistic  [AntAgE5nistik]
adj.  hostile; opposed 
Despite his lawyers' best efforts to stop him, the angry prisoner continued to make antagonistic remarks to the judge. 

antecede  [5Anti5si:d]
v.  [anteceded; anteceded; anteceding] precede 
The invention of the radiotelegraph anteceded the development of television by a quarter of a century. 

antecedents  []
n.  [antecedents] preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later; early life; ancestors 
Before giving permission for Drummie to marry Estella, Miss Havisham had a few questions about the young man's birth and antecedents. 

antediluvian  [5Antidi5lu:viEn]
adj.  antiquated; ancient 
The antediluvian customs had apparently not changed for thousands of years. 

anthropoid  [5AnWrEpRid]
adj.  manlike 
The gorilla is the strongest of the anthropoid animals. 

anthropologist  [AnWrE5pRlEdVist]
n.  student of the history and science of humankind 
Anthropologists have discovered several relics of prehistoric humans in this area. 

anthropomorphic  [AnWrEpE5mR:fik]
adj.  having human form or characteristics 
Primitive religions often have deities with anthropomorphic characteristics. 

anticlimax  [Anti5klaimAks]
n.  letdown in thought or emotion 
After the fine performance in the first act, the rest of the play was an anticlimax. 

antipathy  [An5tipEWi]
n.  [antipathies] aversion; dislike 
His extreme antipathy to dispute caused him to avoid argumentative discussions with his friends. 

antiquated  [5Antikwitid]
adj.  obsolete; outdated 
Accustomed to editing his papers on word processors, Philip thought typewriters were too antiquated for him to use. 

antiseptic  [Anti5septik]
n.  [antiseptics] substance that prevents infection 
It is advisable to apply an antiseptic to any wound, no matter how slight or insignificant. 

antithesis  [An5tiWisis]
n.  [antitheses] contrast; direct opposite of or to 
This tyranny was the antithesis of all that he had hoped for, and he fought it with all his strength. 

anvil  [5Anvil]
n.  [anvils] iron block used in hammering out metals 
After heating the iron horseshoe in the forge, the blacksmith picked it up with his tongs and set it on the anvil. 

apathetic  [ApE5Wetik]
adj.  indifferent 
He felt apathetic about the conditions he had observed and did not care to fight against them. 

apathy  [5ApEWi]
n.  lack of caring; indifference 
A firm believer in democratic government, she could not understand the apathy of people who never bothered to vote. 

ape  [eip]
n.  [apes] imitate or mimic 
He was suspended for a week because he had aped the principal in front of the whole school. 

aperture  [5ApEtjuE]
n.  [apertures] opening; hole 
She discovered a small aperture in the wall, through which the insects had entered the room. 

apex  [5eipeks]
n.  [apexes, apices] tip; summit; climax 
He was at the apex of his career. 

aphasia  [E5feizjiE]
n.  loss of speech due to injury or illness 
After the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently. 

aphorism  [5AfErizEm]
n.  pithy maxim 
An aphorism differs from an adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific. 

apiary  [5eipjEri]
n.  [apiaries] a place where bees are kept 
Although he spent many hours daily in the apiary, he was very seldom stung by a bee. 

aplomb  [5AplR:N]
n.  poise; composure 
Wellington's nonchalance and aplomb in the heat of battle always heartened his followers. 

apocalyptic  [EpRkE5liptik]
adj.  prophetic; pertaining to revelations; especially of disaster 
His apocalyptic remarks were dismissed by his audience as wild surmises. 

apocryphal  [E5pRkrifEl]
adj.  untrue; made up 
To impress his friends, Tom invented apocryphal tales of his adventures in the big city. 

apogee  [5ApEdVi:]
n.  highest point 
When the moon in its orbit is furthest away from the earth, it is at its apogee. 

apoplexy  [5ApEpleksi]
n.  stroke; loss of consciousness followed by paralysis 
He was crippled by an attack of apoplexy. 

apostate  [E5pRsteit]
n.  one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs 
Because he switched from one party to another, his former friends shunned him as an apostate. 

apothecary  [E5pRWikeri]
n.  [apothecaries] druggist 
In Holland, apothecaries still sell spices as well as ointments and pills. 

apothegm  [5ApEuWem]
n.  pithy, compact saying 
Proverbs are apothegms that have become familiar sayings. 

apotheosis  [E5pRWi5Eusis]
n.  [apotheoses] deification; glorification 
The Roman empress Livia envied the late emperor his apotheosis; she hoped that on her death she, too, would be exalted to the rank of a god. 

appal  [E5pR:l]
v.  [appalled; appalled; appalling] dismay; shock 
We were appalled by the horrifying conditions in the city's jails. 

apparition  [ApE5riFEn]
n.  [apparitions] ghost; phantom 
Hamlet was uncertain about the identity of the apparition that had appeared and spoken to him. 

appease  [E5pi:z]
v.  [appeased; appeased; appeasing] pacify; soothe 
We have discovered that, when we try to appease our enemies, we encourage them to make additional demands. 

appellation  [ApE5leiFEn]
n.  name; title 
He was amazed when the witches hailed him with his correct appellation. 

append  [E5pend]
v.  [appended; appended; appending] attach 
I shall append this chart to my report. 

application  [Apli5keiFEn]
n.  [applications] diligent attention; (secondary meaning) apply 
Pleased with how well Tom had whitewashed the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for his application. 

apposite  [5ApEzit]
adj.  appropriate; fitting 
He was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion. 

appraise  [E5preiz]
v.  [appraised; appraised; appraising] estimate the value of 
It is difficult to appraise old paintings; it is easier to call them priceless. 

appreciate  [E5pri:Fieit]
v.  [appreciated; appreciated; appreciating] be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of 
Little Orphan Annie truly appreciated the stocks Daddy Warbucks ave her, whose value appreciated considerably over the years. 

apprehend  [5Apri5hend]
v.  [apprehended; apprehended; apprehending] arrest ( a criminal); dread; perceive 
The police will apprehend the culprit and convict him before long. 

apprehensive  [Apri5hensiv]
adj.  fearful; discerning 
His apprehensive glances at the people who were walking in the street revealed his nervousness. 

apprise  [E5praiz]
v.  [apprised; apprised; apprising] inform 
When he was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, he decided to postpone his trip. 

approbation  [AprE5beiFEn]
n.  approval 
Wanting her parents' regard, she looked for some sign of their approbation. 

appropriate  [E5prEupriit]
v.  [appropriated; appropriated; appropriating] acquire; take possession of for one's own use 
The ranch owners appropriated the lands that had originally been set aside for the Indians' use. 

appurtenances  []
n.  [appurtenances] subordinate possessions 
He bought the estate and all its appurtenances. 

apropos  [5AprEpEu]
ad.  with reference to; regarding 
I find your remarks apropos of the present situation timely and pertinent. 

aptitude  [5Aptitju:d]
n.  [aptitudes] fitness; talent 
The counselor evaluated his aptitudes before advising him about the career he should follow. 

aquiline  [5AkwElain]
adj.  curved, hooked 
He can be recognized by his aquiline nose, curved like the beak of the eagle. 

arable  [5ArEbl]
adj.  fit for plowing 
The land was no longer arable; erosion had removed the valuable topsoil. 

arbiter  [5B:bitE]
n.  person with power to decide a matter in a dispute; judge 
As an arbiter in labor disputes, she has won the confidence of the workers and the employers. 

arbitrary  [5a:bitrEri]
adj.  unreasonable or capricious; tyrannical 
The coach claimed the team lost because the umpire made some arbitrary calls. 

arbitrate  [5a:bitreit]
v.  [arbitrated; arbitrated; arbitrating] act as judge 
She was called upon to arbitrate the dispute between the union and the management. 

arboretum  [B:bE5ri:tEm]
n.  [arboretums, arboreta] place where different varieties of trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited 
Walking along the treelined paths of the arboretum, Rita noted poplars, firs, and some particularly fine sycamores. 

arcade  [a:5keid]
n.  a covered passageway, usually lined with shops 
The arcade was popular with shoppers because it gave them protection from the summer sun and the winter rain. 

arcane  [B:5kein]
adj.  secret; mysterious 
What was arcane to us was clear to the psychologist. 

archaeology  [a:ki5RlEdVi]
n.  study of artifacts and relics of early mankind 
The professor of archaeology headed an expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of ancient ruins. 

archaic  [a:5keik]
adj.  antiquated 
"Methinks," "thee," and "thou" are archaic words that are no longer part of our normal vocabulary. 

archetype  [5B:tF5taip]
n.  prototype; primitive pattern 
The Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the many spans that now connect Manhattan with Long Island and New Jersey. 

archipelago  [a:ki5peligEu]
n.  [archipelagos, archipelagoes] group of closely located islands 
When he looked at the map and saw the archipelagoes in the South Seas, he longed to visit them. 

archives  [5B:kaivz]
n.  [archives] public records; place where public records are kept 
These documents should be part of the archives so that historians may be able to evaluate them in the future. 

ardor  [5ardE]
n.  heat; passion; zeal 
Katya's ardor was contagious; soon all her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause. 

arduous  [5a:djuEs]
adj.  hard; strenuous 
Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy. 

argot  [5B:gEu]
n.  slang 
In the argot of the underworld, she "was taken for a ride." 

aria  [5B:iE]
n.  [arias] operatic solo 
At her Metropolitan Opera audition, Marian Anderson sang an aria from Norma. 

arid  [5Arid]
adj.  dry; barren 
The cactus had adapted to survive in an arid environment. 

aristocracy  [Aris5tRkrEsi]
n.  [aristocracies] hereditary nobility; privileged class 
Americans have mixed feelings about hereditary aristocracy. 

armada  [a:5ma:dE]
n.  [armadas] fleet of warships 
Queen Elizabeth's navy was able to defeat the mighty armada that threatened the English coast. 

aromatic  [ArEu5mAtik]
n.  [aromatics] fragrant 
Medieval sailing vessels brought aromatic herbs from China to Europe. 

arraign  [E5rein]
v.  [arraigned; arraigned; arraigning] charge in court; indict 
After his indictment by the Grand Jury, the accused man was arraigned in the County Criminal Court. 

array  [E5rei]
v.  [arrayed; arrayed; arraying] marshal; draw up in order 
His actions were bound to array public sentiment against him. 

array  [E5rei]
n.  [arrays] clothe; adorn 
She liked to watch her mother array herself in her finest clothes before going out for the evening. 

arrears  [E5riEz]
n.  being in debt 
He was in arrears with his payments on the car. 

arrogance  [5ArEgEns]
n.  pride, haughtiness 
The arrogance of the nobility was resented by the middle class. 

arroyo  [E5rRiEu]
n.  [arroyos] gully 
Until the heavy rains of the past spring, this arroyo had been a dry bed. 

articulate  [a:5tikjulit]
n.  effective; distinct 
Her articulate presentation of the advertising campaign impressed her employers. 

artifacts  []
n.  products of primitive culture 
Archaeologists debated the significance of the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia Minor and came to no conclusion. 

artifice  [5B:tEfis]
n.  [artifices] deception; trickery 
The Trojan War proved to the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effective than military might. 

artisan  [a:ti5zAn]
n.  [artisans] a manually skilled worker 
Artists and artisans alike are necessary to the development of a culture. 

artless  [5B:tlis]
adj.  without guile; open and honest 
Red Riding Hood's artless comment, "Grandma, what big eyes you have!" indicates the child's innocent surprises at her "grandmother's" changed appearance. 

ascendancy  [E5sendEnsi]
n.  controlling influence 
President Marcos failed to maintain his ascendancy over Philippines. 

aseptic  [E5septik]
adj.  preventing infection; having a cleansing effect 
Hospitals succeeded in lowering the mortality rate as soon as they introduced aseptic conditions. 

ascetic  [E5setik]
adj.  practicing self-denial; austere 
The wealthy young man could not understand the ascetic life led by the monks. 

asceticism  [E5setisizm]
n.  doctrine of self-denial 
We find asceticism practiced in many monasteries. 

ascribe  [Es5kraib]
v.  [ascribed; ascribed; ascribing] refer; attribute; assign 
I can ascribe no motive for her acts. 

ashen  [5AFEn]
adj.  ash-colored; deadly pale 
Her face was ashen with fear. 

asinine  [5Asinain]
adj.  stupid 
Your asinine remarks prove that you have not given this problem any serious consideration. 

askance  [E5skAns]
adv.  with a sideways or indirect look 
Looking askance at her questioner, she displayed her scorn. 

askew  [Es5kju]
ad.  crookedly; slanted; at an angle 
When he placed his hat askew upon his head, his observers laughed. 

asperity  [As5periti]
n.  [asperities] sharpness (of temper) 
These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been directed. 

aspersion  [Es5pE:VEn]
n.  slanderous remark 
Do not cast aspersions on her character. 

aspirant  [Es5pairEnt]
n.  [aspirants] seeker after position or status 
Although I am as aspirant for public office, I am not willing to accept the dictates of the party bosses. 

aspiration  [AspE5reiFEn]
n.  [aspirations] noble ambition 
Youth's aspirations should be as lofty as the stars. 

assail  [E5seil]
v.  [assailed; assailed; assailing] assault 
He was assailed with questions after his lecture. 

assay  [E5sei]
adj.  analyze; evaluate 
When they assayed the ore, they found that they had discovered a very rich vein. 

assent  [E5sent]
v.  [assented; assented; assenting] agree; accept 
It gives me great pleasure to assent to your request. 

assert  [E5sE:t]
v.  [asserted; asserted; asserting] state strongly or positively; insist on or demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc). 
When Jill asserted that nobody else in the junior class had such an early curfew, her parents asserted themselves, telling her that if she didn't get home by nine o'clock she would be grounded for the week. 

assessment  [E5sesmEnt]
n.  [assessments] estimation; appraisal 
I would like to have your assessment of the situation in South Africa. 

assiduous  [E5sidjuEs]
adj.  diligent 
It took Rembrandt weeks of assiduous labor before he was satisfied with his portrait of his son. 

assimilate  [E5simileit]
v.  [assimilated; assimilated; assimilating] absorb; cause to become homogenous 
The manner in which the United States was able to assimilate the hordes of immigrants during the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth centuries will always be a source of pride. 

assuage  [E5sweidV]
v.  [assuaged; assuaged; assuaging] ease; lessen(pain) 
Your messages of cheer should assuage her suffering. 

assumption  [E5sQmpFEn]
n.  [assumptions] something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of 
The young princess made the foolish assumption that the regent would not object to her Assumption of power. 

assurance  [E5FuErEns]
n.  [assurances] promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence 
When Gutherie gave Guiness his assurance that rehearsals were going well, he spoke with such assurance that Guiness was convinced. 

asteroid  [5AstErRid]
n.  small planet 
asteroids have become commonplace to the readers of interstellar travel stories in science fiction magazines. 

astigmatism  [As5tigmEtizm]
n.  eye defect that prevents proper focus 
As soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from astigmatism, they took him to the optometrist for corrective glasses. 

astral  [5AstrEl]
adj.  relating to the stars 
She was amazed at the number of astral bodies the new telescope revealed. 

astringent  [E5strindVEnt]
adj.  binding; causing contraction; harsh or severe 
The astringent quality of unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult. 

astronomical  [AstrE5nRmikEl]
adj.  enormously large or extensive 
The government seemed willing to spend astronomical sums on weapons development. 

astute  [Es5tju:t]
adj.  wise; shrewd 
That was a very astute observation. 

asunder  [E5sQndE]
adv.  into parts; apart 
Their points of view are poles asunder. 

asylum  [E5sailEm]
n.  [asylums] place of refuge or shelter; protection 
The refugees sought asylum from religious persecution in a new land. 

asymmetric  [5Asi5metrik]
adj.  not identical on both sides of a dividing central line 
Because one eyebrow was set markedly higher than the other, William's face had a particularly asymmetric appearance. 

atavism  [5AtEvizEm]
n.  resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback 
Martin seemed an atavism to his Tuscan ancestors who lavished great care on their small plots of soil. 

atheistic  [,eiWi5istik]
adj.  denying the existence of God 
His atheistic remarks shocked the religious worshippers. 

atone  [E5tEun]
v.  [atoned; atoned; atoning] make amends for; pay for 
He knew no way in which he could atone for his brutal crime. 

atrocity  [E5trRsiti]
n.  [atrocities] brutal deed 
In time of war, many atrocities are committed by invading armies. 

atrophy  [5AtrEfi]
n.  wasting away 
Polio victims need physiotherapy to prevent the atrophy of affected limbs. 

attenuate  [E5tenjueit]
v.  [attenuated; attenuated; attenuating] make thin; weaken 
By withdrawing their forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines. 

attest  [E5test]
v.  [attested; attested; attesting] testify; bear witness 
Having served as a member of a grand jury, I can attest that our system of indicting individuals is in need of improvement. 

attribute  [5Atribju:t]
n.  essential quality 
His outstanding attribute was his kindness. 

attribute  [5Atribju:t]
v.  [attributed; attributed; attributing] ascribe; explain 
I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents. 

attrition  [E5triFEn]
n.  gradual wearing down 
They decided to wage a war of attrition rather than to rely on all-out attack. 

audacious  [R5deiFEs]
adj.  daring; bold 
Audiences cheered as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia made their audacious, death-defying leap to freedom and escaped Darth Vader's troops. 

audit  [5R:dit]
n.  examination of accounts 
When the bank examiners arrived to hold their annual audit, they discovered the embezzlements of the chief cashier. 

augment  [R:g5ment, 5R:gmEnt]
v.  [augmented; augmented; augmenting] increase 
How can we hope to augment our forces when our allies are deserting us? 

augury  [5R:gjEri]
n.  [auguries] omen; prophecy 
He interpreted the departures of the birds as an augury of evil. 

august  [R:5gQst]
adj.  impressive; majestic 
Visiting the palace at Versailes, she was impressed by the august surroundings in which she found herself. 

aureole  [5R:riEul]
n.  sun's corona; halo 
Many medieval paintings depict saintly characters with aureoles around their heads. 

auroral  [R:5rR:rEl]
adj.  pertaining to the aurora 
The auroral display was particularly spectacular that evening. 

auspicious  [R:5spiFEs]
n.  favoring success 
With favorable weather conditions, it was an auspicious moment to set sail. 

austere  [Rs5tiE]
adj.  strict, stern 
His austere demeanor prevented us from engaging in our usual frivolous activities. 

austerity  [R5stZrEti]
n.  [austerities] sternness; severity; lack of luxuries 
The austerity and dignity of the court were maintained by the new justices, who were a strict and solemn group. 

authenticate  [R:5Wentikeit]
v.  [authenticated; authenticated; authenticating] prove genuine 
An expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting, distinguishing it from its imitation. 

authoritarian  [R:5WRri5tZEriEn]
adj.  favoring or exercising total control; non-democratic 
The people had no control over their destiny; they were forced to obey the dictates of the authoritarian regime. 

authoritative  [R:5WRritEtiv]
adj.  having the weight of authority; dictatorial 
We accepted her analysis of the situation as authoritative. 

autocrat  [5R:tEkrAt]
n.  monarch with supreme power 
He ran his office like an autocrat, giving no one else any authority. 

automation  [5R:tE5meiFEn]
n.  mechanism that imitates actions of humans 
Long before science fiction readers became aware of robots, writers were creating stories of automation who could outperform humans. 

autonomous  [R:5tRnEmEs]
adj.  self-governing 
This island is a colony; however, in most matters, it is autonomous and receives no orders from the mother country. 

autopsy  [5Rtapsi]
n.  [autopsies] examination of a dead body; postmortem 
The medical examiner ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. 

auxiliary  [R:g5ziljEri]
adj.  offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary 
To prepare for the emergency, they built an auxiliary power station. 

avarice  [5AvEris]
n.  greed for wealth 
King Midas's avarice has been famous for centuries. 

aver  [E5vE:]
v.  [averred; averred; avering] state confidently 
I wish to aver that I am certain of success. 

averse  [E5vE:s]
adj.  reluctant 
He was averse to revealing the sources of his information. 

aversion  [E5vE:FEn]
n.  [aversions] firm dislike 
Their mutual aversion was so great that they refused to speak to one another. 

avert  [E5vE:t]
v.  [averted; averted; averting] prevent; turn away 
She averted her eyes from the dead cat on the highway. 

aviary  [5eivieri]
n.  [aviaries] enclosure for birds 
The aviary at the zoo held nearly 300 birds. 

avid  [5Avid]
adj.  greedy; eager for 
He was avid for learning and read everything he could get. 

avocation  [AvEu5keiFEn]
n.  secondary or minor occupation 
His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his avocation. 

avow  [E5vEu]
v.  [avowed; avowed; avowing] declare openly 
I must avow that I am innocent. 

avuncular  [E5vQNkjElE]
adj.  like an uncle 
Avuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew's shortcomings. 

awe  [R:]
n.  solemn wonder 
The tourists gazed with awe at the tremendous expanse of the Grand Canyon. 

awl  [R:l]
n.  pointed tool used for piercing 
She used an awl to punch additional holes in the leather belt she had bought. 

awry  [E5rai]
ad.  distorted; crooked 
He held his head awry, giving the impression that he had caught cold in his neck during the night. 

axiom  [5AksiEm]
n.  self-evident truth requiring no proof 
Before a student can begin to think along the lines of Euclidean geometry, he must accept certain principles or axioms. 

azure  [AVE]
adj.  sky blue 
azure skies are indicative of good weather. 

babble  [5bAbl]
v.  [babbled; babbled; babbling] chatter idly 
The little girl babbled about her doll. 

bacchanalian  [9bAkE`neiljEn]
adj.  drunken 
Emperor Nero attended the bacchanalian orgy. 

badger  [5bAdVE]
v.  [badgered; badgered; badgering] pester; annoy 
She was forced to change her telephone number because she was badgered by obscene phone calls. 

badinage  [5bAdina:V]
n.  teasing conversation 
Her friends at work greeted the news of her engagement with cheerful badinage. 

baffle  [5bAfl]
v.  [baffled; baffled; baffling] frustrate; perplex 
The new code baffled the enemy agents. 

bait  [beit]
v.  [baited; baited; baiting] harass; tease 
The soldiers baited the prisoners, terrorizing them. 

baleful  [5beilful]
adj.  menacing; deadly 
Casting a baleful eye at his successful rival, the rejected suitor stole off, vowing to have his revenge. 

balk  [bR:k]
v.  [balked; balked; balking] stoop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue 
The chief of police balked at sending his officers into the riot-torn area. 

balk  [bR:k]
v.  [balked; balked; balking] foil 
When the warden learned that several inmates were planning to escape, he took steps to balk their attempt. 

ballast  [5bAlEst]
n.  heavy substance used to add stability or weight 
The ship was listing badly to one side; it was necessary to shift the ballast in the hold to get her back on an even keel. 

balm  [ba:m]
n.  [balms] something that relieves pain 
Friendship is the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. 

balmy  [5ba:mi]
adj.  [balmier; balmiest] mild; fragrant 
A balmy breeze refreshed us after the sultry blast. 

banal  [bE5na:l]
adj.  hackneyed; commonplace; trite 
His frequent use of cliches made his essay seem banal. 

bandy  [5bAndi]
v.  [bandied; bandied; bandying] discuss lightly; exchange blows or words 
The president refused to bandy words with reporters at the press conference. 

bane  [bein]
n.  cause of ruin 
Lack of public transportation is the bane of urban life. 

bantering  []
adj.  good-naturedly ridiculing 
They resented his bantering remarks because they misinterpreted his teasing as sarcasm. 

barb  [bB:d]
n.  [barbs] sharp projection form fishhook, etc.; pointed comment 
The barb from the fishhook caught in his finger as he grabbed the fish. 

bard  [ba:d]
n.  [bards] poet 
The ancient bard Homer sang of the fall of Troy. 

barefaced  [beE5feist]
adj.  shameless; bold; unconcealed 
Shocked by Huck Finn's barefaced lies, Miss Watson prayed the good Lord would give him a sense of his unregenerate wickedness. 

baroque  [bE5rEuk]
adj.  highly ornate 
Accustomed to the severe, angular lines of modern skyscrapers, they found the flamboyance of baroque architecture amusing. 

barrage  [5bAra:V]
n.  barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion 
The company was forced to retreat through the barrage of heavy canyons. 

barrister  [5bAristE]
n.  [barristers] counselor-at-law 
Galsworthy started as a barrister, but when he found the practice of law boring, turned to writing. 

barterer  []
n.  trader 
The barterer exchanged trinkets for the natives' furs. 

bask  [bA:sk]
v.  [basked; basked; basking] luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth 
basking on the beach, she relaxed so completely that she fell asleep. 

bastion  [5bAstFEn]
n.  stronghold; something seen as a source of protection 
The villagers fortified the town hall, hoping this improvised bastion could protect them from the guerrilla raids. 

bate  [beit]
v.  [bated; bated; bating] let down; restrain 
Until it was time to open the presents, the children had to bate their curiosity. 

bauble  [5bR:bl]
n.  trinket; trifle 
The child was delighted with the bauble she had won in the grab bag. 

bawdy  [5bR:di]
adj.  [bawdier; bawdiest] indecent; obscene 
She took offense at his bawdy remarks. 

beatific  [bi:E5tifik]
adj.  giving bliss; blissful 
The beatific smile on the child's face made us very happy. 

beatitude  [bi5AtEtu:d]
n.  blessedness; state of bliss 
Growing closer to God each day, the mystic achieved a state of indescribable beatitude. 

bedizen  [bidaizn]
v.  [bedizened; bedizened; bedizening] dress with vulgar finery 
The witch doctors were bedizened in their gaudiest costumes. 

bedraggle  [bi5drAgl]
v.  [bedraggled; bedraggled; bedraggling] wet thoroughly 
We were so bedraggled by the severe storm that we had to change into dry clothing. 

befuddle  [bi5fQdl]
v.  [befuddled; befuddled; befuddling] confuse thoroughly 
His attempts to clarify the situation succeeded only on befuddling her further. 

beget  [bi5get]
v.  [begot; begotten, begot; begetting] father; produce; give rise to 
One good turn may deserve another; it does not necessarily beget another. 

begrudge  [bi5grQdV]
v.  [begrudged; begrudged; begrudging] resent 
I begrudge every minute I have to spend attending meetings. 

beguile  [bi5gail]
v.  [beguiled; beguiled; beguiling] amuse; delude; cheat 
I beguiled himself during the long hours by playing solitaire. 

behemoth  [bi5hi:mRW, 5bi:himEuW]
n.  huge creature; something of monstrous size or power 
Sport casters nicknamed the linebacker "The Behemoth". 

beholden  [bi5heldEn]
adj.  obligated; indebted 
Since I do not wish to be beholden to anyone, I cannot accept this favor. 

behoove  [bi5hEuv]
v.  [behooved; behooved; behooving] be suited to; be incumbent upon 
In this time of crisis, it behooves all of us to remain calm and await the instructions of our superiors. 

belabor  [bi5leibE]
v.  [belabored; belabored; belaboring] explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally 
The debate coach warned her student not to bore the audience by belaboring his point. 

belated  [bi5leitid]
adj.  delayed 
He apologized for his belated note of condolence to the widow of his friend and explained that he had just learned of her husband's untimely death. 

beleaguer  [bi5li:gE]
v.  [beleaguered; beleaguered; beleaguering] besiege 
As soon as the city was beleaguered, the life became more subdued as the citizens began their long wait for outside assistance. 

belie  [bi5lai]
v.  [belied; belied; belying] contradict; give a false impression 
His coarse, hard-bitten exterior belied his innate sensitivity. 

belittle  [bi5litl]
v.  [belittled; belittled; belittling] disparage; depreciate 
Parents should not belittle their children's early attempts at drawing, but should encourage their efforts. 

bellicose  [5belikEus]
adj.  warlike 
His bellicose disposition alienated his friends. 

belligerent  [bi5lidVErEnt]
adj.  quarrelsome 
Whenever he had too much to drink, he became belligerent and tried to pick fights with strangers. 

bemused  [bi5mju:zd]
adj.  confused; lost in thought; preoccupied 
Jill studied the garbled instructions with a bemused look on her face. 

benediction  [beni5dikFEn]
n.  [benedictions] blessing 
The appearance of the sun after the many rainy days was like a benediction. 

benefactor  [5benifAktE]
n.  [benefactors] gift giver; patron 
Scrooge later became Tiny Tim's benefactor and gave him a benediction. 

beneficent  [bi5nefisnt]
adj.  kindly; doing good 
The overgenerous philanthropist had to curb his beneficent impulses before he gave away all his money and left himself with nothing. 

beneficiary  [beni5fiFEri]
n.  [beneficiaries] person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy 
You may change your beneficiary as often as you wish. 

benevolent  [bi5nevElEnt]
adj.  generous; charitable 
His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him. 

benign  [bi5nain]
adj.  kindly; favorable; not malignant 
The old man was well liked because of his benign attitude toward friend and stranger alike. 

benison  [5benizn]
n.  blessing 
Let us pray that the benison of peace once more shall prevail among the nations of the world. 

bent  [bent]
n.  determined; natural talent or inclination 
bent on advancing in the business world, the secretary heroine of Working Girl had a true bent for high finance. 

bequeath  [bi5kwi:T]
v.  [bequeathed; bequeathed; bequeathing] leave to someone by means of a will; hand down 
In his will, Father bequeathed his watch to Phillip; the bequest meant a great deal to the boy. 

berate  [bi5reit]
v.  [berated; berated; berating] scold strongly 
He feared she would berate him for his forgetfulness. 

bereavement  [bi`ri:vmEnt]
n.  [bereavements] state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved 
His friends gathered to console him upon his sudden bereavement. 

bereft  [bi5reft]
adj.  deprived of; lacking 
The foolish gambler soon found himself bereft of funds. 

berserk  [5bE:sEk]
adj.  frenzied 
Angered, he went berserk and began to wreck the room. 

beset  [bi5set]
v.  [beset; beset; besetting] harass; trouble 
Many problems beset the American public school system. 

besmirch  [bis5mE:tF]
v.  [besmirched; besmirched; besmirching] soil, defile 
The scandalous remarks in the newspaper besmirch the reputations of every member of the society. 

bestial  [5bestjEl]
adj.  beastlike; brutal; inhuman 
The Red Cross sought to put an end to the bestial treatment of prisoners of war. 

bestow  [bi5stEu]
v.  [bestowed; bestowed; bestowing] confer 
He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero. 

betroth  [bi5trEuT]
v.  [betrothed; betrothed; betrothing] become engaged to marry 
The announcement that they had become betrothed surprised their friends who had not suspected any romance. 

bevy  [5bevi]
n.  [bevies] large group 
The movie actor was surrounded by a bevy of starlets. 

bicameral  [bai5kAmErEl]
adj.  two-chambered, as a legislative body 
The United States Congress is a bicameral body. 

bicker  [5bikE]
v.  [bickered; bickered; bickering] quarrel 
The children bickered morning, noon, and night, exasperating their parents. 

biennial  [bai5eniEl]
adj.  every two years 
The group held biennial meetings instead of annual ones. 

bifurcated  []
adj.  divided into two branches; forked 
With a bifurcated branch and a piece of elastic rubber, he made a crude but effective slingshot. 

bigotry  [5bigEtri]
n.  stubborn intolerance 
Brought up in a democratic atmosphere, student was shocked by the bigotry and narrowness expressed by several of his classmates. 

bilious  [5biljEs]
adj.  suffering from indigestion; irritable 
His bilious temperament was apparent to all who heard him rant about his difficulties. 

bilk  [bilk]
v.  [bilked; bilked; bilking] swindle; cheat 
The con man specialized in bilking insurance companies. 

bivouac  [5bivuAk]
n.  temporary encampment 
While in bivouac, we spent the night in our sleeping bags under the stars. 

bizarre  [bi5zB:]
adj.  fantastic; violently contrasting 
The plot of the novel was too bizarre to be believed. 

blanch  [bla:ntF]
v.  [blanched; blanched; blanching] bleach; whiten 
Although age had blanched his hair, he was still vigorous and energetic. 

bland  [blAnd]
adj.  [blander; blandest] soothing; mild 
She used a bland ointment for her sunburn. 

blandishment  [5blAndiFmEnt]
n.  flattery 
Despite the salesperson's blandishments, the customer did not buy the outfit. 

blase  [5bla:zei]
adj.  bored with pleasure or dissipation 
Your blase attitude gives your students an erroneous impression of the joys of scholarship. 

blasphemous  [5blAsfimEs]
adj.  profane; impious 
The people in the room were shocked by his his blasphemous language. 

blatant  [5bleitnt]
adj.  extremely obvious; loudly offensive 
Caught in a blatant lie, the scoundrel had only one regret: he wished that he had lied more subtly. 

bleak  [bli:k]
adj.  [bleaker; bleakest] cold; cheerless 
The Aleutian Islands are bleak military outposts. 

blighted  []
adj.  suffering from a disease; destroyed 
The extent of the blighted areas could be seen only when viewed from the air. 

blithe  [5blaiT]
adj.  [blither; blithest] gay; joyous; careless 
Shelley called the skylark a "blithe spirit" because of its happy song. 

bloated  [5blEutid]
adj.  swollen or puffed as with water or air 
Her bloated stomach came from drinking so much water. 

blowhard  [5blEuhB:d]
n.  talkative boaster 
After all Sol's talk about his big show business connections led nowhere, Sally decided he was just another blowhard. 

bludgeon  [5blQdVEn]
n.  club; heavy-headed weapon 
His walking stick served him as a bludgeon on many occasions. 

bluff  [blQf]
n.  [bluffs] pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff 
Claire thought Lord Byron's boast that he would swim the Hellespont was just a bluff, she was astounded when he dove from the high bluff into the waters below. 

blunder  [5blQndE]
n.  [blunders] error 
The criminal's fatal blunder led to his capture. 

blurt  [blE:t]
v.  [blurted; blurted; blurting] utter impulsively 
Before she could stop him, he blurted out the news. 

bode  [bEud]
v.  [boded; boded; boding] foreshadow; portend 
The gloomy skies and the sulfurous odors from the mineral springs seemed to bode evil to those who settled in the area. 

bogus  [5bEugEs]
adj.  counterfeit; not authentic 
The police quickly found the distributors of the bogus twenty-dollar bills. 

boisterous  [5bRistErEs]
adj.  violent; rough; noisy 
The unruly crowd became even more boisterous when he tried to quiet them. 

bolster  [5bEulstE]
v.  [bolstered; bolstered; bolstering] support; reinforce 
The debaters amassed file boxes full of evidence to bolster their arguments. 

bombast  [5bRmbAst]
n.  pompous, inflated language 
Filled with bombast, the orator's speech left the audience more impressed with his pomposity than with his logic. 

boon  [bu:n]
n.  blessing; benefit 
The recent rains that filled our empty reservoirs were a boon to the whole community. 

boorish  [5buriF]
adj.  rude; insensitive 
Though Mr. Potts constantly interrupted his wife, she ignored his boorish behavior, for she had lost hope of teaching him courtesy. 

bouillon  [5bu:jR:]
n.  [bouillons] clear beef soup 
The cup of bouillon served by the stewards was welcomed by those who had been chilled by the cold ocean breezes. 

bountiful  [5bauntiful]
n.  generous; showing bounty 
She distributed gifts in a bountiful and gracious manner. 

bourgeois  [5buEVwa:]
n.  [bourgeois] middle class 
The French Revolution was inspired by the bourgeois, who resented the aristocracy. 

bovine  [5bEuvain]
adj.  cowlike; placid and dull 
Nothing excites Esther; even when she won the state lottery, she still preserved her air of bovine calm. 

bowdlerize  [5baudlEraiz]
v.  [bowdlerized; bowdlerized; bowdlerizing] expurgate 
After the film editors had bowdlerized the language in the script, the motion picture's rating was changed from "R" to "PG." 

brackish  [5brAkiF]
adj.  somewhat saline 
He found the only wells in the area were brackish; drinking the water made him nauseous. 

braggadocio  [brAgE5dEutFiEu]
n.  [braggadocios] boasting 
He was disliked because his manner was always full of braggadocio. 

braggart  [5brAgEt]
n.  boaster 
Modest by nature, she was no braggart, preferring to let her accomplishments speak for themselves. 

bravado  [brE5vadEu]
n.  [bravadoes, bravados] swagger; assumed air of defiance 
The bravado of the young criminal disappeared when he was confronted by the victims of his brutal attack. 

brawn  [brR:n]
n.  muscular strength; sturdiness 
It takes brawn to become a champion weight-lifter. 

brazen  [5breizn]
adj.  insolent 
Her brazen contempt for authority angered the officials. 

breach  [bri:tF]
n.  [breaches] breaking of contract or duty; fissure; gap 
They found a breach in the enemy's fortifications and penetrated their lines. 

breadth  [bredT]
n.  [breadths] width; extent 
We were impressed by the breadth of her knowledge. 

brevity  [5breviti]
n.  conciseness 
brevity is essential when you send a telegram or cablegram; you are charged for every word. 

brindled  [5brindld]
adj.  tawny or grayish with streaks or spots 
He was disappointed in the litter because the puppies were brindled; he had hoped for animals of uniform color. 

bristling  []
adj.  rising like bristles; showing irritation 
The dog stood there, bristling with anger. 

brittle  [5britl]
adj.  [brittler; brittlest] easily broken; difficult 
My employer's brittle personality made it difficult for me to get along with her. 

broach  [brEutF]
v.  [broached; broached; broaching] open up 
He did not even try to broach the subject of poetry. 

brocade  [brE5keid]
n.  rich, figured fabric 
The sofa was covered with expensive brocade. 

brochure  [brEu5FuE]
n.  [brochures] pamphlet 
This brochure on farming was issued by the Department of Agriculture. 

brooch  [bru:tF]
n.  [brooches] ornamental clasp 
She treasured the brooch because it was an heirloom. 

brook  [bruk]
v.  tolerate; endure 
The dean would brook no interference with his disciplinary actions. 

browbeat  [5braubi:t]
v.  [browbeat; browbeaten; browbeating] bully; intimidate 
Billy resisted Ted's attempts to browbeat him into handing over his lunch money. 

brusque  [brusk]
adj.  blunt; abrupt 
She was offended by his brusque reply. 

bucolic  [bju:5kRlik]
adj.  rustic; pastoral 
The meadow was the scene of bucolic gaiety. 

buffoonery  [bE`fU:nEri]
n.  clowning 
John Candy's buffoonery in Uncle Buck was hilarious. 

bugaboo  [5bQgEbu:]
n.  [bugaboos] bugbear; object of baseless terror 
If we become frightened by such bugaboos, we are no wiser than the birds who fear scarecrows. 

bullion  [5buljEn]
n.  gold and silver in the form of bars 
Much bullion is stored in the vaults at Fort Knox. 

bulwark  [5bulwEk]
n.  [bulwarks] earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends 
The navy is our principal bulwark against invasion. 

bungle  [5bQNgl]
v.  [bungled; bungled; bungling] spoil by clumsy behavior 
I was afraid you would bungle his assignment but I had no one else to send. 

bureaucracy  [bjuE5rRkrEsi]
n.  [bureaucracies] government by bureaus 
Many people fear that the constant introduction of federal agencies will create a government by bureaucracy. 

burgeon  [5bE:dVEn]
v.  [burgeoned; burgeoned; burgeoning] grow forth; send out buds 
In the spring, the plants that burgeon are a promise of the beauty that is to come. 

burlesque  [bE:5lesk]
v.  [burlesqued; burlesqued; burlesquing] give an imitation that ridicules 
In his caricature, he burlesqued the mannerisms of his adversary. 

burly  [5bE:li]
adj.  [burlier; burliest] husky; muscular 
The burly mover lifted the packing crate with ease. 

burnish  [5bE:niF]
v.  [burnished; burnished; burnishing] make shiny by rubbing; polish 
The maid burnished the brass fixtures until they reflected the lamplight. 

buttress  [5bQtris]
v.  [buttressed; buttressed; buttressing] support; prop up 
Just as architects buttress the walls of cathedrals with flying buttresses, debates buttress their arguments with facts. 

buxom  [5bQksEm]
adj.  full-bosomed; plump; jolly 
High fashion models usually are slender rather than buxom. 

cabal  [kE5bAl]
n.  small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests 
The cabal was defeated when its scheme was discovered. 

cache  [kAF]
n.  hiding place 
The detectives followed the suspects until he led them to the cache where he had stored his loot. 

cacophony  [kA5kRfEni]
n.  [cacophonies] discord 
Some people seem to enjoy the cacophony of an orchestra that is tuning up. 

cadaver  [kE5dAvE]
n.  corpse 
In some states, it is illegal to dissect cadavers. 

cadaverous  [kE5dAvErEs]
adj.  like a corpse; pale 
From his cadaverous appearance, we could see how the disease had ravaged him. 

cadence  [5keidEns]
n.  [cadences] rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat 
Marching down the road, the troops sang out, following the cadence set by the sergeant. 

cajole  [kE5dVEul]
v.  [cajoled; cajoled; cajoling] coax; wheedle 
I will not be cajoled into granting your wish. 

calamity  [kE5lAmiti]
n.  [calamities] disaster; misery 
As news of the calamity spread, offers of relief poured in to the stricken community. 

caliber  [5kAlEbE]
n.  ability; capacity 
A man of such caliber should not be assigned such menial tasks. 

calligraphy  [kE5ligrEfi]
n.  beautiful writing; excellent penmanship 
As we examine ancient manuscripts, we became impressed with the calligraphy of the scribes. 

callous  [5kAlEs]
adj.  [more callous; most callous] hardened; unfeeling 
He had worked in the hospital for so many years that he was callous to the suffering in the wards. 

callow  [5kAlEu]
adj.  youthful; immature 
In that youthful movement, the leaders were only a little less callow than their immature followers. 

calorific  [kAlE5rifik]
adj.  heat-producing 
Coal is much more calorific than green wood. 

calumny  [5kAlEmni]
n.  [calumnies] malicious misrepresentation 
He could endure his financial failure, but he could not bear the calumny that his foes heaped upon him. 

camaraderie  [5kAmE5ra:dEri]
n.  good-fellowship 
What he loved best about his job was the sense of camaraderie he and his co-workers shared. 

cameo  [kAmiEu]
n.  [cameos] shell or jewel carved in relief 
Tourists are advised not to purchase cameos from the street peddlers of Rome who sell poor specimens of the carver's art. 

canard  [kA5nB:d]
n.  unfounded rumor 
It is almost impossible to protect oneself from such a base canard. 

candor  [5kAndE]
n.  frankness 
The candor and simplicity of his speech impressed all, it was all clear he held nothing back. 

canine  [5keinain]
adj.  related to dogs; doglike 
Some days the canine population of Berkeley seems almost to outnumber the human population. 

canker  [5kANkE]
n.  [cankers] any ulcerous sore; any evil 
Poverty is a canker in the body politic; it must be cured. 

canny  [5kAni]
adj.  [cannier; canniest] shrewd; thrifty 
The canny Scotsman was more than a match for the swindlers. 

cant  [kAnt]
n.  pious phraseology; jargon of criminals 
Angry that the president had slashed the education budget, we dismissed his speech on the importance of education as mere cant. 

cantankerous  [kAn5tANkErEs]
adj.  ill-humored; irritable 
Constantly complaining about his treatment and refusing to cooperate with the hospital staff, he was a cantankerous patient. 

cantata  [kAn5tB:tE]
n.  [cantatas] story set to music, to be sung by a chorus 
The choral society sang the new cantata composed by its leader. 

canter  [5kAntE]
n.  slow gallop 
Because the racehorse had outdistanced its competition so easily, the reporter wrote that the race was won in a canter. 

canto  [5kAntEu]
n.  [canto; cantos] division of a long poem 
Dante's poetic masterpiece The Divine Comedy is divided into cantos. 

canvass  [5kAnvEs]
v.  [canvassed; canvassed; canvassing] determine or seek opinions, votes, etc. 
After canvassing the sentiments of his constituents, the congressman was confident that he represented the majority opinion of his district. 

capacious  [kE5peiFEs]
adj.  [more capacious; most capacious] spacious 
In the capacious areas of the railroad terminal, thousands of travelers lingered while waiting for their train. 

capillary  [kE5pilEri]
adj.  having a very fine bore 
The changes in surface tension of liquids in capillary vessels is of special interest to physicists. 

capitulate  [kE5pitjuleit]
v.  [capitulated; capitulated; capitulating] surrender 
The enemy was warned to capitulate or face annihilation. 

caprice  [kE5pri:s]
n.  [caprices] whim 
She was an unpredictable creature, acting on caprice, never taking thought of the consequences. 

capricious  [kE5priFEs]
adj.  fickle; incalculable 
The storm was capricious and changed course constantly. 

caption  [kApFEn]
n.  title; chapter heading; text under illustration 
I find the captions that accompany these cartoons very clever and humorous. 

captious  [5kApFEs]
adj.  faultfinding 
His criticisms were always captious and frivolous, never offering constructive suggestions. 

carafe  [kE5rB:f]
n.  glass water bottle 
With each dinner, the patron receives a carafe of red or white wine. 

carapace  [5kArEpeis]
n.  shell covering the back (of a turtle, crab, etc) 
At the children's zoo, Richard perched on top of the giant turtle's hard carapace as it slowly made its way around the enclosure. 

carat  [5kArEt]
n.  unit of weight for precious stones; measure of fineness of gold 
He gave her a diamond that weighed three carats and was mounted in an eighteen-carat gold band. 

carcinogenic  [kB:sinE5dVEnik]
n.  causing cancer 
Many supposedly harmless substances have been revealed to be carcinogenic. 

cardinal  [5ka:dinl]
adj.  chief 
If you want to increase your word power, the cardinal rule of vocabulary-building is to read. 

careen  [kE5ri:n]
v.  [careened; careened; careening] lurch; sway from side to side 
The taxicab careened wildly as it rounded the corner. 

caricature  [kArikE5tjuE]
n.  [caricatures] distortion; burlesque 
The caricatures he drew always emphasized personal weaknesses of the people he burlesqued. 

carillon  [kE5riljEn]
n.  set of bells capable of being played 
The carillon in the bell tower of the Coca-Cola pavilion at the New York World's Fair provided musical entertainment every hour. 

carnage  [5ka:nidV]
n.  destruction of life 
The carnage that can be caused by atomic warfare adds to the responsibilities of our statesmen. 

carnal  [5karnEl]
adj.  fleshly 
The public was more interested in carnal pleasures than in spiritual matters. 

carnivorous  [kB:5nivErEs]
adj.  meat-eating 
The lion is a carnivorous animal. 

carousal  [kE5rauzl]
n.  drunken revel 
The party degenerated into an ugly carousal. 

carping  [5karpiN]
adj.  petty criticism; fault-finding 
Welcoming constructive criticism, Lexy appreciated her editor's comments, finding them free of carping. 

carrion  [5kAriEn]
n.  rotting flesh of a dead body 
Buzzards are nature's scavengers; they eat the carrion left behind by other predators. 

cartographer  [kB:5tRgrEfE]
n.  map-maker 
Though not a professional cartographer, Tolkien was able to construct a map of the fictional world. 

cascade  [kAs5keid]
n.  [cascades] small waterfall 
We could not appreciate the beauty of the many cascades as we made detours around each of them to avoid getting wet. 

caste  [ka:st]
n.  [castes] one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society, social stratification; prestige 
The differences created by caste in India must be wiped out if true democracy is to prevail in that country. 

castigation  [kAsti5geiFEn]
n.  [castigations] punishment; severe criticism 
Sensitive even to mild criticism, Woolf could not bear castigation that she found in certain reviews. 

casual  [5kAVjuEl]
adj.  [more casual; most casual] accidental; not regular or permanent; careless; informal 
It can be argued that physical laws can be casual as well as inveterate, since it is based on an induction. 

casualty  [5kAVjuElti]
n.  [casualties] serious or fatal accident 
The number of automotive casualties on this holiday weekend was high. 

cataclysm  [5kAtEklizEm]
n.  deluge; upheaval 
A cataclysm such as the French Revolution affects all countries. 

catalyst  [5kAtElist]
n.  agent that brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged 
Many chemical reactions cannot take place without the presence of a catalyst. 

catapult  [5kAtEpQlt]
n.  [catapults] slingshot; hurling machine 
Airplanes are sometimes launched from battleships by catapults. 

cataract  [5kAtErAkt]
n.  [cataracts] great waterfall; eye abnormality 
She gazed with awe at the mighty cataract known as Niagara Falls. 

catastrophe  [kE5tAstrEfi]
n.  [catastrophes] calamity 
The Johnstown flood was a catastrophe. 

catechism  [5kAtEkizm]
n.  book for religious instruction; instruction by question and answer 
He taught by engaging his pupils in a catechism until they gave him the correct answer. 

categorical  [kAtE5gB:ikl]
adj.  without exceptions; unqualified; absolute 
Though the captain claimed he was never, never sick at sea, he finally qualified his categorical denial; he was hardly ever sick at sea. 

catharsis  [kE5WB:sis]
n.  [catharses] purging or cleansing of any passage of the body 
Aristotle maintained that tragedy created a catharsis by purging the soul of base concepts. 

cathartic  [kE5WB:tik]
n.  purgative 
Some drugs act as laxatives when taken in small doses, but act as cathartics when taken in much larger doses. 

catholic  [5kAWElik]
adj.  universal; wide-ranging liberal 
He was extremely catholic in his taste and read everything he could find in the library. 

caucus  [5kR:kEs]
n.  [caucuses] private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policy 
At the opening of Congress the members of the Democratic Party held a caucus to elect the majority leader of the House and the party whip. 

caulk  [kR:k]
v.  [caulked; caulked; caulking] to make watertight (by plugging seams) 
When water from the shower leaked into the basement, we knew it was time to caulk the tiles at the edges of the shower stall. 

causal  [5kR:zEl]
adj.  implying a cause-and-effect relationship 
The psychologist maintained there was a causal relationship between the nature of one's early childhood experiences and one's adult personality. 

caustic  [5kR:stik]
adj.  burning; sarcastically biting 
The critic's caustic remarks angered the hapless actors who were the subjects of his sarcasm. 

cauterize  [5kR:tEraiz]
v.  [cauterized; cauterized; cauterizing] burn with hot iron or caustic 
In order to prevent infection, the doctor cauterized the wound. 

cavalcade  [kAvl5keid]
n.  procession; parade 
As described by Chaucer, the cavalcade of Canterbury pilgrims was motley group. 

cavalier  [5kAvE5liE]
n.  [cavaliers] casual and offhand; arrogant 
Sensitive about having her ideas taken lightly, Marcia felt insulted by Mark's cavalier dismissal of her suggestion. 

cavil  [5kAvl]
v.  [caviled, cavilled; caviled, cavilled; caviling, cavilling] make frivolous objections 
I respect your sensible criticisms, but I dislike the way you cavil about unimportant details. 

cede  [si:d]
v.  [ceded; ceded; ceding] transfer; yield title to 
I intend to cede this property to the city. 

celerity  [si5leriti]
n.  speed; rapidity 
Hamlet resented his mother's celerity in remarrying within a month after his father's death. 

celestial  [si5lestjEl]
adj.  heavenly 
She spoke of the celestial joys that awaited virtuous souls in the hereafter. 

celibate  [5selEbit]
adj.  abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried 
Though the late Havelock Ellis wrote extensively about sexual customs and was considered an expert in such matters, recent studies maintain he was celibate throughout his life. 

censor  [5sensE]
n.  [censors] overseer of morals; person who eliminates inappropriate matter 
Soldiers dislike having their mail read by a censor but understand the need for this precaution. 

censorious  [sen5sR:riEs]
adj.  critical 
censorious people delight in casting blame. 

censure  [5senFE]
v.  [censured; censured; censuring] blame; criticize 
He was censured for his inappropriate behavior. 

centaur  [5sentR:]
n.  [centaurs] mythical figure, half man and half horse 
I was particularly impressed by the statue of the centaur in the Roman Hall of the museum. 

centigrade  [5sentigreid]
adj.  denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius) 
On the centigrade thermometer, the freezing point of water is zero degrees. 

centrifugal  [sen5trifjugEl]
adj.  radiating; departing from the center 
Many automatic drying machines remove excess moisture from clothing by centrifugal force. 

centrifuge  [5sentrifju:dV]
n.  machine that separates substances by whirling them 
At the dairy, we employ a centrifuge to separate cream from milk. 

centripetal  [sen5tripitl]
adj.  tending toward the center 
Does centripetal force or the force of gravity bring orbiting bodies to the earth's surface? 

centurion  [sen5tjuriEn]
n.  Roman army officer 
Because he was in command of a company of one hundred soldiers, he was called a centurion. 

cerebral  [5serEbrEl]
adj.  pertaining to the brain or intellect 
The content of philosophical works is cerebral in nature and requires much thought. 

cerebration  [serE5breiFEn]
n.  thought 
Mathematics problems sometimes require much cerebration. 

ceremonious  [seri5mEunjEs]
adj.  marked by formality 
Ordinary dress would be in appropriate at so ceremonious an affair. 

cessation  [se5seiFEn]
n.  [cessations] stopping 
The workers threatened a cessation of all activities if their demands were not met. 

cession  [5seFEn]
n.  yielding to another; ceding 
The cession of Alaska to the United States is discussed in this chapter. 

chafe  [tFeif]
v.  [chafed; chafed; chafing] warm by rubbing 
The collar chafed his neck. 

chaff  [tFAf]
n.  worthless products of an endeavor 
When you separate the wheat from the chaff, be sure you throw out the chaff. 

chaffing  []
adj.  bantering; joking 
Sometimes his flippant and chaffing remarks annoy us. 

chagrin  [5FAgrin, FE5grin]
n.  vexation; disappointment 
Her refusal to go with us filled us with chagrin. 

chalice  [5tFAlis]
n.  [chalices] goblet; consecrated cup 
In a small room adjoining the cathedral, many ornately decorated chalices made by the most famous European goldsmiths were on display. 

chameleon  [kE5mi:ljEn]
n.  lizard that changes color in different situations 
Like the chameleon, he assumed the political coloration of every group he met. 

champion  [5tFAmpjEn]
v.  [championed; championed; championing] support militantly 
Martin Luther King, Jr., won the Nobel Peace Prize because he championed the oppressed in their struggle for equality. 

chaotic  [kei5Rtik]
adj.  in utter disorder 
He tried to bring order into the chaotic state of affairs. 

charisma  [kE5rizmE]
n.  [charismata, charism] divine gift; great popular charm or appeal 
Political commentators have deplored the importance of a candidate's charisma in these days of television campaigning. 

charlatan  [5FB:lEtn]
n.  quack; pretender to knowledge 
When they realized that the Wizard didn't know how to get them back to Kansas, Dorothy and her friends were sure they'd been duped by a charlatan. 

chary  [5tFAri]
adj.  [charier; chariest] cautious; sparing or restrained about giving 
A prudent, thrifty New Englander, DeWitt was as chary of investing money in junk bonds as he was chary of paying people unnecessary compliments. 

chase  [tFeis]
v.  [chased; chased; chasing] ornament a metal surface by indenting 
With his hammer, he carefully chased an intricate design onto the surface of the chalice. 

chasm  [tFAzEm]
n.  [chasms] abyss 
They could not see the bottom of the chasm. 

chassis  [5FAsi]
n.  [chassis] framework and working parts of an automobile 
Examining the car after the accident, the owner discovered that the body had been ruined but that the chassis was unharmed. 

chaste  [tFeist]
adj.  [chaster; chastest] pure 
Her chaste and decorous garb was appropriately selected for the solemnity of the occasion. 

chasten  [5tFeisn]
v.  [chastened; chastened; chastening] discipline; punish in order to correct 
Whom God loves, God chastens. 

chastise  [tFAs5taiz]
v.  [chastised; chastised; chastising] punish 
I must chastise you for this offense. 

chauvinist  [-nist]
n.  blindly devoted patriot 
A chauvinist cannot recognize any faults in his country, no matter how flagrant they may be. 

check  [tFek]
v.  [checked; checked; checking] stop motion; curb or restrain 
Thrusting out her arm, Grandma checked Bobby's lunge at his sister. "Young man," she said, "you'd better check your temper." 

checkered  [`tFekEd]
adj.  marked by changes in fortune 
During his checkered career he had lived in palatial mansions and in dreary boardinghouses. 

cherubic  [tFe5ru:bik]
adj.  angelic; innocent-looking 
With her cheerful smile and rosy cheeks, she was a particularly cherubic child. 

chicanery  [Fi5keinEri]
n.  [chicaneries] trickery 
Your deceitful tactics in this case are indications of chicanery. 

chide  [tFaid]
v.  [chided, chid; chided, chid, chidden; chiding] scold 
Grandma began to chide Steven for his lying. 

chimerical  [kai5merikl]
adj.  fantastic; highly imaginative 
Poe's chimerical stories are sometimes too morbid for reading in bed. 

chivalrous  [5FivElrEs]
adj.  courteous; faithful; brave 
chivalrous behavior involves noble words and good deeds. 

choleric  [5kRlErik]
adj.  hot-tempered 
His flushed, angry face indicated a choleric nature. 

choreography  [kB:iE5grAfi]
n.  art of dancing 
Martha Graham introduced a form of choreography that seemed awkward and alien to those who had been brought up on classic ballet. 

chronic  [5krRnik]
n.  long established, as a disease 
The doctors were finally able to attribute his chronic headaches and nausea to traces of formaldehyde gas in his apartment. 

chronicle  [5krRnikl]
v.  [chronicled; chronicled; chronicling] report; record (in chronological order) 
The gossip columnist was paid to chronicle the latest escapades of the socially prominent celebrities. 

churlish  [5tFE:liF]
adj.  boorish; rude 
Dismayed by his churlish manners at the party, the girls vowed never to invite him again. 

ciliated  [5silieitid]
adj.  having minute hairs 
The paramecium is a ciliated, one-celled animal. 

cipher  [5saifE]
n.  [ciphers] nonentity; worthless person or thing 
She claimed her ex-husband was a total cipher and wondered why she had ever married him. 

cipher  [5saifE]
n.  [ciphers] secret code 
Lacking his code book, the spy was unable to decode the message sent to him in cipher. 

circlet  [5sE:klit]
n.  small ring; band 
This tiny circlet is very costly because it is set with precious stones. 

circuitous  [sE5kju:itEs]
adj.  roundabout 
Because of the traffic congestion on the main highways, she took a circuitous route. 

circumlocution  [sE:kEmlEu5kju:FEn]
n.  indirect or roundabout expression 
He was afraid to call spade a spade and resorted to circumlocutions to avoid direct reference to his subject. 

circumscribe  [sE:kEm5skraib]
v.  [circumscribed; circumscribed; circumscribing] limit; confine 
Although I do not wish to circumscribe your activities, I must insist that you complete this assignment before you start anything else. 

circumspect  [5sE:kEmspekt]
adj.  prudent; cautious 
Investigating before acting, she tried always to be circumspect. 

circumvent  [sE:kEm5vent]
v.  [circumvented; circumvented; circumventing] outwit; baffle 
In order to circumvent the enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before starting our major campaign. 

citadel  [5sitEdl]
n.  [citadels] fortress 
The citadel overlooked the city like a protecting angel. 

cite  [sait]
n.  quote; commend 
She could cite passages in the Bible from memory. 

civil  [5sivl]
adj.  having to do with citizens or the state; courteous and polite 
Although internal Revenue Service agents are civil servants, they are not always civil to suspected tax evaders. 

clairvoyant  [klZE5vRiEnt]
adj.  having foresight n.  fortuneteller 
Cassandra's clairvoyant warning was not heeded by the Trojans. 

clamber  [5klAmbE]
v.  [clambered; clambered; clambering] climb by crawling 
She clambered over the wall. 

clamor  [5klAmE]
n.  noise 
The clamor of the children at play outside made it impossible for her to take a nap. 

clandestine  [klAn5destin]
adj.  secret 
After avoiding their chaperon, the lovers had a clandestine meeting. 

clangor  [5klANgE, -NE]
n.  loud, resounding noise 
The blacksmith was accustomed to the clangor of hammers on steel. 

clapper  [5klApE]
n.  striker (tongue) of a bell 
Wishing to be undisturbed by the bell, Dale wound his scarf around the clapper to muffle its striking. 

clarion  [5klAriEn]
n.  shrill, trumpetlike sound 
We woke to the clarion to muffle its striking. 

claustrophobia  [klR:strE5fEubiE]
n.  fear of being locked in 
His fellow classmates laughed at his claustrophobia and often threatened to lock him in his room. 

clavicle  [5klAvikl]
n.  collarbone 
Even though he wore shoulder pads, the football player broke his clavicle during a practice scrimmage. 

cleave  [kli:v]
v.  [cleaved, cleft, clove; cleaved, cleft, cloven; cleaving] split asunder 
The lightening cleaves the tree in two. 

cleft  [kleft]
n.  split 
Erosion caused a cleft in the huge boulder. 

clemency  [5klemEnsi]
n.  [clemencies] disposition to be lenient; mildness, as of the weather 
The lawyer was pleased when the case was sent to Judge Smith's chambers because Smith was noted for her clemency toward first offenders. 

cliche  [5kli:Fei]
n.  phrase culled in meaning by repetition 
High school compositions are often marred by such cliches as "strong as an ox." 

clientele  [klaiEn5tel]
n.  body of customers 
The rock club attracted a young, stylish clientele. 

climactic  [klai5mAktik]
adj.  relating to the highest point 
When he reached the climactic portions of the book, he could not stop reading. 

clime  [klaim]
n.  [climes] region; climate 
His doctors advised him to move to a milder clime. 

clique  [kli:k]
n.  small, exclusive group 
She charged that a clique had assumed control of school affairs. 

cloister  [5klRistE]
n.  [cloisters] monastery or convent 
The nuns lived in the cloister. 

clout  [klaut]
n.  great influence (especially political or social) 
Gatsby wondered whether he had enough clout to be admitted to the exclusive club. 

cloying  [`klRiiN]
adj.  distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental 
Disliking the cloying sweetness of standard wedding cakes, Jody and Tom chose a homemade carrot cake for their reception. 

coagulate  [kEu5Agjuleit]
v.  [coagulated; coagulated; coagulating] thicken; congeal; clot 
Even after you remove the pudding from the burner, it will continue to coagulate as it stands. 

coalesce  [kEuE5les]
v.  [coalesced; coalesced; coalescing] combine; fuse 
The brooks coalesce into one large river. 

coda  [5kEudE]
n.  [codas] concluding section of a musical or literary composition 
The piece concluded with a distinctive coda that strikingly brought together various motifs. 

coddle  [5kRdl]
v.  [coddled; coddled; coddling] treat gently; pamper 
Don't coddle the children to much; they need a taste of discipline. 

codicil  [5kEudisil]
n.  supplement to the body of a will 
This codicil was drawn up five years after the writing of the original will. 

codify  [5kRdifai]
v.  [codified; codified; codifying] arrange (laws, rules) as a code; classify 
We need to take the varying rules and regulations of the different health agencies and codify them into a national health code. 

coercion  [kEu5E:FEn]
n.  use of force 
They forced him to obey, but only by great coercion. 

coeval  [kEu5i:vEl]
adj.  living at the same time as; contemporary 
coeval with the dinosaur, the pterodactyl flourished during the Mesozoic era. 

cog  [kRg]
n.  tooth projecting from a wheel 
A bicycle chain moves through a series of cogs in order to propel the bike. 

cogent  [5kEudVEnt]
adj.  convincing 
She presented cogent arguments to the jury. 

cogitate  [5kRdViteit]
v.  [cogitated; cogitated; cogitating] think over 
cogitate on this problem; the solution will come. 

cognate  [5kRgneit]
v.  related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature 
The English word "mother" cognate to the Latin word "mater," whose influence is visible in the words "maternal" and "maternity." 

cognitive  [5kRgnitiv]
adj.  having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental precesses 
Though Jack was emotionally immature, his cognitive development was admirable; he was very advanced intellectually. 

cognizance  [5kagnEzEns]
n.  knowledge 
During the election campaign, the two candidates were kept in full cognizance of the international situation. 

cohere  [kEu5hir]
v.  [cohered; cohered; cohering] stick together 
Solids have a greater tendency to cohere than liquids. 

cohesion  [kEu5hiVEn]
n.  tendency to keep together 
A firm believer in the maxim "Divide and conquer," the emperor, by lies and trickery, sought to disrupt the cohesion of the free nations. 

cohorts  []
n.  armed band 
Caesar and his Roman cohorts conquered almost all of the known world. 

coiffure  [kwB:5fjuE]
n.  [coiffures] hairstyle 
You can make a statement with your choice of coiffure: in the 60's many African-Americans affirmed their racial heritage by wearing their hair in Afros. 

coincident  [kEu5insidEnt]
adj.  occurring at the same time 
Some people find the coincident events in Hardy's novels annoyingly improbable. 

colander  [5kQlEndE]
n.  utensil with perforated bottom used for straining 
Before serving the spaghetti, place it in a colander to drain it. 

collaborate  [kE5lAbEreit]
v.  [collaborated; collaborated; collaborating] work together 
Two writers collaborated in preparing this book. 

collage  [kE5lB:V]
n.  work of art put together from fragments 
Scraps of cloth, paper doilies, and old photographs all went into her collage. 

collate  [kR5leit]
v.  [collated; collated; collating] examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order 
They collated the newly found manuscripts to determine their age. 

collateral  [kE5lAtErEl]
n.  [collaterals] security given for loan 
The sum you wish to borrow is so large that it must be secured by collateral. 

collation  [kR5leiFn, kE-]
n.  a light meal 
Tea sandwiches and cookies were offered at the collation. 

colloquial  [kE5lEukwiEl]
adj.  pertaining to conversational or common speech 
Your use of colloquial expressions in a formal essay such as the one you have presented spoils the effect you hope to achieve. 

colloquy  [5kRlEkwi]
n.  [colloquies] informal discussion 
I enjoy our colloquies but I sometimes wish that they could be made more formal and more searching. 

collusion  [kE5luVEn]
n.  conspiring in a fraudulent scheme 
The swindlers were found guilty of collusion. 

colossal  [kE5lRsl]
adj.  huge 
Radio City Music Hall has a colossal stage. 

colossus  [kE5lRsEs]
n.  [colossi, colossuses] gigantic statue 
The legendary Colossus of Rhodes, bronze statue of the sun god that dominated the harbor of the Greek seaport, was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. 

comatose  [5kRmEtEus]
adj.  in a coma; extremely sleepy 
The long-winded orator soon had his audience in a comatose state. 

combustible  [kEm5bQstEbl]
adj.  easily burned 
After the recent outbreak of fires in private homes, the fire commissioner ordered that all combustible materials be kept in safe containers. 

comely  [5kQmli]
adj.  [comelier; comeliest] attractive; agreeable 
I would rather have a poor and comely wife than a rich and homely one. 

comestible  [kE5mestibl]
n.  [comestibles] something fit to be eaten 
The roast turkey and other comestibles, the wines, and the excellent service made this Thanksgiving dinner particularly memorable. 

comeuppance  [kQm5QpEns]
n.  rebuke; deserts 
After his earlier rudeness, we were delighted to see him get his comeuppance. 

comity  [5kRmiti]
n.  [comities] courtesy; civility 
A spirit of comity should exist among nations. 

commandeer  [kRmEn5diE]
v.  [commandeered; commandeered; commandeering] to draft for military purposes; to take for public use 
The policeman commandeered the first car that approached and ordered the driver to go to the nearest hospital. 

commemorative  [kE5memErEtiv]
adj.  remembering; honoring 
The new commemorative stamp honors the late Martin Luther King, Jr. 

commensurate  [kE5menFErit]
adj.  equal in extent 
Your reward will be commensurate with your effort. 

commiserate  [kE5mizE5ret]
v.  [commiserated; commiserated; commiserating] feel or express pity or sympathy for 
Her friends commiserated with the widow. 

commodious  [kE5mEudjEs]
adj.  spacious and comfortable 
After sleeping in a small roadside cabins, they found their hotel suite commodious. 

communal  [5kRmjunl]
adj.  held in common; of a group of people 
When they were divorced, they had trouble dividing their communal property. 

compact  [5kRmpAkt, kEm5pAkt]
n.  agreement; contract 
The signers of the Mayflower Compact were establishing a form of government. 

compact  [5kRmpAkt, kEm5pAkt]
adj.  tightly packed; firm; brief 
His short, compact body was better suited to wrestling than to basketball. 

compatible  [kEm5pAtEbl]
adj.  harmonious; in harmony with 
They were compatible neighbors, never quarreling over unimportant matters. 

compelling  [kEm5peliN]
adj.  overpowering; irresistible in effect 
The prosecutor presented a well-reasoned case, but the defense attorney's compelling arguments for leniency won over the jury. 

compendium  [kEm5pendiEm]
n.  [compendiums, compendia] brief, comprehensive summary 
This text can serve as a compendium of the tremendous amount of new material being developed in this field. 

compensatory  [kEm5pensEtEuri]
adj.  making up for; repaying 
Can a compensatory education program make up for the inadequate schooling he received in earlier years? 

compilation  [,kRmpi5leiFEn]
n.  listing of statistical information in tabular or book form 
The compilation of available scholarships serves a very valuable purpose. 

complacent  [kEm5pleisent]
adj.  self-satisfied 
There was a complacent look on his face as he examined his paintings. 

complaisant  [kEm5pleiznt]
adj.  trying to please; obliging 
The courtier obeyed the king's orders in a complaisant manner. 

complement  [5kEmplimEnt]
v.  complete; consummate; make perfect 
The waiter recommended a glass of port to complement the cheese. 

compliance  [kEm5plaiEns]
n.  conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield 
The design for the new school had to be in compliance with the local building code. 

compliant  [kEm5plaiEnt]
adj.  yielding 
He was compliant and ready to go along with his friends' desires. 

complicity  [kEm5plisiti]
n.  [complicities] participation; involvement 
You cannot keep your complicity in this affair secret very long; you would be wise to admit your involvement immediately. 

component  [kEm5pEunEnt]
n.  [components] element; ingredient 
I wish all the components of my stereo system were working at the same time. 

comport  [kEm5pR:t]
v.  [comported; comported; comporting] bear one's self; behave 
He comported himself with great dignity. 

composure  [kEm5pEuVE]
n.  mental calmness 
Even the latest work crisis failed to shake her composure. 

compound  [5kRmpaund, kEm5paund]
v.  combine; constitute; pay interest; increase 
The makers of the popular cold remedy compounded a nasal decongestant with an antihistamine. 

comprehensive  [5kRmpri5hensiv]
adj.  thorough; inclusive 
This book provides a comprehensive review of verbal and math skills for the SAT. 

compress  [kEm5pres]
v.  [compressed; compressed; compressing] close; squeeze; contract 
She compressed the package under her arm. 

comprise  [kEm5praiz]
v.  [comprised; comprised; comprising] include; consist of 
If the District of Columbia were to be granted a statehood, the United States of America would comprise fifty-one states, not just fifty. 

compromise  [5kRmprEmaiz]
v.  [compromised; compromised; compromising] adjust; endanger the interests or reputation of 
Your presence at the scene of the dispute compromises our claim to neutrality in this matter. 

compunction  [kEm5pQNkFEn]
n.  remorse 
The judge was especially severe in this sentencing because he felt that the criminal had shown no compunction for his heinous crime. 

compute  [kEm5pju:t]
v.  [computed; computed; computing] reckon; calculate 
He failed to compute the interest, so his bank balance was not accurate. 

concatenate  [kRn5kAtineit]
v.  [concatenated; concatenated; concatenating] link as in a chain 
It is difficult to understand how these events could concatenate as they did without outside assistance. 

concave  [5kRn5keiv]
adj.  hollow 
The back-packers found partial shelter from the storm by huddling against the concave wall of the cliff. 

concede  [kEn5si:d]
v.  [conceded; conceded; conceding] admit; grant 
Despite all the evidence Monica had assembled, Mark refused to concede that she was right. 

conceit  [kEn5si:t]
n.  [conceits] whimsical idea; extravagant metaphor 
He was an entertaining companion, always expressing himself in amusing conceits and witty turns of phrase. 

concentric  [kEn5sentrik]
adj.  having a common center 
The target was made of concentric circles. 

conception  [kEn5sepFEn]
n.  [conceptions] beginning; forming of a idea 
At the first conception of the work, he was consulted. 

concerted  [kEn5sE:tid]
adj.  mutually agreed on; done together 
The girl scouts in the troop made a concerted effort to raise funds for their annual outing, and emitted a concerted sigh when their leader announced that they had reached their goal. 

concession  [kEn5seFEn]
n.  [concessions] an act of yielding 
Before they could reach an agreement, both sides had to make certain concessions. 

conciliatory  [kEn5siliEtEri]
adj.  reconciling; soothing 
She was still angry despite his conciliatory words. 

concise  [kEn5sais]
adj.  brief and compact 
When you define a new word, be concise; the shorter the definition, the easier it is to remember. 

conclave  [5kRnkleiv]
n.  private meeting 
He was present at all their conclaves as an unofficial observer. 

conclusive  [kEn5klu:siv]
adj.  decisive; ending all debate 
When the stolen books turned up in John's locker, we finally had conclusive evidence of the identity of the mysterious thief. 

concoct  [kEn5kRkt]
v.  [concocted; concocted; concocting] prepare by combining; make up in concert 
How did the inventive chef ever concoct such strange dish? 

concomitant  [kEn5kRmitEnt]
n.  that which accompanies 
Culture is not always a concomitant of wealth. 

concord  [5kRNkR:d]
n.  [concords] harmony 
Watching Tweediedum and Tweedledee battle, Alice wondered why the two brothers could not manage to life in concord. 

concur  [kEn5kE:]
v.  [concurred; concurred; concurring] agree 
Did you concur with the decision of the court or did you find it unfair? 

concurrent  [kEn5kQrEnt]
adj.  happening at the same time 
In America, the colonists were resisting the demands of the mother country; at the concurrent moment in France, the middle class was sowing the seeds of rebellion. 

condescend  [kRndi5send]
v.  [condescended; condescended; condescending] bestow courtesies with a superior air 
The king condescended to grant an audience to the friends of the condemned man. 

condign  [kEn5dain]
adj.  adequate; deservedly severe 
The public approved the condign punishment for the crime. 

condiments  []
n.  seasonings; spices 
Spanish food is full of condiments. 

condole  [kEn5dEul]
v.  [condoled; condoled; condoling] express sympathetic sorrow 
His friends gathered to condole with him over his loss. 

condone  [kEn5dEun]
v.  [condoned; condoned; condoning] overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse 
Unlike Widow Douglass, who condoned Huck's minor offenses, Miss Watson did nothing but scold. 

conducive  [kEn5dju:siv]
n.  helpful; contributive 
Rest and proper diet are conducive to good health. 

conduit  [5kRndit]
n.  [conduits] aqueduct; passageway for fluids 
Water was brought to the army in the desert by an improvised conduit from the adjoining mountain. 

confidant  [kRnfi5dAnt]
n.  trusted friend 
He had no confidants with whom he could discuss his problems at home. 

confiscate  [5kRnfiskeit]
v.  [confiscated; confiscated; confiscating] seize; commandeer 
The army confiscated all available supplies of uranium. 

conflagration  [kRnflE5greiFEn]
n.  [conflagrations] great fire 
In the conflagration that followed the 1906 earthquake, much of San Francisco was destroyed. 

confluence  [5kRnfluEns]
n.  [confluences] flowing together; crowd 
They built the city at the confluence of two rivers. 

conformity  [kEn5fR:miti]
n.  harmony; agreement 
In conformity with our rules and regulations, I am calling a meeting of our organization. 

confound  [kEn5faund]
v.  [confounded; confounded; confounding] confuse; puzzle 
No mystery could confound Sherlock Holmes for long. 

congeal  [kEn5dVi:l]
v.  [congealed; congealed; congealing] freeze; coagulate 
His blood congealed in his veins as he saw the dread monster rush toward him. 

congenial  [kEn5dVi:njEl]
adj.  pleasant; friendly 
My father loved to go out for a meal with congenial companions. 

congenital  [kEn5dVenitl]
adj.  existing at birth 
His congenital deformity disturbed his parents. 

conglomeration  [kEnglRmE5reiFEn]
n.  mass of material sticking together 
In such a conglomeration of miscellaneous statistics, it was impossible to find a single area of analysis. 

congruence  [5kRNgruEns]
n.  correspondence of parts; harmonious relationship 
The student demonstrated the congruence of the two triangles by using the hypotenuse-arm theorem. 

conifer  [5kEunifE]
n.  pine tree; cone-bearing tree 
According to geologists, the conifers were the first plants to bear flowers. 

conjecture  [kEn5dVektFE]
n.  [conjectures] surmise; guess 
I will end all your conjectures; I admit I am guilty as charged. 

conjugal  [5kRndVugl]
adj.  pertaining to marriage 
Their dreams of conjugal bliss were shattered as soon as their temperaments clashed. 

conjure  [5kQndVE, kEn5dVuE]
v.  [conjured; conjured; conjuring] summon a devil; proactive magic; imagine; invent 
He conjured up an image of a reformed city and had the voters completely under his spell. 

connivance  [kE5naivEns]
n.  pretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend 
With the connivance of his friends, he plotted to embarrass the teacher. 

connoisseur  [kR:ni5sE:]
n.  [connoisseurs] person competent to act as judge of art, etc.; a lover of an art 
She had developed into a connoisseur of fine china. 

connotation  [kRnEu5teiFEn]
n.  suggested or implied meaning of an expression 
Foreigners frequently are unaware of the connotations of the words they use. 

connubial  [kE5nju:bjEl]
adj.  pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state 
In his telegram, he wished the newlyweds a lifetime of connubial bliss. 

consanguinity  [kRnsAN5gwiniti]
n.  kinship 
The lawsuit developed into a test of the consanguinity of the claimant to the estate. 

conscientious  [5kRnFi5enFEs]
adj.  scrupulous; careful 
A conscientious editor checked every definition for its accuracy. 

conscript  [5kRnskript]
n.  draftee; person forced into military service 
Did Rambo volunteer to fight in Vietnam, or was he a conscript, drafted against his will? 

consecrate  [5kRnsikreit]
v.  [consecrated; consecrated; consecrating] dedicate; sanctify 
We shall consecrate our lives to this noble purpose. 

consensus  [kEn5sensEs]
n.  [consensuses] general agreement 
The consensus indicates that we are opposed to entering into this pact. 

consequential  [5kRnsi5kwenFl]
adj.  pompous; self-important 
Convinced of his own importance, the actor strutted about the dressing room with a consequential air. 

conservatory  [kEn5sE:vEtEuri]
n.  [conservatories] school of the fine arts (especially music or drama) 
A gifted violinist, Marya was selected to study at the conservatory. 

consign  [kEn5sain]
v.  [consigned; consigned; consigning] deliver officially; entrust; set apart 
The court consigned the child to her paternal grandmother's care. 

consistency  [kEn5sistEnsi]
n.  [consistencies] absence of contradictions; dependability; uniformity; degree of thickness 
Holmes judged puddings and explanations on their consistency; he liked his puddings without lumps and his explanations without improbabilities. 

console  [kEn5sEul]
v.  [consoled; consoled; consoling] lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort 
When her father died, Marius did his best to console Cosette. 

consonance  [5kRnsEnEns]
n.  harmony; agreement 
Her agitation seemed out of consonance with her usual calm. 

consort  [5kRnsR:t, kEn5sR:t]
v.  associate with 
We frequently judge people by the company with whom they consort. 

consort  [5kRnsR:t, kEn5sR:t]
n.  [consorts] husband or wife 
The search for a consort for the young Queen Victoria ended happily. 

conspiracy  [kEn5spirEsi]
n.  [conspiracies] treacherous plot 
Brutus and Cassius joined in the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar. 

consternation  [kRnstE(:)5neiFEn]
n.  anxiety, dismay 
Lincoln is famous for saying that the consternations during the civil war had left him decrepit. 

constituent  [kEn5stitjuEnt]
n.  [constituents] supporter 
The congressman received hundreds of letters from angry constituents after the Equal Rights Amendment failed to pass. 

constraint  [kEn5streint]
n.  [constraints] compulsion; repression of feelings 
There was a feeling of constraint in the room because no one dared to criticize the speaker. 

construe  [kEn5stru:]
v.  [construed; construed; construing] explain; interpret 
If I construe your remarks correctly, you disagree with the theory already advanced. 

consummate  [kEn5sQmit]
adj.  complete 
I have never seen anyone who makes as many stupid errors as you do; you must be a consummate idiot. 

contagion  [kEn5teidVEn]
n.  [contagions] infection 
Fearing contagion, they took drastic steps to prevent the spread of the disease. 

contaminate  [kEn5tAmineit]
v.  [contaminated; contaminated; contaminating] pollute 
The sewage system of the city so contaminated the water that swimming was forbidden. 

contempt  [kEn5tempt]
n.  scorn; disdain 
Even if you feel superior to others, it is unwise to show your contempt for them. 

contend  [kEn5tend]
v.  [contended; contended; contending] struggle; compete; assert earnestly 
In Revolt of the Black Athlete, sociologist Harry Edwards contends that young black athletes have been exploited by some college recruiters. 

contentious  [kEn5tenFEs]
adj.  quarrelsome 
We heard loud and contentious noises in the next room. 

contest  [kEn5test, 5kRntest]
v.  dispute 
The defeated candidate attempted to contest the election results. 

context  [5kRntekst]
n.  [contexts] writings preceding and following the passage quoted 
Because these lines are taken out of context, they do not convey the message the author intended. 

contiguous  [kEn5tigjuEs]
adj.  adjacent to; touching upon 
The two countries are contiguous for a few miles; then they are separated by the gulf. 

continence  [5kRntinEns]
n.  self-restraint; sexual chastity 
She vowed to lead a life of continence. 

contingent  [kEn5tindVEnt]
adj.  conditional 
The continuation of this contract is contingent on the quality of your first output. 

contortions  []
n.  twistings; distortions 
As the effects of the opiate wore away, the contortions of the patient became more violent and demonstrated how much pain she was enduring. 

contraband  [5kRntrEbAnd]
n.  illegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods 
The coast guard tries to prevent contraband in U.S. waters. 

contravene  [kRntrE5vin]
v.  [contravened; contravened; contravening] contradict; oppose: infringe on or transgress 
Mr. Barrett did not expect his frail daughter Elizabeth to contravene his will by eloping with Robert Browning. 

contrite  [5kRntrait]
adj.  penitent 
Her contrite tears did not influence the judge when he imposed sentence. 

contrived  [kEn5traivd]
adj.  forced; artificial; not spontaneous 
Feeling ill at ease with his new in-laws; James made a few contrived attempts at conversation and then retreated into silence. 

controvert  [5kRntrEvE:t]
v.  [controverted; controverted; controverting] oppose with arguments; contradict 
To controvert your theory will require much time but it is essential that we disprove it. 

contumacious  [kRntju5meiFEs]
adj.  disobedient; resisting authority 
The contumacious mob shouted defiantly at the police. 

contusion  [kEn5tju:VEn]
n.  bruise 
She was treated for contusions and abrasions. 

conundrum  [kE5nQndrEm]
n.  riddle; difficult problem 
During the long car ride, she invented conundrums to entertain the children. 

convene  [kEn5vi:n]
v.  [convened; convened; convening] assemble 
Because much is needed legislation had to be enacted, the governor ordered the legislature to convene in special session by January 15. 

convention  [kEn5venFEn]
n.  [conventions] social or moral custom; established practice 
Flying in the face of convention, George Sand (Amandine Dudevant) shocked her contemporaries by taking lovers and wearing men's clothes. 

conventional  [kEn5venFEnl]
adj.  ordinary; typical 
His conventional upbringing left him wholly unprepared for his wife's eccentric family. 

converge  [kEn5vE:dV]
v.  [converged; converged; converging] come together 
Marchers converged on Washington for the great Save Our Cities-Save Our Children March. 

conversant  [kRn5vE:sEnt]
adj.  familiar with 
The lawyer is conversant with all the evidence. 

converse  [kEn5vE:s, 5kRnvE:s]
n.  opposite 
The inevitable converse of peace is not war but annihilation. 

convert  [kEn5vE:t, 5kRnvE:t]
n.  one who has adopted a different religion or opinion 
On his trip to Japan, though the President spoke at length about the merits of American automobiles, he made few converts to his beliefs. 

convex  [5kRnveks]
adj.  curving outward 
He polished the convex lens of his telescope. 

conveyance  [kEn5veiEns]
n.  [conveyances] vehicle; transfer 
During the transit strike, commuters used various kinds of conveyances. 

conviction  [kEn5vikFEn]
n.  [convictions] strongly held belief 
Nothing could shake his conviction that she was innocent. 

convivial  [kEn5viviEl]
adj.  festive; gay; characterized by joviality 
The convivial celebrators of the victory sang their college songs. 

convoke  [kEn5vEuk]
v.  [convoked; convoked; convoking] call together 
Congress was convoked at the outbreak of the emergency. 

convoluted  [5kRnvElju:tid]
adj.  coiled around; involved; intricate 
His argument was so convoluted that few of us could follow a it intelligently. 

copious  [5kEupjEs]
adj.  plentiful 
She had copious reasons for rejecting the proposal. 

coquette  [kEu5ket, kR5ket]
n.  flirt 
Because she refused to give him an answer to his proposal of marriage, he called her a coquette. 

cordial  [5kR:djEl]
adj.  [more cordial; most cordial] gracious; heartfelt 
Our hosts greeted us at the airport with a cordial welcome and a hearty hug. 

cordon  [5kR:dn]
n.  extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress 
The police cordon was so tight that the criminals could not leave the area. 

cornice  [5kR:nis]
n.  [cornices] projecting molding on building (usually above columns) 
Because the stones forming the cornice had been loosened by the storms, the police closed the building until repairs could be made. 

cornucopia  [kR:nju5kEupiE]
n.  [cornucopias] horn overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance 
The encyclopedia salesman claimed the new edition was a veritable cornucopia of information, an inexhaustible source of knowledge for the entire family. 

corollary  [5kB:ElEri]
n.  [corollaries] consequence; accompaniment 
Brotherly love is a complex emotion, with a sibling rivalry its natural corollary. 

corporeal  [kR:5pR:riEl]
adj.  bodily; material 
He was not a churchgoer; he was interested only in corporeal matters. 

corpulent  [5kE:pjulEnt]
adj.  very fat 
The corpulent man resolved to reduce. 

correlation  [kRri5leiFEn]
n.  [correlations] mutual relationship 
He sought to determine the correlation that existed between ability in algebra and ability to interpret reading exercises. 

corroborate  [kE5rRbEreit]
v.  [corroborated; corroborated; corroborating] confirm 
Unless we find a witness to corroborate your evidence, it will not stand up in court. 

corrosive  [kE5rEusiv]
adj.  eating away by chemicals or disease 
Stainless steel is able to withstand the effects of corrosive chemicals. 

corrugated  [5kB:Egeitid]
adj.  wrinkled; ridged 
She wished she could smooth away the wrinkles from his corrugated brow. 

cosmic  [5kRzmik]
adj.  pertaining to the universe; vast 
cosmic rays derive their name from the fact that they bombard the earth's atmosphere from outer space. 

coterie  [5kEutEri]
n.  group that meets socially; select circle 
After his book had been published, he was invited to join the literary coterie that lunched daily at the hotel. 

countenance  [5kauntinEns]
v.  [countenanced; countenanced; countenancing] approve; tolerate 
He refused to countenance such rude behavior on their part. 

countenance  [5kauntinEns]
n.  [countenances] face 
When Jose saw his newborn daughter, a proud smile spread across his countenance. 

countermand  [5kauntE5ma:nd]
v.  [countermanded; countermanded; countermanding] cancel; revoke 
The general countermand the orders issued in his absence. 

counterpart  [5kauntEpa:t]
n.  [counterparts] a thing that completes another; things very much alike 
Night and day are counterparts. 

coup  [5ku:]
n.  [coups] highly successful action or sudden attack 
As the news of his coup spread throughout Wall Street, his fellow brokers dropped by to congratulate him. 

couple  [5kQpl]
v.  [coupled; coupled; coupling] join; unite 
The Flying Karamazovs couple expert juggling and amateur joking in their nightclub act. 

courier  [5kuriE]
n.  [couriers] messenger 
The publisher sent a special courier to pick up the manuscript. 

covenant  [5kQvinEnt]
n.  [covenants] agreement 
We must comply with the terms of the covenant. 

covert  [kQvEt]
adj.  secret; hidden; implied 
She could understand the covert threat in the letter. 

covetous  [5kQvEtEs]
adj.  avaricious; eagerly desirous of 
The child was covetous by nature and wanted to take the toys belonging to his classmates. 

cow  [kau]
v.  terrorize; intimidate 
The little boy was so cowed by the hulking bully that he gave up his lunch money without a word of protest. 

cower  [5kauE]
v.  [cowered; cowered; cowering] shrink quivering, as from fear 
The frightened child cowered in the corner of the room. 

coy  [kRi]
adj.  [coyer; coyest] shy; modest; coquettish 
She was coy in her answers to his offer. 

cozen  [5kQzn]
v.  [cozened; cozened; cozening] cheat; hoodwink; swindle 
He was the kind of individual who would cozen his friends in a cheap card game but remain eminently ethical in all his business dealings. 

crabbed  [5krAbid]
adj.  sour; peevish 
The children avoided the crabbed old man because he scolded them when they made noise. 

crass  [krAs]
adj.  [crasser; crassest] very unrefined; grossly insensible 
The philosophers deplored the crass commercialism. 

craven  [5kreivEn]
adj.  cowardly 
When he saw the enemy troops advancing, he had a craven impulse to run for his life. 

credence  [5kri:dEns]
n.  belief 
Do not place any credence in his promises. 

credo  [5kri:dEu]
n.  [credos] creed 
I believe we may best describe his credo by saying that it approximates the Golden Rule. 

credulity  [kri5dju:liti]
n.  belief on slight evidence 
The witch doctor took advantage of the credulity of the superstitious natives. 

creed  [kri:d]
n.  [creeds] system of religious or ethical belief 
In any loyal American's creed, love of democracy must be emphasized. 

crescendo  [kri:5FendEu]
n.  [crescendos, crescendi] increase in the volume or intensity, as in a musical passage; climax 
The overture suddenly changed from a quiet pastoral theme to a crescendo featuring blaring trumpets and clashing cymbals. 

crestfallen  [5kreistfR:lEn]
adj.  dejected; dispirited 
We were surprised at his reaction to the failure of his project; instead of being crestfallen, he was busily engaged in planning new activities. 

crevice  [5krevis]
n.  [crevices] crack; fissure 
The mountain climbers found footholds in the tiny crevices in the mountainside. 

cringe  [krindV]
v.  [cringed; cringed; cringing] shrink back, as if in fear 
The dog cringed, expecting a blow. 

criteria  []
n.  standards used in judging 
What criteria did you use when you selected this essay as the prize winner? 

crone  [krEun]
n.  hag 
The toothless crone frightened us when she smiled. 

crotchety  [5krRtFiti]
adj.  eccentric; whimsical 
Although he was reputed to be a crotchety old gentleman, I found his ideas substantially sound and sensible. 

crux  [krQks]
n.  [cruxes, cruces] crucial point 
This is the crux of the entire problem. 

crypt  [kript]
n.  secret recess or vault usually used for burial 
Until recently only bodies of rulers and leading statesmen were interred in this crypt. 

cryptic  [5kriptik]
adj.  mysterious; hidden; secret 
His cryptic remarks could not be interpreted. 

cubicle  [5kju:bikl]
n.  small chamber used for sleeping 
After his many hours of intensive study in the library he retired to his cubicle. 

cuisine  [kwi5zi:n]
n.  style of cooking 
French cuisine is noted for its use of sauces and wines. 

culinary  [5kju:linEri]
adj.  relating to cooking 
Many chefs attribute their culinary skill to the wise use of spices. 

cull  [kQl]
v.  [culled; culled; culling] pick out; reject 
Every month the farmer culls the nonplaying hens from his flock and sells them to the local butcher. 

culmination  [kQlmE5neFEn]
n.  attainment of highest point 
His inauguration as President of the United States marked the culmination of his political career. 

culpable  [5kQlpEbl]
adj.  deserving blame 
Corrupt politicians who condone the activities of the gamblers are equally culpable. 

culvert  [5kQlvEt]
n.  artificial channel for water 
If we build a culvert under the road at this point, we will reduce the possibility of the road at this point, we will reduce the possibility of the road's being flooded during the rainy season. 

cumbersome  [5kQmbEsEm]
adj.  heavy; hard to manage 
He was burdened down with cumbersome parcels. 

cumulative  [5kjumjuleitiv]
adj.  growing by addition 
Vocabulary building is a cumulative process: as you go through your flash cards, you will add new words to your vocabulary, one by one. 

cupidity  [kju:5piditi]
n.  greed 
The defeated people could not satisfy the cupidity of the conquerors, who demanded excessive tribute. 

curator  [5kjuE5reitE]
n.  superintendent; manager 
The members of the board of trustees of the museum expected the new curator to plan events and exhibitions that would make the museum more popular. 

curmudgeon  [kE:5mQdVEn]
n.  churlish, miserly individual 
Although he was regarded by many as a curmudgeon, a few of us were aware of the many kindnesses and acts of charity that he secretly performed. 

cursive  [5kE:siv]
adj.  flowing, running 
In normal writing we run our letters together in cursive form; in printing, we separate the letters. 

cursory  [5kE:sEri]
adj.  casual; hastily done 
A cursory examination of the ruins indicates the possibility of arson; a more extensive study should be undertaken. 

curtail  [kE:5teil]
v.  [curtailed; curtailed; curtailing] shorten; reduce 
During the coal shortage, we must curtail our use of this vital commodity. 

cynical  [5sinikEl]
adj.  skeptical or distrustful of human motives 
cynical at all times, he was suspicious of all altruistic actions of others. 

cynosure  [5sainEFuE]
n.  object of general attention 
As soon as the movie star entered the room, she became the cynosure of all eyes. 

dais  [5deiis]
n.  raised platform for guests of honor 
When he approached the dais, he was greeted by cheers from the people who had come to honor him. 

dally  [5dAli]
v.  [dallied; dallied; dallying] trifle with; procrastinate 
Laertes told Ophelia that Hamlet could only dally with her affections. 

dank  [dANk]
adj.  [danker; dankest] damp 
The walls of the dungeon were dank and slimy. 

dapper  [5dApE]
adj.  neat and trim 
In "The Odd Couple," Tony Randall played Felix Unger, an excessively dapper soul who could not stand to have a hair out of place. 

dappled  [5dApld]
adj.  spotted 
The sunlight filtering though the screens created a dappled effect on the wall. 

daub  [dR:b]
v.  [daubed; daubed; daubing] smear (as with paint) 
From the way he daubed his paint on the canvas, I could tell he knew nothing of oils. 

daunt  [dR:nt]
v.  [daunted; daunted; daunting] intimidate 
Your threats cannot daunt me. 

dauntless  [5dR:ntlis]
adj.  bold 
Despite the dangerous nature of the undertaking, the dauntless soldier volunteered for the assignment. 

dawdle  [5dR:dl]
v.  [dawdled; dawdled; dawdling] loiter; waste time 
Inasmuch as we must meet a deadline, do not dawdle over this work. 

deadlock  [5dedlRk]
n.  [deadlocks] standstill; stalemate 
The negotiations had reached a deadlock. 

deadpan  [5dedpAn]
adj.  wooden; impassive 
We wanted to see how long he could maintain his deadpan expression. 

dearth  [dE:W]
n.  scarcity 
The dearth of skilled labor compelled the employers to open trade schools. 

debacle  [dei5bB:kl]
n.  breaking up; downfall 
This debacle in the government can only result in anarchy. 

debase  [di5beis]
v.  [debased; debased; debasing] reduce to lower state 
Do not debase yourself by becoming maudlin. 

debauch  [di5bR:tF]
v.  [debauched; debauched; debauching] corrupt; make intemperate 
A vicious newspaper can debauch public ideals. 

debilitate  [di5bilEtet]
v.  [debilitated; debilitated; debilitating] weaken; enfeeble 
Overindulgence debilitates character as well as physical stamina. 

debonair  [debE5nZE]
adj.  friendly; aiming to please 
The debonair youth was liked by all who met him, because of his cheerful and obliging manner. 

debris  [dE5bri:]
n.  rubble 
A full year after the earthquake in Mexico City, workers were still carting away the debris. 

debunk  [5di:5bQNk]
v.  [debunked; debunked; debunking] expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule 
Pointing out that he consistently had voted against strengthening antipollution legislation, reporters debunked the candidate's claim that he was a fervent environmentalist. 

debutante  [5debju:ta:nt]
n.  [debutantes] young woman making formal entrance into society 
As a debutante, she was often mentioned in the society columns of the newspapers. 

decadence  [di5kedns]
n.  decay 
The moral decadence of the people was reflected in the lewd literature of the period. 

decant  [di5kAnt]
v.  [decanted; decanted; decanting] pour off gently 
Be sure to decant this wine before serving it. 

decapitate  [di5kApiteit]
v.  [decapitated; decapitated; decapitating] behead 
They did not hang Lady Jane Grey; they decapitated her. 

decelerate  [di:5selEreit]
v.  [decelerated; decelerated; decelerating] slow down 
Seeing the emergency blinkers in the road ahead, he decelerated quickly. 

deciduous  [di5sidjuEs]
adj.  falling off, as of leaves 
The oak is a deciduous tree. 

decimate  [desi5meit]
v.  [decimated; decimated; decimating] kill, usually one out of ten 
We do more to decimate our population in automobile accidents than we do in war. 

decipher  [di5saifE]
v.  [deciphered; deciphered; deciphering] decode 
I could not decipher the doctor's handwriting. 

declivity  [di5klivEti]
n.  [declivities] downward slope 
The children loved to ski down the declivity. 

decollete  [dei5kRltei]
adj.  having a low-cut neckline 
Fashion decrees that evening gowns be decollete this season; bare shoulders are again the vogue. 

decomposition  [di:kRmpE5ziFEn]
n.  decay 
Despite the body's advanced state of decomposition, the police were able to identify the murdered man. 

decorum  [di5kR:rEm]
n.  [decorums] propriety; seemliness 
Shocked by the unruly behavior, the teacher criticized the class for its lack of decorum. 

decoy  [di5kRi]
n.  [decoys] lure or bait 
The wild ducks were not fooled by the decoy. 

decrepitude  [di5krepitju:d]
n.  state of collapse caused by illness or old age 
I was unprepared for the state of decrepitude in which I had found my old friend; he seemed to have aged twenty years in six months. 

decry  [di5krai]
v.  [decried; decried; decrying] express strong disapproval of; disparage 
The founder of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman, strongly decries the lack of financial and moral support for children in America today. 

deducible  [di5dju:sEbl]
adj.  derived by reasoning 
If we accept your premise, your conclusions are easily deducible. 

deface  [di5fes]
v.  [defaced; defaced; defacing] mar; disfigure 
If you deface a library book, you will have to pay a hefty fine. 

defamation  [difE5meiFEn]
n.  harming a person's reputation 
Such defamation of character may result in a slander suit. 

default  [di5fR:lt]
n.  failure to do 
As a result of her husband's failure to appear in court, she was granted a divorce by default. 

defeatist  [di5fi:tist]
adj.  resigned to defeat; accepting defeat as a natural outcome 
If you maintain your defeatist attitude, you will never succeed. 

defection  [di5fZkFEn]
n.  desertion 
The children, who had made him an idol, were hurt most by his defection from our cause. 

deference  [5dZfErEs]
n.  courteous regard for another's wish 
In deference to his desires, the employers granted him a holiday. 

defile  [di5fail]
v.  [defiled; defiled; defiling] pollute; profane 
The hoodlums defiled the church with their scurrilous writing. 

definitive  [di5finitiv]
adj.  most reliable or complete 
Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln may be regarded as the definitive work on the life of the Great Emancipator. 

deflect  [di5flekt]
v.  [deflected; deflected; deflecting] turn aside 
His life was saved when his cigarette case deflected the bullet. 

defoliate  [difEuli5eit]
v.  [defoliated; defoliated; defoliating] destroy leaves 
In Vietnam the army made extensive use of chemical agents to defoliate the woodlands. 

defray  [di5frei]
v.  [defrayed; defrayed; defraying] to undertake the payment of (costs or expenses); pay 
Her employer offered to defray the costs of her postgraduate education. 

defrock  [di5frRk]
v.  [defrocked; defrocked; defrocking] to strip a priest or minister of church authority 
We knew the minister had violated church regulations, but we had not realized his offense was serious enough to cause him to be defrocked. 

deft  [deft]
adj.  [defter; deftest] neat; skillful 
The deft waiter uncorked the champagne without spilling a drop. 

defunct  [di5fQNkt]
adj.  dead; no longer in use or existence 
The lawyers sought to examine the books of the defunct corporation. 

degenerate  [di5dVenEreit]
v.  [degenerated; degenerated; degenerating] become worse; deteriorate 
As the fight dragged on, the champion's style degenerated until he could barely keep on his feet. 

degraded  [di`greidid]
adj.  lowered in rank; debased 
The degraded wretch spoke only of his past glories and honors. 

dehydrate  [di:5haidreit]
v.  [dehydrated; dehydrated; dehydrating] remove water from; dry out 
Vigorous dancing quickly dehydrates the body; between dances, be sure to drink more water than normal. 

deify  [5di:ifai]
v.  [deified; deified; deifying] turn into a god; idolize 
Admire the rock star all you want; just don't deify him. 

deign  [dein]
v.  [deigned; deigned; deigning] condescend 
He felt that he would debase himself if he deigned to answer his critics. 

delete  [di5li:t]
v.  [deleted; deleted; deleting] erase; strike out 
If you delete this paragraph, the composition will have more appeal. 

deleterious  [dZlE5tiriEs]
adj.  harmful 
Workers in nuclear research must avoid the deleterious effects of radioactive substances. 

deliberate  [di5libErit]
v.  [deliberated; deliberated; deliberating] consider; ponder; unhurried 
Offered the new job, she asked for time to deliberate before she made her decision. 

delineate  [di5linieit]
v.  [delineated; delineated; delineating] portray 
He is weakest when he attempts to delineate character. 

delirium  [di5liriEm]
n.  [deliriums, deliria] mental disorder marked by confusion 
The drunkard in his delirium saw strange animals. 

delta  [5deltE]
n.  [deltas] flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river 
His dissertation discussed the effect of intermittent flooding on the fertility of the Nile delta. 

delude  [di5lu:d]
v.  [deluded; deluded; deluding] deceive 
Do not delude yourself into believing that he will relent. 

deluge  [5delju:dV]
n.  [deluges] flood; rush 
When we advertised the position, we received a deluge of applications. 

delusion  [di5lu:VEn]
n.  [delusions] false belief; hallucination 
This scheme is a snare and a delusion. 

delusive  [di5lu:siv]
adj.  deceptive; raising vain hopes 
Do not raise your hopes on the basis of his delusive promises. 

delve  [delv]
v.  [delved; delved; delving] dig; investigate 
Delving into old books and manuscripts is part of a researcher's job. 

demagogue  [5demEgRg]
n.  person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader 
He was accused of being a demagogue because he made promises that aroused futile hopes in his listeners. 

demean  [di5mi:n]
v.  [demeaned; demeaned; demeaning] degrade; humiliate 
He felt that he would demean himself if he replied to the scurrilous letter. 

demeanor  [di5mi:nE]
n.  behavior; bearing 
His sober demeanor quieted the noisy revelers. 

demented  [di5mentid]
adj.  insane 
She became increasingly demented and had to be hospitalized. 

demise  [di5maiz]
n.  [demises] death 
Upon the demise of the dictator, a bitter dispute about succession to power developed. 

demographic  [di:mEgrAfik]
adj.  related to population balance 
In conducting a survey, one should take into account demographic trends in the region. 

demolition  [demE5liFEn]
n.  destruction 
One of the major aims of the air force was the complete demolition of all means of transportation by the bombing of rail lines and the terminals. 

demoniac  [di5mEuniAk]
adj.  fiendish 
The Spanish Inquisition devised many demoniac means of torture. 

demotic  [di5mRtik]
adj.  pertaining to the people 
He lamented the passing of aristocratic society and maintained that a demotic society would lower the nation's standards. 

demur  [di5mE:]
v.  [demurred; demurred; demurring] delay; object 
To demur at this time will only worsen the already serious situation; now is the time for action. 

demure  [di5mjuE]
adj.  [demurer; demurest] grave; serious; coy 
She was demure and reserved. 

denigrate  [5denigreit]
v.  [denigrated; denigrated; denigrating] blacken 
All attempts to denigrate the character of our late President have failed; the people still love him and cherish his memory. 

denizen  [5denizn]
n.  [denizens] inhabitant of 
Ghosts are denizens of the land of the dead who return to earth. 

denotation  [di:nEu5teiFEn]
n.  meaning; distinguishing by name 
A dictionary will always give us the denotation of a word; frequently, it will always give us its connotation. 

denouement  [dei5nu:mRN]
n.  outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work 
The play was childishly written; the denouement was obvious to sophisticated theatergoers as early as the middle of the first act. 

denounce  [di5nauns]
v.  [denounced; denounced; denouncing] condemn; criticize 
The reform candidate denounced the corrupt city officers for having betrayed the public's trust. 

depict  [di5pikt]
v.  [depicted; depicted; depicting] portray 
In this book, the author depicts the slave owners as kind and benevolent masters. 

deplete  [di5pli:t]
v.  [depleted; depleted; depleting] reduce; exhaust 
We must wait until we deplete our present inventory before we order replacements. 

deplore  [di5plR:]
v.  [deplored; deplored; deploring] regret 
Although I deplore the vulgarity of your language, I defend your right to express yourself freely. 

deploy  [di5plRi]
v.  [deployed; deployed; deploying] move troops so that the battle line is extended at the expense of depth 
The general ordered the battalion to deploy in order to meet the offensive of the enemy. 

depose  [di5pEuz]
v.  [deposed; deposed; deposing] dethrone; remove form office 
The army attempted to depose the king and set up a military government. 

deposition  [depE5ziFEn]
n.  [depositions] testimony under oath 
He made his deposition in the judge's chamber. 

depravity  [di5prAviti]
n.  [depravities] corruption; wickedness 
The depravity of the tyrant's behavior shocked us all. 

deprecate  [5deprikeit]
v.  [deprecated; deprecated; deprecating] express disapproval of; protest against; belittle 
A firm believer in old-fashioned courtesy, Miss Post deprecated the modern tendency to address new acquaintances by their first names. 

depreciate  [di5pri:Fieit]
v.  [depreciated; depreciated; depreciating] lessen in value 
If you neglect this properly, it will depreciate. 

depredation  [depri5deiFEn]
n.  [depredations] plundering 
After the depredations of the invaders, the people were penniless. 

deranged  [di5reindVd]
adj.  insane 
He had to be institutionalized because he was deranged. 

derelict  [5derilikt]
adj.  neglectful of duty; abandoned 
The corporal who fell asleep while on watch was thrown into the guardhouse for being derelict in his duty. 

deride  [di5raid]
v.  [derided; derided; deriding] scoff at 
The people derided his grandiose schemes. 

derision  [di5riVEn]
n.  [derisions] ridicule 
They greeted his proposal with derision and refused to consider it seriously. 

derivative  [di5rivEtiv]
adj.  unoriginal; obtained from another source 
Although her early poetry was clearly derivative in nature, the critics thought she had promise and eventually would find her own voice. 

dermatologist  [dE:mE5tRlEdVist]
n.  one who studies the skin and its diseases 
I advise you to consult a dermatologist about your acne. 

derogatory  [di5rRgEtEri]
adj.  expressing a low opinion 
I resent your derogatory remarks. 

descry  [dis5krai]
v.  [descried; descried; descrying] catch sight of 
In the distance, we could barely descry the enemy vessels. 

desecrate  [5desikreit]
v.  [desecrated; desecrated; desecrating] profane; violate the sanctity of 
The soldiers desecrated the temple. 

desiccate  [5desEkeit]
v.  [desiccated; desiccated; desiccating] dry up 
A tour of this smokehouse will give you an idea of how the pioneers used to desiccate food in order to preserve it. 

desolate  [5desElit]
v.  rob of joy; lay waste to; forsake 
The bandits desolated the countryside, burning farms and carrying off the harvest. 

desperado  [despE5rB:dEu]
n.  [desperadoes, desperados] reckless outlaw 
Butch Cassidy was a bold desperado with a price on his head. 

despicable  [5despikEbl]
adj.  contemptible 
Your despicable remarks call for no reply. 

despise  [dis5paiz]
v.  [despised; despised; despising] scorn 
I despise your attempts at a reconciliation at this time and refuse to meet you. 

despoil  [di5spRil]
v.  [despoiled; despoiled; despoiling] plunder 
If you do not yield, I am afraid the enemy will despoil the countryside. 

despondent  [dis5pRndEnt]
adj.  depressed; gloomy 
To the dismay of his parents, he became more and more despondent every day. 

despotism  [5despEtizEm]
n.  [despotisms] tyranny 
The people rebelled against the despotism of the king. 

destitute  [5destitju:t]
adj.  extremely poor 
The costs of the father's illness left the family destitute. 

desultory  [5desEltEri]
adj.  aimless; haphazard; digressing at random 
In prison Malcolm X set himself the task of reading straight through the dictionary; to him reading was purposeful, not desultory. 

detached  [di5tAtFt]
adj.  emotionally removed; calm and objective; indifferent 
A psychoanalyst must maintain a detached point of view and stay uninvolved with her patients' personal lives. 

determinate  [di5tE:minit]
adj.  having a fixed order of procedure; invariable 
At the royal wedding, the procession of the nobles followed a determinate order of precedence. 

deterrent  [di5terEnt]
n.  something that discourages; hindrance 
Does the threat of capital punishment serve as a deterrent to potential killers? 

detonation  [detEu5neiFEn]
n.  explosion 
The detonation of the bomb could be heard miles away. 

detraction  [di5trAkFEn]
n.  slandering; aspersion 
He is offended by your frequent detractions of his ability as a leader. 

detrimental  [dZtrE5mZntl]
adj.  harmful; damaging 
Your acceptance of her support will ultimately prove detrimental rather than helpful to your cause. 

deviate  [5di:vieit]
v.  [deviated; deviated; deviating] turn away from 
Do not deviate from the truth; you must face the facts. 

devious  [5diviEs]
adj.  going astray; erratic 
Your devious behavior in this matter puzzles me since you are usually direct and straightforward. 

devoid  [di5vRid]
adj.  lacking 
He was devoid of any personal desire for gain in his endeavor to secure improvement in the community. 

devolve  [di5vRlv]
v.  [devolved; devolved; devolving] deputize; pass to others 
It devolved upon us, the survivors, to arrange peace terms with the enemy. 

devotee  [devEu5ti:]
n.  [devotees] enthusiastic follower 
A devotee of the opera, he bought season tickets every year. 

devout  [di5vaut]
adj.  [devouter; devoutest] pious 
The devout man prayed daily. 

dexterous  [5dekstErEs]
adj.  skillful 
The magician was so dexterous that we could not follow his movements as he performed his tricks. 

diabolical  [daiE5bRlikEl]
adj.  devilish 
This scheme is so diabolical that I must reject it. 

diadem  [5daiEdem]
n.  [diadems] crown 
The king's diadem was on display at the museum. 

dialectic  [daiE5lektik]
n.  art of debate 
I am not skilled in dialectic and therefore, cannot answer your arguments as forcefully as I wish. 

diaphanous  [dai5AfEnEs]
adj.  sheer; transparent 
They saw the burglar clearly through the diaphanous curtain. 

diatribe  [5daiEtraib]
n.  bitter scolding; invective 
During the lengthy diatribe delivered by his opponent he remained calm and self-controlled. 

dichotomy  [dai5kRtEmi]
n.  [dichotomies] branching into two parts 
The dichotomy of our legislative system provides us with many safeguards. 

dictum  [5diktEm]
n.  [dicta, dictums] authoritative and weighty statement 
She repeated the statement as though it were the dictum of the most expert worker in the group. 

didactic  [di5dAktik]
adj.  teaching; instructional; preaching or moralizing 
The didactic qualities of his poetry overshadow its literary qualities; the lesson he teaches is more memorable than the lines. 

die  [dai]
n.  device for stamping or impressing; mold 
In coining pennies, workers at the old mint squeezed sheets of softened copper between two dies. 

diffidence  [5difEdEns]
n.  shyness 
You must overcome your diffidence if you intend to become a salesperson. 

diffusion  [di5fjuVEn]
n.  wordiness; spreading in all directions like a gas 
Your composition suffers from a diffusion of ideas; try to be more compact. 

digression  [dai5greFEn]
n.  wandering away from the subject 
Nobody minded when Professor Renoir's lectures wandered away from their official theme; his digressions were always more fascinating than the topic of the day. 

dilapidated  [di5lApideitid]
adj.  ruined because of neglect 
We felt that the dilapidated building needed several coats of paint. 

dilate  [dai5leit]
v.  [dilated; dilated; dilating] expand 
In the dark, the pupils of your eyes dilate. 

dilatory  [5dilEtri]
adj.  delaying 
Your dilatory tactics may compel me to cancel the contract. 

dilemma  [di5lemE]
n.  [dilemmas] problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives 
In this dilemma, he knew no one to whom he could turn for advice. 

dilettante  [dili5tAnti]
n.  [dilettantes, dilettanti] aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabbler 
He was not serious in his painting; he was rather a dilettante. 

diligence  [5dilidVEns]
adj.  steadiness of effort; persistent hard work 
Her employers were greatly impressed by her diligence and offered her a partnership in the firm. 

dilute  [dai5lut]
v.  [diluted; diluted; diluting] make less concentrated; reduce in strength 
She preferred her coffee diluted with milk. 

diminution  [dimi5nju:FEn]
n.  [diminutions] lessening; reduction in size 
The blockaders hoped to achieve victory as soon as the diminution of the enemy's supplies became serious. 

din  [din]
n.  continued loud noise 
The din of the jackhammers outside the classroom window drowned out the lecturer's voice. 

dinghy  [`diNgi,`diNi]
n.  [dinghies] small boat (often ship's boat) 
In the film Lifeboat, an ill-assorted group of passengers from a sunken ocean liner are marooned at sea in a dinghy. 

dingy  [5diNgi, 5diNdVi]
adj.  [dingier; dingiest] dull; not fresh; cheerless 
Refusing to be depressed by her dingy studio apartment, Bea spent the weekend polishing the floors and windows and hanging bright posters on the walls. 

dint  [diNt]
n.  [dints] means; effort 
By dint of much hard work, the volunteers were able to control the raging forest fire. 

diorama  [,daiE5rB:mE]
n.  [dioramas] like-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history 
Because they dramatically pose actual stuffed animals against realistic painted landscapes, the dioramas at the Museum of Natural History particularly impress high school biology students. 

dire  [5daiE]
adj.  [direr; direst] disastrous 
People ignored her dire predictions of an approaching depression. 

dirge  [dE:dV]
n.  [dirges] lament with music 
The funeral dirge stirred us to tears. 

disabuse  [disE5bju:z]
v.  [disabused; disabused; disabusing] correct a false impression; undeceive 
I will attempt to disabuse you of your impression of my client's guilt; I know he is innocent. 

disaffected  [disE5fektid]
adj.  disloyal 
Once the most loyal of Gorbachev's supporters, Shverdnaze found himself becoming increasingly disaffected. 

disapprobation  [disAprE5beiFEn]
n.  disapproval; condemnation 
The conservative father viewed his daughter's radical boyfriend with disapprobation. 

disarray  [disE5re]
n.  a disorderly or untidy state 
After the New Year's party, the once orderly house was in total disarray. 

disavowal  [disE5vauEl]
n.  denial; disclaiming 
His disavowal of his part in the conspiracy was not believed by the jury. 

disband  [dis5bAnd]
v.  [disbanded; disbanded; disbanding] dissolve; disperse 
The chess club disbanded after its disastrous initial season. 

disburse  [dis5bE:s]
v.  [disbursed; disbursed; disbursing] pay out 
When you disburse money on the company's behalf, be sure to get a receipt. 

discernible  [di`sE:nEbl]
adj.  distinguishable; perceivable 
The ships in the harbor were not discernible in the fog. 

discerning  [di5sE:niN]
adj.  mentally quick and observant; having insight 
Because he was considered the most discerning member of the firm, he was assigned the most difficult cases. 

disclaim  [dis5klem]
v.  [disclaimed; disclaimed; disclaiming] disown; renounce claim to 
If I grant you this privilege, will you disclaim all other rights? 

disclose  [dis5klEuz]
v.  [disclosed; disclosed; disclosing] reveal 
Although competitors offered him bribes, he refused to disclose any information about his company's forthcoming product. 

discombobulated  []
adj.  confused; discomposed 
The novice square dancer became so discombobulated that he wandered into wrong set. 

discomfit  [dis5kQmfit]
v.  [discomfited; discomfited; discomfiting] put to rout; defeat; disconcert 
This ruse will discomfit the enemy. 

disconcert  [diskEn5sE:t]
v.  [disconcerted; disconcerted; disconcerting] confuse; upset; embarrass 
The lawyer was disconcerted by the evidence produced by her adversary. 

disconsolate  [dis5kRnsElit]
adj.  sad 
The death of his wife left him disconsolate. 

discordant  [dis5kR:dEnt]
adj.  inharmonious; conflicting 
She tried to unite the discordant factions. 

discount  [5diskaunt]
v.  [discounted; discounted; discounting] disregard 
Be prepared to discount what he has to say about his ex-wife. 

discourse  [dis5kR:s]
n.  [discourses] formal discussion; conversation 
The young Plato was drawn to the Agora to hear the philosophical discourse of Socrates and his followers. 

discredit  [dis5kredit]
v.  [discredited; discredited; discrediting] defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve 
The campaign was highly negative in tone; each candidate tried to discredit the other. 

discrepancy  [dis5krepEnsi]
n.  [discrepancies] lack of consistency; difference 
The police noticed some discrepancies in his description of the crime and did not believe him. 

discrete  [di5skrit]
adj.  separate; unconnected 
The universe is composed of discrete bodies. 

discretion  [dis5kreFEn]
n.  prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances 
Use your discretion in this matter and do not discuss it with anyone. 

discrimination  [diskrimi5neiFEn]
n.  ability to see differences; prejudice 
They feared he lacked sufficient discrimination to judge complex works of modern art. 

discursive  [di5skE:siv]
adj.  digressing; rambling 
They were annoyed and bored by her discursive remarks. 

disdain  [dis5dein]
n.  treat with scorn or contempt 
You make enemies of all you disdain. 

disembark  [5disim5ba:k]
v.  [disembarked; disembarked; disembarking] go ashore; unload cargo from a ship 
Before the passengers could disembark, they had to pick up their passports from the ship's purser. 

disenfranchise  [5disin5frAntFaiz]
v.  [disenfranchised; disenfranchised; disenfranchising] deprive of a civil right 
The imposition if the poll tax effectively disenfranchised poor Southern blacks, who lost their right to vote. 

disengage  [5disin5geidV]
v.  [disengaged; disengaged; disengaging] uncouple; separate; disconnect 
A standard movie routine involves the hero's desperate attempt to disengage a railroad car from a moving train. 

disfigure  [dis5figE]
v.  [disfigured; disfigured; disfiguring] mar the appearance of; spoil 
An ugly frown disfigured his normally pleasant face. 

disgorge  [dis5gR:dV]
v.  [disgorged; disgorged; disgorging] surrender something; eject; vomit 
Unwilling to disgorge the cash he had stolen from the pension fund, the embezzler tried to run away. 

disgruntle  [dis5grQntl]
v.  [disgruntled; disgruntled; disgruntling] make discontented 
The passengers were disgruntled by the numerous delays. 

dishearten  [dis5ha:tn]
v.  [disheartened; disheartened; disheartening] discourage 
His failure to pass the bar exam disheartened him. 

disheveled  [di5Fevld]
adj.  untidy 
Your disheveled appearance will hurt your chances in this interview. 

disinclination  [disinkli5neFEn]
n.  unwillingness 
Some mornings I feel a great disinclination to get out of bed. 

disingenuous  [disin5dVenjuEs]
adj.  not naive; sophisticated 
Although he was young, his remarks indicated that he was disingenuous. 

disinter  [5disin5tE:]
v.  [disinterred; disinterred; disinterring] dig up; unearth 
They disinterred the body and held an autopsy. 

disinterested  [dis5intErEstid]
adj.  unprejudiced 
The only disinterested person in the room was the judge. 

disjointed  [dis5dVRintid]
adj.  disconnected 
His remarks were so disjointed that we could not follow his reasoning. 

dislodge  [dis5lRdV]
v.  [dislodged; dislodged; dislodging] remove (forcible) 
Thrusting her fist up under the choking man's lower ribs, Margaret used the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the food caught in this throat. 

dismantle  [dis5mAntl]
v.  [dismantled; dismantled; dismantling] take apart 
When the show closed, they dismantled the scenery before restoring it. 

dismember  [dis5membE]
v.  [dismembered; dismembered; dismembering] cut into small parts 
When the Austrian Empire was dismembered, several new countries were established. 

dismiss  [dis5mis]
v.  [dismissed; dismissed; dismissing] eliminate from consideration; reject 
Believing in John's love for her, she dismissed the notion that he might be unfaithful. 

disparage  [dis5pAridV]
v.  [disparaged; disparaged; disparaging] belittle 
Do not disparage anyone's contribution; these little gifts add up to large sums. 

disparate  [5dispErit]
adj.  basically different; unrelated 
It is difficult, if not impossible, to organize these disparate elements into a coherent whole. 

disparity  [dis5pAriti]
n.  [disparities] difference; condition of inequality 
The disparity in their ages made no difference at all. 

dispassionate  [dis5pAFEnit]
adj.  calm; impartial 
In a dispassionate analysis of the problem, he carefully examined the causes of the conflict and proceeded to suggest suitable remedies. 

dispatch  [dis5pAtF]
n.  [dispatches] speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed 
Young Napoleon defeated the enemy with all possible dispatch; he then sent a dispatch to headquarters, informing his commander of the great victory. 

dispel  [dis5pel]
v.  [dispelled; dispelled; dispelling] scatter; drive away; cause to vanish 
The bright sunlight eventually dispelled the morning mist. 

disperse  [dis5pE:s]
v.  [dispersed; dispersed; dispersing] scatter 
The police fired tear gas into crowd to disperse the protesters. 

dispirited  [dis`piritid]
adj.  lacking in spirit 
The coach used all the tricks at his command to buoy up the enthusiasm of his team, which I had become dispirited at the loss of the star player. 

disport  [di5spR:t]
v.  [disported; disported; disporting] amuse 
The popularity of Florida as a winter resort is constantly increasing; each year, thousands more disport themselves at Miami and Palm Beach. 

disputatious  [5dispju:5teiFEs, -pju-]
adj.  argumentative; fond of argument 
People avoided discussing contemporary problems with him because of his disputatious manner. 

disquisition  [diskwi5ziFEn]
n.  a formal systematic inquiry; an explanation of the results of a formal inquiry 
In his disquisition, he outlined the steps he had taken in reaching his conclusions. 

dissection  [di5sekFEn]
n.  [dissections] analysis; cutting apart in order to examine 
The dissection of frogs on the laboratory is particularly unpleasant to some students. 

dissemble  [di5sembl]
v.  [dissembled; dissembled; dissembling] disguise; pretend 
Even though John tried to dissemble his motive for taking modern dance, we all knew there not to dance but to meet girls. 

disseminate  [di5semineit]
v.  [disseminated; disseminated; disseminating] scatter (like seeds) 
The invention of the radio helped propagandists to disseminate their favorite doctrines very easily. 

dissent  [di5sent]
v.  [dissented; dissented; dissenting] disagree 
In a landmark Supreme Court decision, Justice Marshall dissented from the majority opinion. 

dissertation  [disE5teiFEn]
n.  [dissertations] formal essay 
In order to earn a graduate degree from many of our universities, a candidate is frequently required to prepare a dissertation on some scholarly subject. 

dissident  [5disidEnt]
adj.  dissenting; rebellious 
In the purge that followed the student demonstrations at Tiananmen Square, the government hunted down the dissident students and their supporters. 

dissimulate  [di5simjuleit]
v.  [dissimulated; dissimulated; dissimulating] pretend; conceal by feigning 
She tried to dissimulate her grief by her exuberant attitude. 

dissipate  [5disipeit]
v.  [dissipated; dissipated; dissipating] squander 
The young man quickly dissipated his inheritance and was soon broke. 

dissolution  [disE5lu:FEn]
n.  [dissolutions] disintegration; looseness in morals 
The profligacy and dissolution of life in Caligula's Rome appall some historians. 

dissonance  [5disEnEns]
n.  discord 
Some contemporary musicians deliberately use dissonance to achieve certain effects. 

dissuade  [di5sweid]
v.  [dissuaded; dissuaded; dissuading] advise against 
He could not dissuade his friend from joining the conspirators. 

distant  [5distEnt]
adj.  reserved or aloof; cold in manner 
His distant greeting made me feel unwelcome from the start. 

distend  [di5stend]
v.  [distended; distended; distending] expand; swell out 
I can tell when he is under stress by the way the veins distend on his forehead. 

distill  [di5stil]
v.  [distilled; distilled; distilling] purify; refine; concentrate 
A moonshiner distills mash into whiskey; an epigrammatist distills thoughts into quips. 

distortion  [dis5tR:FEn]
n.  twisting out of shape 
It is difficult to believe the newspaper accounts of this event because of the distortions and exaggerations of the reporters. 

distrait  [di5strei]
adj.  absentminded 
Because of his concentration on the problem, the professor often appeared distrait and unconcerned about routine. 

distraught  [di5strR:t]
adj.  upset; distracted by anxiety 
The distraught parents frantically searched the ravine for their lost child. 

diurnal  [dai5E:nl]
adj.  daily 
A farmer cannot neglect his diurnal tasks at any time; cows, for example, must be milked regularly. 

diva  [5di:vE]
n.  [divas, dive] operatic singer; prima donna 
Although world famous as a diva, she did not indulge in fits of temperament. 

diverge  [dai5vE:dV]
v.  [diverged; diverged; diverging] vary; go in different directions from the same point 
The spokes of the wheel diverge from the hub. 

divergent  [dai5vE:dVEnt]
adj.  differing; deviating 
The two witnesses presented the jury with remarkably divergent accounts of the same episode. 

diverse  [dai5vE:s]
adj.  differing in some characteristics; various 
There are diverse ways of approaching this problem. 

diversion  [dai5vE:FEn]
n.  [diversions] act of turning aside; pastime 
After studying for several hours, he needed a diversion from work. 

diversity  [dai5vE:siti]
n.  [diversities] variety; dissimilitude 
The diversity of colleges in this country indicates that many levels of ability are being served. 

divest  [dai5vest]
v.  [divested; divested; divesting] strip; deprive 
He was divested of his power to act and could no longer govern. 

divine  [di5vain]
v.  [divined; divined; divining] perceive intuitively; foresee the future 
Nothing infuriated Tom more than Aunt Polly's ability to divine when he was not telling the truth. 

divulge  [dai5vQldV]
v.  [divulged; divulged; divulging] reveal 
I will not tell you this news because I am sure you will divulge it prematurely. 

docile  [5dEusail]
adj.  obedient; easily managed 
As docile as he seems today, that old lion was once a ferocious, snarling beast. 

docket  [5dRkit]
n.  program as for trial; book where such entries are made 
The case of Smith v. Jones was entered in the docket for July 15. 

doctrinaire  [dRktri5nZE]
adj.  unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding 
Weng had hoped that the student-led democracy movement might bring about change in China, but the repressive response of the doctrinaire hard-liners crushed his dreams of democracy. 

document  [5dRkjumEnt]
v.  provide written evidence 
She kept all the receipts from her business trip in order to document her expenses for the firm. 

doddering  [`dRdEriN]
adj.  shaky; infirm from old age 
Although he is not as yet a doddering and senile old man, his ideas and opinions no longer can merit the respect we gave them years ago. 

doff  [dRf]
v.  [doffed; doffed; doffing] take off 
A gentleman used to doff his hat to a lady. 

dogged  [5dRgid]
adj.  determined; stubborn 
Les Miserables tells of Inspector Javert's long, dogged pursuit of the criminal Jean Valjean. 

doggerel  [5dRgErEl]
n.  Crudely or irregularly fashioned verse, often of a humorous or burlesque nature. 
Although we find occasional snatches of genuine poetry in her work, most of her writing is mere doggerel. 

dogmatic  [dRg5mAtik]
adj.  positive; arbitrary 
Do not be so dogmatic about that statement; it can be easily refuted. 

doldrums  [5dRldrEmz]
n.  blues; listlessness; slack period 
Once the excitement of meeting her deadline was over, she found herself in the doldrums. 

dolorous  [5dalErEs]
adj.  sorrow 
He found the dolorous lamentations of the bereaved family emotionally disturbing and he left as quickly as he could. 

dolt  [dEult]
n.  stupid person 
I thought I was talking to a mature audience; instead, I find myself addressing a pack of dolts. 

domicile  [5dRmisail]
n.  home 
Although his legal domicile was in New York City, his work kept him away from his residence for many years. 

domineer  [dRmi5niE]
v.  [domineered; domineered; domineering] rule over tyrannically 
Students prefer teachers who guide, not ones who domineer. 

don  [dRn]
v.  put on 
When Clark Kent had to don his Superman outfit, he changed clothes in a convenient phone booth. 

dormant  [5dR:mEnt]
adj.  sleeping; lethargic; torpid 
Sometimes dormant talents in our friends surprise those of us who never realize how gifted our acquaintances really are. 

dormer  [5dR:mE]
n.  window projecting from roof 
In remodeling the attic into a bedroom, we decided that we needed to put in dormers to provide sufficient ventilation for the new room. 

dorsal  [5dRrsl]
adj.  relating to the back of an animal 
A shark may be identified by its dorsal fin, which projects above the surface of the ocean. 

dossier  [5dRsiei]
n.  file of documents on a subject 
Ordered by J. Edgar Hoover to investigate the senator, the FBI compiled a complete dossier. 

dotage  [5dRtidV]
n.  senility 
In his dotage, the old man bored us with long tales of events in his childhood. 

dote  [dEut]
v.  [doted; doted; doting] be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline 
Not only grandmothers bore you with stories about their brilliant grandchildren; grandfather dote on the little rascals, too. 

dour  [duE]
adj.  sullen; stubborn 
The man was dour and taciturn. 

douse  [daus]
v.  [doused, dowsed; doused, dowsed; dousing, dowsing] plunge into water; drench; extinguish 
They doused each other with hoses and balloons. 

dowdy  [5daudi]
adj.  [dowdier; dowdiest] slovenly; untidy 
She tried to change her dowdy image by buying a fashionable new wardrobe. 

downcast  [5daunka:st]
adj.  disheartened; sad 
Cheerful and optimistic by nature, Beth was never downcast despite the difficulties she faced. 

drab  [drAb]
adj.  [drabber; drabbest] dull; lacking color; cheerless 
The Dutch woman's drab winter coat contrasted with the distinctive, colorful native costume she wore beneath it. 

dregs  [dregz]
n.  [dregs] sediment; worthless residue 
David poured the wine carefully to avoid stirring up the dregs. 

droll  [drEul]
adj.  [droller; drollest] queer and amusing 
He was a popular guest because his droll anecdotes were always entertaining. 

drone  [drEun]
n.  [drones] idle person; male bee 
Content to let his wife support him, the would-be writer was in reality nothing but a drone. 

drone  [drEun]
v.  [droned; droned; droning] talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee 
On a gorgeous day, who wants to be stuck in a classroom listening to the teacher drone? 

dross  [drRs]
n.  waste matter; worthless impurities 
Many methods have been devised to separate the valuable metal from the dross. 

drudgery  [5drQdVEri]
n.  menial work 
Cinderella's fairy godmother rescued her from a life of drudgery. 

dubious  [5dju:bjEs]
adj.  doubtful 
He has the dubious distinction of being the lowest man in his class. 

ductility  [dQk5tilEti]
n.  malleability; flexibility; ability to be drawn out 
Copper wire has many industrial uses because of its extreme ductility. 

dulcet  [5dQlsit]
adj.  sweet sounding 
The dulcet sounds of the birds at dawn were soon drowned out by the roar of traffic passing our motel. 

dupe  [dju:p]
n.  [dupes] someone easily fooled 
While the gullible Watson often was made a dupe by unscrupulous parties, Sherlock Holmes was far more difficult to fool. 

duplicity  [dju:5plisiti]
n.  [duplicities] double-dealing; hypocrisy 
People were shocked and dismayed when they learned of his duplicity in this affair, as he had always seemed honest and straightforward. 

duress  [djuE5res]
n.  forcible restraint, especially unlawfully 
The hostages were held under duress until the prisoners' demands were met. 

dutiful  [5dju:tiful]
adj.  respectful; obedient 
The dutiful child grew up to be a conscientious adult aware of his civic obligations. 

dwindle  [5dwindl]
v.  [dwindled; dwindled; dwindling] shrink; reduce 
They spent so much money that their funds dwindled to nothing. 

dynamic  [dai5nAmik]
adj.  active; efficient 
A dynamic government is necessary to meet the demands of a changing society. 

dyspeptic  [dis5peptik]
adj.  suffering from indigestion 
All the talk about rich food made him feel dyspeptic. 

earthy  [5E:Wi]
adj.  [earthier; earthiest] unrefined; coarse 
His earthy remarks often embarrassed the women in the audience. 

ebb  [eb]
v.  [ebbed; ebbed; ebbing] recede; lessen 
His fortunes began to ebb during the recession. 

ebullient  [i5bQljEnt]
adj.  showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm 
His ebullient nature could not be repressed. 

eccentric  [ik5sentrik]
adj.  odd; whimsical; irregular 
The comet passed close by the earth in its eccentric orbit. 

eccentricity  [eksen5trisiti]
n.  [eccentricities] oddity; idiosyncrasy 
Some of his friends tried to account for his rudeness to strangers as the eccentricity of genius. 

ecclesiastic  [ikli:zi5Astik]
adj.  pertaining to the church 
The minister donned his ecclesiastic garb and walked to the pulpit. 

eclectic  [ek5lektik]
adj.  selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources 
His style of interior decoration was eclectic: bits and pieces of furnishings from widely divergent periods, strikingly juxtaposed to create a unique color. 

eclipse  [i5klips]
v.  [eclipsed; eclipsed; eclipsing] darken; extinguish; surpass 
The new stock market high eclipsed the previous record set in 1985. 

ecologist  [i5kRlEdVist]
n.  [ecologists] person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment 
The ecologist was concerned that the new dam would upset the natural balance of the creatures living in Glen Canyon. 

economy  [i(:)5kRnEmi]
n.  [economies] efficiency or conciseness in using something 
Reading the epigrams of Pope, I admire the economy of his verse: in few words he conveys worlds of meaning. 

ecstasy  [5ekstEsi]
n.  [ecstasies] rapture, joy; any overpowering emotion 
The announcement that the war had ended brought on an ecstasy that resulted in many uncontrolled celebrations. 

eddy  [5edi]
n.  [eddies] swirling current of water, air, etc. 
The water in the tide pool was still, except for an occasional eddy. 

edify  [5edifai]
v.  [edified; edified; edifying] instruct; correct morally 
Although his purpose was to edify and not to entertain his audience, many of his listeners were amused and not enlightened. 

eerie  [5iEri]
adj.  [eerier; eeriest] weird 
In that eerie setting, it was easy to believe in ghosts and other supernatural beings. 

efface  [i5feis]
v.  [effaced; effaced; effacing] rub out 
The coin had been handled so many times that its data had been effaced. 

effectual  [i5fektFuEl]
adj.  efficient 
If we are to succeed, we must seek effectual means of securing our goals. 

effeminate  [i5feminit]
adj.  having womanly traits 
His voice was high-pitched and effeminate. 

effervescence  [efE5vesns]
n.  inner excitement; exuberance 
Nothing depressed her for long; her natural effervescence soon reasserted itself. 

effete  [e5fi:t]
adj.  worn out; exhausted; barren 
The literature of the age reflected the effete condition of the writers; no new ideas were forthcoming. 

efficacy  [5ZfEkEsi]
n.  power to produce desired effect 
The efficacy of this drug depends on the regularity of the dosage. 

effigy  [5efidVi]
n.  [effigies] dummy 
The mob showed its irritation by hanging the judge in effigy. 

effluvium  [e5flu:viEm]
n.  [effluviums, effluvia] noxious smell 
Air pollution has become a serious problem in our major cities; the effluvium and the poisons in the air are hazards to life. 

effrontery  [E5frQntEri]
n.  [effronteries] shameless boldness 
She had the effrontery to insult the guest. 

effusion  [i5fju:VEn]
n.  pouring forth 
The critics objected to her literary effusion because it was too flowery. 

effusive  [i5fju:siv]
adj.  pouring forth; gushing 
Her effusive manner of greeting her friends finally began to irritate them. 

egoism  [5igEuizEm]
n.  excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others 
His egoism prevented him from seeing the needs of his colleagues. 

egotism  [5egEutizm]
n.  conceit; vanity 
She thought so much of herself that we found her egotism unwarranted and irritating. 

egregious  [i5gri:dVEs]
adj.  notorious; conspicuously bad; shocking 
She was an egregious liar; we all knew better than to believe a word she said. 

egress  [5igres]
n.  exit 
Barnum's sign "To the Egress" fooled many people who thought they were going to see an animal and instead found themselves in the street. 

ejaculation  [idVAkju5leiFEn]
n.  exclamation 
He could not repress an ejaculation of surprise when he heard the news. 

elaboration  [ilAbE5reiFEn]
n.  [elaborations] addition of details; intricacy 
Tell what happened simply, without any elaboration. 

elated  [i5leitid]
adj.  overjoyed; in high spirits 
Grinning from ear to ear, Bonnie Blair was clearly elated by her Olympic victory. 

elegy  [5elEdVi]
n.  [elegies] poem or song expressing lamentation 
On the death of Edward King, Milton composed the elegy "Lycidas". 

elicit  [i5lisit]
v.  [elicited; elicited; eliciting] draw out by discussion 
The detectives tried to elicit where he had hidden his loot. 

elixir  [i5liksE]
n.  cure-all; something invigorating 
The news of her chance to go abroad acted on her like an elixir. 

ellipsis  [i5lipsis]
n.  [ellipses] omission of words from a text 
Sometimes an ellipsis can lead to a dangling modifier, as in the sentence "Once dressed, you should refrigerate the potato salad. 

elliptical  [i5liptikEl]
adj.  oval; ambiguous, either purposely or because key words have been left out 
An elliptical billiard ball wobbles because it is not perfectly round; an elliptical remark baffles because it is not perfectly clear. 

eloquence  [5elEkwEns]
n.  expressiveness; persuasive speech 
The crowds were stirred by Martin Luther King's eloquence. 

elucidate  [i5lu:sideit]
v.  [elucidated; elucidated; elucidating] explain; enlighten 
He was called upon to elucidate the disputed points in his article. 

elusive  [i5lu:siv]
n.  evasive; baffling; hard to grasp 
His elusive dreams of wealth were costly to those of his friends who supported him financially. 

elysian  [i5liViEn]
adj.  relating to paradise; blissful 
An afternoon sail on the bay was for her an elysian journey. 

emaciated  [i5meiFieitid]
adj.  thin and wasted 
His long period of starvation had left him emaciated. 

emanate  [5emEneit]
v.  [emanated; emanated; emanating] issue forth 
A strong odor of sulfur emanated from the spring. 

emancipate  [i5mAnsipeit]
v.  [emancipated; emancipated; emancipating] set free 
At first, the attempts of the Abolitionist to emancipate the slaves were unpopular in New England as well as in the South. 

embargo  [em5ba:gEu]
n.  [embargoes] ban on commerce or other activity 
As a result of the embargo, trade with colonies was at a standstill. 

embark  [im5ba:k]
v.  [embarked; embarked; embarking] commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey 
In devoting herself to the study of gorillas, Dian Fossey embarked on a course of action that was to cost her her life. 

embed  [im5bed]
v.  [embedded; embedded; embedding] enclose; place in something 
Tales of actual historical figures like King Alfred have become embedded in legends. 

embellish  [im5bAliF]
v.  [embellished; embellished; embellishing] adorn 
My mother-in-law's stories about her journey from Russia made us laugh because she embellished the bare facts of her travels with humourous anecdotes. 

embezzlement  [im5bezlmEnt]
n.  stealing 
The bank teller confessed his embezzlement of the funds. 

embroil  [im5brRil]
v.  [embroiled; embroiled; embroiling] throw into confusion 
He became embroiled in the heated discussion when he tried to arbitrate the dispute. 

embryonic  [embri5Rnik]
adj.  undeveloped; rudimentary 
The evil of class and race hatred must be eliminated while it is still in an embryonic state; otherwise, it may grow to dangerous proportions. 

emend  [i5mZnd]
v.  [emended; emended; emending] correct, usually a text 
The critic emended the book by retranslating several passages. 

emendation  [i:men5deiFEn]
n.  correction of errors; improvement 
Please initial all the emendations you have made in this contract. 

emetic  [i5metik]
n.  substance causing vomiting 
The use of an emetic like mustard is useful in cases of poisoning. 

eminent  [5eminEnt]
adj.  high; lofty 
After his appointment to this eminent position, he seldom had time for his former friends. 

emissary  [5emisEri]
n.  [emissaries] agent; messenger 
The secretary of State was sent as the President's special emissary to the conference on disarmament. 

emollient  [i5mRliEnt]
n.  soothing or softening remedy 
He applied an emollient to the inflamed area. 

emolument  [i5maljumEnt]
n.  salary; compensation 
In addition to the emolument this position offers, you must consider the social prestige it carries with it. 

empathy  [5empAWik]
n.  ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc 
What made Ann such a fine counselor was her empathy, her ability to put herself in her client's place and feel his emotions as if they were her own. 

empirical  [im5pirikEl]
adj.  based on experience 
He distrusted hunches and intuitive flashes; he placed his reliance entirely on empirical data. 

emulate  [5emjuleit]
v.  [emulated; emulated; emulating] rival; imitate 
As long as our political leaders emulate the virtues of the great leaders of this country, we shall flourish. 

enamored  [i5nAmEd]
adj.  in love 
Narcissus became enamored of his own beauty. 

enclave  [en5cleiv]
n.  territory enclosed within an alien land 
The Vatican is an independent enclave in Italy. 

encomiastic  [enkEumi5Astik]
adj.  praising; eulogistic 
Some critics believe that his encomiastic statements about Napoleon were inspired by his desire for material advancement rather than by an honest belief in the Emperor's genius. 

encomium  [en5kEumjEm]
n.  [encomiums, encomia] high praise; eulogy 
Uneasy with the encomiums expressed by his supporters, Tolkien felt unworthy of such high praise. 

encompass  [in5kQmpEs]
v.  [encompassed; encompassed; encompassing] surround 
Although we were encompassed by enemy forces, we were cheerful for we were well stocked and could withstand a siege until our allies joined us. 

encroachment  [in5krEutFmEnt]
n.  [encroachments] gradual intrusion 
The encroachment of the factories upon the neighborhood lowered the value of the real estate. 

encumber  [in5kQmbE]
v.  [encumbered; encumbered; encumbering] burden 
Some people encumber themselves with too much luggage, when they take short trips. 

endearment  [in5diEmEnt]
n.  [endearments] fond word or act 
Your gifts and endearments cannot make me forget your earlier insolence. 

endemic  [en5demik]
adj.  prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific are or country 
This disease is endemic in this part of the world; more than 80 percent of the population are at one time or another affected by it. 

endorse  [in5dR:s]
v.  [endorsed; endorsed; endorsing] approve; support 
Everyone waited to see which one of the rival candidates for the city council the mayor would endorse. 

endue  [in5dju]
v.  [endued; endued; enduing] provide with some quality; endow 
He was endued with a lion's courage. 

enduring  [in5djuEriN]
adj.  lasting; surviving 
Keats believed in the enduring power of great art, which outlast its creator's brief lives. 

energize  [enE5dVaiz]
v.  [energized; energized; energizing] invigorate; make forceful and active 
Rather than exhausting Maggie, dancing energized her. 

enervate  [5enEveit]
v.  [enervated; enervated; enervating] weaken 
She was slow to recover from her illness; even a short walk to the window enervated her. 

enfranchise  [in5frAntFaiz]
v.  [enfranchised; enfranchised; enfranchising] admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote) 
Although blacks were enfranchised shortly after the Civil War, women did not receive the right to vote until 1920. 

engage  [in5geidV]
v.  [engaged; engaged; engaging] attract; hire; pledge oneself; confront 
"Your case has engaged my interest, my lord," said Holmes, "You many engage my services." 

engender  [in5dVZndE]
v.  [engendered; engendered; engendering] cause; produce 
To receive praise for real accomplishments engenders self-confidence in a child. 

engross  [in5grEus]
v.  [engrossed; engrossed; engrossing] occupy fully 
John was so engrossed in his studies that he did not hear his mother call. 

enhance  [in5ha:ns]
v.  [enhanced; enhanced; enhancing] advance; improve 
Your chances for promotion in this department will be enhanced if you take some more courses in evening school. 

enigma  [i5nigmE]
n.  [enigmas, enigmata] puzzle 
Despite all attempts to decipher the code, it remained an enigma. 

enigmatic  [enig5mAtik]
adj.  obscure; puzzling 
Many have sought to fathom the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa. 

enjoin  [in5dVRin]
v.  [enjoined; enjoined; enjoining] command; order; forbid 
The owners of the company asked the court to enjoin the union from picketing the plant. 

enmity  [5enmiti]
n.  [enmities] ill will; hatred 
At Camp David President Carter labored to bring an end to the enmity that prevented Egypt and Israel from living in peace. 

ennui  [5anwi]
n.  boredom 
The monotonous routine of hospital life induced a feeling of ennui which made him moody and irritable. 

enormity  [i5nRrmEti]
n.  [enormities] hugeness (in a bad sense) 
He did not realize the enormity of his crime until he saw what suffering he had caused. 

enrapture  [in5rAptFE]
v.  [enraptured; enraptured; enrapturing] please intensely 
The audience was enraptured by the freshness of the voices and the excellent orchestration. 

ensconce  [in5skRns]
v.  [ensconced; ensconced; ensconcing] settle comfortably 
The parents thought that their children were ensconced safely in the private school and decided to leave for Europe. 

ensue  [in5sju:]
v.  [ensued; ensued; ensuing] follow 
The evils that ensued were the direct result of the miscalculations of the leaders. 

enthrall  [in5WrRl]
v.  [enthralled; enthralled; enthralling] capture; enslave 
From the moment he saw her picture, he was enthralled by her beauty. 

entice  [in5tais]
v.  [enticed; enticed; enticing] lure; attract; tempt 
She always tried to entice her baby brother into mischief. 

entity  [5entiti]
n.  [entities] real being 
As soon as the charter was adopted, the United Nations became an entity and had to be considered as a factor in world diplomacy. 

entomology  [entE5mRlEdVi]
n.  study of insects 
I found entomology the least interesting part of my course in biology; studying insects bored me. 

entrance  [5entrEns]
v.  put under a spell; carry away with emotion 
Shafts of sunlight on a wall could entrance her and leave her spellbound. 

entreat  [in5tri:t]
v.  [entreated; entreated; entreating] plead; ask earnestly 
She entreated her father to let her stay out till midnight. 

entree  [5Rntrei]
n.  entrance; a way in 
Because of his wealth and social position, he had entree into the most exclusive circles. 

entrepreneur  [5RntrEprE5nE:]
n.  business person; contractor 
Opponents of our present tax program argue that it discourages entrepreneurs from trying new fields of business activity. 

enumerate  [i5nju:mEreit]
v.  [enumerated; enumerated; enumerating] list; mention one by one 
Huck hung his head in shame as Miss Watson enumerated his many flaws. 

enunciate  [i5nQnsieit]
v.  [enunciated; enunciated; enunciating] speak distinctly 
How will people understand you if you do not enunciate? 

environ  [in5vairEn]
v.  [environed; environed; environing] enclose; surround 
Paris was environed by a wall 

eon  [5i:En]
n.  long period of time; an age 
It has taken eons for our civilization to develop. 

epaulet  [5epEulet]
n.  ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.) 
The shoulder loops on Sam Spade's trench coat are the nonmilitary counterparts of the fringed epaulets on George Washington's uniform. 

ephemeral  [i5femErEl]
adj.  short-lived; fleeting 
The mayfly is an ephemeral creature. 

epic  [5epik]
n.  [epics] long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art 
Kurosawa's film Seven Samurai is an epic portraying the struggle of seven warriors to destroy a band of robbers. 

epicure  [5epikjuE]
n.  connoisseur of food and drink 
epicures frequent this restaurant because it features exotic wines and dishes. 

epigram  [5epigrAm]
n.  [epigrams] witty thought or saying, usually short 
Poor Richard's epigrams made Benjamin Franklin famous. 

epilogue  [5epilRg]
n.  short speech at conclusion of dramatic work 
The audience was so disappointed in the play that many did not remain to hear the epilogue. 

episodic  [epi5sRdik]
adj.  loosely connected 
Though he tried to follow the plot of Gravity's Rainbow, John found the novel too episodic. 

epistemologist  [i,pisti5mRlEdVi]
n.  philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge 
"What is more important, a knowledge of nature of the nature of knowledge?" the epistemologist asked the naturalist. 

epitaph  [5epita:f]
n.  [epitaphs] inscription in memory of a dead person 
In his will, he dictated the epitaph he wanted placed on his tombstone. 

epithet  [5epiWet]
n.  [epithets] word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing 
So many kings of France were named Charles that modern students need epithets to tell them apart: Charles the Wise, for example, was someone far different from Charles the Fat. 

epitome  [i5pitEmi]
n.  perfect example or embodiment 
Singing "I am the very model of a modern Major-General" in The Pirates of Penzance, Major-General Stanley proclaimed himself the epitome of an officer and a gentleman. 

epoch  [5i:pRk]
n.  [epoches] period of time 
The glacial epoch lasted for thousands of years. 

equable  [5ekwEbl]
adj.  tranquil; steady; uniform 
After the hot summers and cold winters of New England, he found the climate of the West Indies equable and pleasant. 

equanimity  [i:kwE5nimiti]
n.  calmness of temperament 
In his later years, he could look upon the foolishness of the world with equanimity and humor. 

equestrian  [i5kwetriEn]
n.  rider on horseback 
These paths in the park are reserved for equestrians and their steeds. 

equilibrium  [i:kwi5libriEm]
n.  balance 
After the divorce, he needed some time to regain his equilibrium. 

equine  [5i:kwain]
adj.  resembling a horse 
His long, bony face had an equine look to it. 

equinox  [5i:kwEnRks]
n.  [equinoxes] period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn 
The vernal equinox is usually marked by heavy rainstorms. 

equipoise  [5ekwipRiz]
n.  balance; balancing force; equilibrium 
The high-wire acrobat used his pole as an equipoise to overcome the swaying caused by the wind. 

equitable  [5EkwitEbl]
adj.  fair; impartial 
I am seeking an equitable solution to this dispute, one which will be fair and acceptable to both sides. 

equity  [5ekiti]
n.  [equities] fairness; justice 
Our courts guarantee equity to all. 

equivocal  [i5kwivEkl]
adj.  doubtful; ambiguous 
Macbeth was misled by the equivocal statements of the witches. 

equivocate  [i5kwivEkeit]
v.  [equivocated; equivocated; equivocating] lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth 
The audience saw through his attempts to equivocate on the subject under discussion and ridiculed his remarks. 

erode  [i5rEud]
v.  [eroded; eroded; eroding] eat away 
The limestone was eroded by the dripping water 

erotic  [i5rRtik]
adj.  pertaining to passionate love 
The erotic passages in this novel should be removed as they are merely pornographic. 

errant  [5erEnt]
adj.  wandering 
Many a charming tale has been written about the knights-errant who helped the weak and punished the guilty during the Age of Chivalry. 

erratic  [i5rAtik]
adj.  odd; unpredictable 
Investors become anxious when the stock market appears erratic. 

erroneous  [i5rEunjEs]
adj.  mistaken; wrong 
I thought my answer was correct, but it was erroneous. 

erudite  [5erudait]
adj.  learned; scholarly 
His erudite writing was difficult to read because of the many allusions which were unfamiliar to most readers. 

escapade  [eskE5peid]
n.  prank; flighty conduct 
The headmaster could not regard this latest escapade as a boyish joke and expelled the young man. 

eschew  [Zs5tFu]
v.  [eschewed; eschewed; eschewing] avoid 
He tried to eschew all display of temper. 

esoteric  [esEu5terik]
adj.  hard to understand; known only to the chosen few 
New Yorker short stories often include esoteric allusions to obscure people and events: the implication is if you are in the in-crowd, you'll get the reference; if you come from Cleveland, you won't. 

espionage  [espiE5na:V]
n.  spying 
In order to maintain its power, the government developed a system of espionage that penetrated every household. 

espouse  [is5pauz]
v.  [espoused; espoused; espousing] adopt; support 
She was always ready to espouse a worthy cause. 

esteem  [is5ti:m]
v.  [esteemed; esteemed; esteeming] respect; value; judge 
I esteem Ezra Pound both for his exciting poetry and for his acute comments on literature. 

estranged  [i`streindVd]
adj.  separated; alienated 
The estranged wife sought a divorce. 

ethereal  [i5WiEriEl]
adj.  light; heavenly; fine 
Visitors were impressed by her ethereal beauty, her delicate charm. 

ethnic  [5ZWnik]
adj.  relating to races 
Intolerance between ethnic groups is deplorable and usually is based on lack of information. 

ethnology  [eW5nRlEdVi]
n.  study of mankind 
Sociology is one aspect of the science of ethnology. 

ethos  [5i:WRs]
n.  underlying character of a culture, group, etc. 
Seeing how tenderly Spaniards treated her small daughter made author Barbara Kingsolver aware of how greatly children were valued in the Spanish ethos. 

etymology  [eti5mRlEdVi]
n.  [etymologies] study of word parts 
A knowledge of etymology can help you on many English tests. 

eugenic  [ju:5dVenik]
adj.  pertaining to the improvement of race 
It is easier to apply eugenic principles to the raising of racehorses or prize cattle than t the development of human beings. 

eulogistic  [5ju:lE5dVistik]
adj.  praising 
To everyone's surprise, the speech was eulogistic rather than critical in tone. 

eulogy  [5julEdVi]
n.  [eulogies] praise 
All the eulogies of his friends could not remove the sting of the calumny heaped upon him by his enemies. 

euphemism  [5ju:fEmizm]
n.  mild expression in place of an unpleasant one 
The expression "he passed away" is a euphemism for "he died." 

euphony  [5jufEnt]
n.  [euphonies] sweet sound 
Noted for its euphony even when it is spoken, the Italian language is particularly pleasing to the ear when sung. 

euphoria  [ju:5fR:riE]
n.  feeling of exaggerated (or unfounded) well-being 
"Jill's been on cloud nine ever since Jack asked her out," said Betty, dismissing her friend's euphoria. 

euthanasia  [,ju:WE5neiziE]
n.  mercy killing 
Many people support euthanasia for terminally ill patients who wish to die. 

evanescent  [i:vE5nesnt]
adj.  fleeting; vanishing 
For a brief moment, the entire skyline was bathed in an orange-red hue in the evanescent rays of the sunset. 

evasive  [i5veisiv]
adj.  not frank; eluding 
Your evasive answers convinced the judge that you were withholding important evidence. 

evenhanded  [5i:vEn5hAndid]
adj.  impartial; fair 
Do men and women receive evenhanded treatment from their teachers, or, as recent studies suggest, do teachers pay more attention to male students than to females? 

evince  [i5vins]
v.  [evinced; evinced; evincing] show clearly 
When he tried to answer the questions, he evinced his ignorance of the subject matter. 

evoke  [i5vEuk]
v.  [evoked; evoked; evoking] call forth 
He evoked much criticism by his hostile manner. 

ewe  [ju:]
n.  [ewes] female sheep 
The flock of sheep was made up of dozens of ewes, together with only a handful of rams. 

exacerbate  [eks5AsEbeit]
v.  [exacerbated; exacerbated; exacerbating] worsen; embitter 
This latest arrest will exacerbate the already existing discontent of the people and enrage them. 

exacting  [ig5zAktiN]
adj.  extremely demanding 
The colonies rebelled against the exacting financial claims of the mother country. 

exalt  [ig5zR:lt]
v.  [exalted; exalted; exalting] raise in rank or dignity; praise 
The actor Alec Guinness was exalted to the rank of knighthood by the Queen; he now is known as Sir Alec Guinness. 

exasperate  [ig5za:spEreit]
v.  [exasperated; exasperated; exasperating] vex 
Johnny often exasperates his mother with his pranks. 

excerpt  [5eksE:pt]
n.  [excerpts] selected passage (written or musical) 
The cinematic equivalent of an excerpt from a novel is a clip from a film. 

exchequer  [iks5tFekE]
n.  [exchequers] treasury 
He had been Chancellor of the exchequer before his promotion to the office he now holds. 

excise  [ek5saiz]
v.  [excised; excised; excising] cut away; cut out 
When you excise the dead and dying limbs of a tree, you not only improve its appearance but also enhance its chances of bearing fruit. 

excoriate  [eks5kR:rieit]
v.  [excoriated; excoriated; excoriating] flay; abrade 
These shoes are so ill-fitting that they will excoriate the feet and create blisters. 

exculpate  [5ekskQlpeit]
v.  [exculpated; exculpated; exculpating] clear from blame 
He was exculpated of the crime when the real criminal confessed. 

execrable  [5eksikrEbl]
adj.  very bad 
The anecdote was in execrable taste and shocked the audience. 

execrate  [5eksikreit]
v.  [execrated; execrated; execrating] curse; express abhorrence for 
The world execrates the memory of Hitler and hopes that genocide will never again be the policy of any nation. 

execute  [5eksikju:t]
v.  [executed; executed; executing] put into effect; carry out 
The choreographer wanted to see how well she could execute a pirouette. 

exegesis  [eksE5dVi:sis]
n.  [exegeses] explanation, especially of biblical passages 
I can follow your exegesis of this passage to a limited degree; some of your reasoning eludes me. 

exemplary  [ig5zemplEri]
adj.  serving as a model; outstanding 
Her exemplary behavior was praised at commencement. 

exemplify  [ig5zEmplifai]
v.  [exemplified; exemplified; exemplifying] show by example; furnish an example 
Three-time winner of the Super Bowl, Joe Montana exemplifies the ideal quarterback. 

exertion  [ig5zE:FEn]
n.  [exertions] effort; expenditure of much physical work 
The exertion involved in unscrewing the rusty bolt left her exhausted. 

exhort  [ig5zR:t]
v.  [exhorted; exhorted; exhorting] urge 
The evangelist will exhort all sinners in his audience to reform. 

exhume  [eks5hju:m]
v.  [exhumed; exhumed; exhuming] dig out of the ground; remove from a grave 
Because of the rumor that he had been poisoned, his body was exhumed in order that an autopsy might be performed. 

exigency  [5eksidVEnsi]
n.  [exigencies] urgent situation 
In this exigency, we must look for aid from our allies. 

exiguous  [eg5zigjuEs]
adj.  small; minute 
Grass grew there, an exiguous outcropping among the rocks. 

existential  [,egzis5tenFEl]
adj.  pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism 
To the existential philosopher, human reason is inadequate to explain an irrational, meaningless universe. 

exodus  [5eksEdEs]
n.  departure 
The exodus from the hot and stuffy city was particularly noticeable on Friday evenings. 

exonerate  [ig5zRnEreit]
v.  [exonerated; exonerated; exonerating] acquit; exculpate 
I am sure this letter naming the actual culprit will exonerate you. 

exorbitant  [ig5zR:bitEnt]
adj.  excessive 
The people grumbled at his exorbitant prices but paid them because he had a monopoly. 

exorcise  [5eksR:saiz]
v.  [exorcised; exorcised; exorcising] drive our evil spirits 
By incantation and prayer, the medicine man sought to exorcise the evil spirits that had taken possession of the young warrior. 

exotic  [ig5zRutik]
adj.  not native; strange 
Because of his exotic headdress, he was followed in the streets by small children who laughed at his strange appearance. 

expatiate  [eks5peiFieit]
v.  [expatiated; expatiated; expatiating] talk at length 
At this time, please give us a brief resume of your work; we shall permit you to expatiate later. 

expatriate  [eks5peitrieit]
n.  exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land 
Henry James was an American expatriate who settled in England. 

expedient  [iks5pi:djEnt]
adj.  suitable; practical; politic 
A pragmatic politician, he was guided by what was expedient rather than by what was ethical. 

expedite  [5ekspidait]
v.  [expedited; expedited; expediting] hasten 
We hope you will be able to expedite delivery because of our tight schedule. 

expertise  [ekspE5ti:z]
n.  specialized knowledge; expert skill 
Although she was knowledgeable in a number of fields, she was hired for her particular expertise in computer programming. 

expiate  [5ekspieit]
v.  [expiated; expiated; expiating] make amends for (a sin) 
He tried to expiate his crimes by a full confession to the authorities. 

expletive  [ek5spli:tiv]
n.  interjection; profane oath 
The sergeant's remarks were filled with expletives that offended the new recruits. 

explicate  [5eksplikeit]
v.  [explicated; explicated; explicating] explain; interpret; clarify 
Harry Levin explicated James Joyce's novels with such clarity that even Finnegan's Wake seemed comprehensible to his students. 

explicit  [iks5plisit]
adj.  totally clear; definite; outspoken 
Don't just hint around that you're dissatisfied: be explicit about what's bugging you. 

exploit  [5eksplRit, iks5plRit]
n.  [exploits] deed or action, particularly a brave deed 
Raoul Wallenberg was noted for his exploits in rescuing Jews from Hitler's forces. 

exploit  [5eksplRit, iks5plRit]
v.  make use of, sometimes unjustly 
Caesar Chavez fought attempts to exploit migrant farmworkers in California. 

expository  [iks5pRzi,tEri]
adj.  explanatory; serving to explain 
The manual that came with my VCR was no masterpiece of expository prose: its explanations were so garbled that I couldn't even figure out how to rewind a tape. 

expostulation  [ikspRstFE5leiFEn]
n.  protest; remonstrance 
Despite the teacher's scoldings and expostulations, the class remained unruly. 

exposure  [iks5pEuVE]
n.  [exposures] risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open 
Exposure to sun and wind had dried out her hair and weathered her face. 

expunge  [eks5pQndV]
v.  [expunged; expunged; expunging] cancel; remove 
If you behave, I will expunge this notation from your record. 

expurgate  [5ekspE:geit]
v.  [expurgated; expurgated; expurgating] clean; remove offensive parts of a book 
The editors felt that certain passages in the book had to be expurgated before it could be used in the classroom. 

extant  [eks5tAnt]
adj.  still in existence 
Although the authorities suppressed the book, many copies are extant and may be purchased at exorbitant prices. 

extemporaneous  [ekstempE5reinjE]
adj.  not planned; impromptu 
Because his extemporaneous remarks were misinterpreted, he decided to write all his speeches in advance. 

extenuate  [ik5stZnjuet]
v.  [extenuated; extenuated; extenuating] weaken; mitigate 
It is easier for us to extenuate our own shortcomings than those of others. 

extirpate  [5ekstE:peit]
v.  [extirpated; extirpated; extirpating] root up 
The Salem witch trials were a misguided attempt to extirpate superstition and heresy. 

extol  [iks5tRl]
v.  [extolled; extolled; extolling] praise; glorify 
The astronauts were extolled as the pioneers of the Space Age. 

extort  [ik5stR:t]
v.  [extorted; extorted; extorting] wring from; get money by threats, etc. 
The blackmailer extorted money from his victim. 

extradition  [ekstrE5diFEn]
n.  surrender of prisoner by one state to another 
The lawyers opposed the extradition of their client on the grounds that for more than five years he had been a model citizen. 

extraneous  [eks5treinjEs]
adj.  not essential; external 
Do not pad your paper with extraneous matters; stick to essential items only. 

extrapolation  [ikstApE5leiFEn]
n.  projection; conjecture 
Based on their extrapolation from the results of the primaries on Super Tuesday, the networks predicted that George Bush would be the Republican candidate for the presidency. 

extricate  [5ekstrikeit]
v.  [extricated; extricated; extricating] free; disentangle 
He found that he could not extricate himself from the trap. 

extrinsic  [eks5trinsik]
adj.  external; not inherent; foreign 
Do not be fooled by extrinsic causes. We must look for the intrinsic reason. 

extrovert  [5ekstrEuvE:t]
n.  person interested mostly in external objects and actions 
A good salesperson in usually an extrovert, who likes to mingle with people. 

extrude  [ik5stru:d]
v.  [extruded; extruded; extruding] force or push out 
Much pressure is required to extrude these plastics. 

exuberant  [ig5zju:bErEnt]
adj.  abundant; effusive; lavish 
His speeches were famous for his exuberant language and vivid imagery. 

exude  [ik5sjud]
v.  [exuded; exuded; exuding] discharge; give forth 
The maple syrup is obtained from the sap that the trees exude in early spring. 

exult  [ig5zQlt]
v.  [exulted; exulted; exulting] rejoice 
We exulted when our team won the victory. 

fabricate  [5fAbrikeit]
v.  [fabricated; fabricated; fabricating] build; lie 
Because of the child's tendency to fabricate, we had trouble believing her. 

facade  [fE5sB:d]
n.  [facades] front of the building 
The facade of the church had often been photographed by tourists because it was more interesting than the rear. 

facet  [5fAsit]
n.  small plane surface (of a gem); a side 
The stonecutter decided to improve the rough diamond by providing it with several facets. 

facetious  [fE5si:FEs]
adj.  humorous; jocular 
Your facetious remarks are not appropriate at this serious moment. 

facile  [5fAsail]
adj.  easy; expert 
Because he was a facile speaker, he never refused a request to address an organization. 

facilitate  [fE5siliteit]
v.  [facilitated; facilitated; facilitating] make less difficult 
He tried to facilitate repayment of the loan by getting a part-time job. 

facsimile  [fAk5simili]
n.  copy 
Many museums sell facsimiles of the works of art on display. 

faction  [5fAkFEn]
n.  [factions] party; clique; dissension 
The quarrels and bickering of the two small factions within the club disturbed the majority of the members. 

factious  [5fAkFEs]
adj.  inclined to form factions; causing dissension. 
Your statement is factious and will upset the harmony that now exists. 

factitious  [fAk5tiFEs]
adj.  artificial; sham 
Hollywood actresses often create factitious tears by using glycerine. 

factotum  [fAk5tEutEm]
n.  handyman; person who does all kinds of work 
Although we had hired him as a messenger, we soon began to use him as a general factotum around the office. 

faculty  [5fAkElti]
n.  [faculties] mental or bodily powers; teaching staff 
As he grew old, he feared he might lose his faculties and become useless to his employer. 

fallacious  [fE5leFEs]
adj.  misleading 
Your reasoning must be fallacious because it leads to a ridiculous answer. 

fallible  [5fAlEbl]
adj.  liable to err 
I know I am fallible, but I feel confident that I am right this time. 

fallow  [5fAlEu]
adj.  plowed but sowed; uncultivated 
Farmers have learned that it is advisable to permit land to be fallow every few years. 

falter  [5fR:ltE]
v.  [faltered; faltered; faltering] hesitate 
When told to dive off the high board, she did not falter, but proceeded at once. 

fanaticism  [fE5nAtisizm]
n.  excessive zeal 
The leader of the group was held responsible even though he could not control the fanaticism of his followers. 

fancied  [`fAnsid]
adj.  imagined; unreal 
You are resenting fancied insults. No one has ever said such things about you. 

fancier  [5fAnsiE]
n.  breeder or dealer of animals 
The dog fancier exhibited her prize collie at the annual Kennel Club show. 

fanciful  [5fAnsiful]
adj.  whimsical; visionary 
This is a fanciful scheme because it does not consider the facts. 

fanfare  [5fAnfZE]
n.  call by bugles or trumpets; showy display 
The exposition was opened with fanfare of trumpets and the firing of cannon. 

fantastic  [fAn5tAstik]
adj.  [more fantastic; most fantastic] unreal; grotesque; whimsical 
Your fears are fantastic because no such animal as you have described exists. 

farce  [fa:s]
n.  [farces] broad comedy; mockery 
Nothing went right; the entire interview degenerated into a farce. 

fastidious  [fAs5tidiEs]
adj.  difficult to please; squeamish 
The waitresses disliked serving him dinner because of his very fastidious taste. 

fatalism  [5fetlizEm]
n.  belief that events are determined by forces beyond one's control 
With fatalism, he accepted the hardships that beset him. 

fathom  [5fATEm]
v.  [fathomed; fathomed; fathoming] comprehend; investigate 
I find his motives impossible to fathom. 

fatuous  [5fAtjuEs]
adj.  foolish; inane 
He is far too intelligent to utter such fatuous remarks. 

fauna  [5fR:nE]
n.  [faunas,faunae] animals of a period or region 
The scientist could visualize the fauna of the period by examining the skeletal remains and the fossils. 

fawning  [`fR:niN]
adj.  courting favor by cringing and flattering 
She was constantly surrounded by a group of fawning admirers who had hoped to win some favor. 

faze  [feiz]
v.  [fazed; fazed; fazing] disconcert; dismay 
No crisis could faze the resourceful hotel manager. 

feasible  [5fi:zEbl]
adj.  practical 
This is an entirely feasible proposal. I suggest we adopt it. 

febrile  [5fibrail]
adj.  feverish 
In his febrile condition, he was subject to nightmares and hallucinations. 

feckless  [5feklis]
adj.  feeble, ineffective; unthinking, irresponsible 
Einstein was noted for his extraordinary inspirations; on the other hand, he was noted for being feckless in his daily chores. 

fecundity  [fi5kQndEti]
n.  fertility; fruitfulness 
The fecundity of his mind is illustrated by the many vivid images in his poems. 

feign  [fein]
v.  [feigned; feigned; feigning] pretend 
Lady Macbeth feigned illness in the courtyard although she was actually healthy. 

feint  [fent]
n.  trick; shift; sham blow 
The boxer was fooled by his opponent's feint and dropped his guard. 

felicitous  [fi5lisitEs]
adj.  apt; suitably expressed; well chosen 
He was famous for his felicitous remarks and was called upon to serve as master-of-ceremonies at many banquet. 

felicity  [fi5lisiti]
n.  [felicities] happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.) 
She wrote a note to the newlyweds wishing them great felicity in their wedded life. 

fell  [fel]
adj.  cruel; deadly 
The newspapers told of the tragic spread of the fell disease 

felon  [5felEn]
n.  [felons] person convicted of a grave crime 
A convicted felon loses the right to vote 

ferment  [5fE:ment]
n.  [ferments] agitation; commotion 
With the breakup of the Soviet Union, much of Eastern Europe was in a state of ferment. 

ferret  [5fZrit]
v.  [ferreted; ferreted; ferreting] drive or hunt out of hiding 
She was ferreted out their secret. 

fervent  [5fE:vEnt]
adj.  ardent; hot 
She felt that the fervent praise was excessive and somewhat undeserved. 

fervid  [5fE:vid]
adj.  ardent 
Her fervid enthusiasm inspired all of us to undertake the dangerous mission. 

fervor  [5fE:vE]
n.  glowing ardor 
Their kiss was full of the fervor of first love. 

fester  [5festE]
v.  [festered; festered; festering] generate pus 
When her finger began to fester, the doctor lanced it and removed the splinter that had caused the pus to form. 

fester  [5festE]
v.  [festered; festered; festering] rankle, produce irritation or resentment 
Joe's insult festered in Anne's mind for days, and made her too angry to speak to him. 

festive  [5festiv]
adj.  joyous; merry 
Their wedding in the park was a festive occasion. 

fete  [feit]
v.  [feted; feted; feting] honor at a festival 
The returning hero was feted at a community supper and dance. 

fetid  [5fetid]
adj.  malodorous 
The neglected wound became fetid. 

fetter  [5fetE]
v.  [fettered; fettered; fettering] shackle 
The prisoner was fettered to the wall. 

fiasco  [fi5AskEu]
n.  [fiascos, fiascoes] total failure 
Our ambitious venture ended in a fiasco and we were forced to flee. 

fiat  [5faiAt]
n.  command 
I cannot accept government by fiat; I feel that I must be consulted. 

fickle  [5fikl]
adj.  changeable; faithless 
He discovered his supposedly faithful girlfriend was fickle 

fictitious  [fik5tiFEs]
n.  imaginary 
Although this book purports to be a biography of George Washington, many of the incidents are fictitious. 

fidelity  [fi5deliti]
n.  [fedelities] loyalty 
A dog's fidelity to its owner is one of the reasons why that animal is a favorite household pet. 

figment  [5figmEnt]
n.  invention; imaginary thing 
That incident never took place; it is a figment of your imagination. 

figurative  [5figjurEtiv]
adj.  not literal, but metaphorical; using a figure of speech 
"To lose one's marbles" is a figurative expression; if you're told Jack has lost his marbles, no one expects you to rush out to buy him a replacement set. 

figurine  [figju5ri:n]
n.  small ornamental statuette 
In the Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade was hired to trace the missing figurine of a black bird. 

filch  [5filtF]
v.  [filched; filched; filching] steal 
The boys filched apples from the fruit stand. 

filial  [5filjEl]
adj.  pertaining to a son or daughter 
Many children forget their filial obligations and disregard the wishes of their parents. 

filibuster  [5filEbQstE]
v.  [filibustered; filibustered; filibustering] block legislation by making long speeches 
Even though we disapproved of Senator Foghorn's political goals, we were impressed by his ability to filibuster endlessly to keep an issue from coming to a vote. 

filigree  [5filigri:]
n.  delicate, lacelike metalwork 
The pendant with gold filigree that she wore round her neck trembled with each breath she took. 

finale  [fi5nRli]
n.  conclusion 
It is not until we reach the finale of this play that we can understand the author's message. 

finesse  [fi5nes]
n.  delicate skill 
The finesse and adroitness of the surgeon impressed the observers in the operating room. 

finicky  [5finiki]
adj.  [finickier; finickiest] too particular; fussy 
The old lady was finicky about her food and ate very little. 

finite  [5fainait]
adj.  limited 
It is difficult for humanity with its finite existence to grasp the infinite. 

firebrand  [5faiEbrAnd]
n.  [firebrands] hothead; troublemaker 
The police tried to keep track of all the local firebrands when the President came to town. 

fissure  [5fiFE]
n.  [fissures] crevice 
The mountain climbers secured footholds in tiny fissures in the rock. 

fitful  [5fitful]
adj.  spasmodic; intermittent 
After several fitful attempts, he decided to postpone the start of the project until he felt more energetic. 

flaccid  [5flAksid]
adj.  flabby 
His sedentary life had left him with flaccid muscles. 

flag  [flAg]
v.  [flagged; flagged; flagging] droop; grow feeble 
When the opposing hockey team scored its third goal only minutes into the first period, the home team's spirits flagged. 

flagrant  [5fleigrEnt]
adj.  conspicuously wicked 
We cannot condone such flagrant violations of the rules. 

flail  [fleil]
v.  [flailed; flailed; flailing] thresh grain by hand; strike or slap; toss about 
In medieval times, warriors flailed their foe with a metal ball attached to a handle. 

flair  [flZE]
n.  talent 
She has an uncanny flair for discovering new artists before the public has become aware of their existence. 

flamboyant  [flAm5bRiEnt]
adj.  ornate 
Modern architecture has discarded the flamboyant trimming on buildings and emphasizes simplicity of line. 

flaunt  [flR:nt]
v.  [flaunted; flaunted; flaunting] display ostentatiously 
She is not the one of those actresses who flaunt their physical charms; she can act. 

flay  [fle]
v.  [flayed; flayed; flaying] strip off skin; plunder 
The criminal was condemned to be flayed alive. 

fleck  [flek]
v.  spot 
Her cheeks flecked with tears, were testimony to the hours of weeping. 

fledgling  [5fledVliN]
adj.  inexperienced 
While it is necessary to provide these fledgling poets with an opportunity to present their work, it is not essential that we admire everything they write. 

fleece  [fli:s]
n.  [fleeces] wool coat of a sheep 
They shear sheep of their fleece, which they then comb into separate strands of wool. 

fleece  [fli:s]
v.  [fleeced; fleeced; fleecing] rob; plunder 
The tricksters fleeced him of his inheritance. 

flick  [flik]
n.  [flicks] light stroke with a whip 
The horse needed no encouragement; only one flick of the whip was all the jockey had to apply to get the animal to run at top speed. 

flinch  [flintF]
v.  [flinched; flinched; flinching] hesitate; shrink 
He did not flinch in the face of danger but fought back bravely. 

flippancy  [5flipEnsi]
n.  trifling gaiety 
Your flippancy at this serious moment is offensive. 

flit  [flit]
v.  [flitted; flitted; flitting] fly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by 
Like a bee flitting from flower to flower, Rose flitted from one boyfriend to the next. 

floe  [flEu]
n.  mass of floating ice 
The ship made slow progress as it battered its way through the ice floes. 

flora  [5flR:rE]
n.  [floras, florae] plants of a region or era 
Because she was a botanist, she spent most of her time studying the flora of the desert. 

florid  [5flRrid]
adj.  flowery; ruddy 
His complexion was even more florid than usual because of his anger. 

flotsam  [5flRtsEm]
n.  drifting wreckage 
Beachcombers eke out a living by salvaging the flotsam and jetsam of the sea. 

flourish  [5flQriF]
v.  [flourished; flourished; flourishing] grow well; prosper; make sweeping gestures 
The orange trees flourished in the sun. 

flout  [flaut]
v.  [flouted; flouted; flouting] reject; mock 
The headstrong youth flouted all authority; he refused to be curbed. 

fluctuation  [flQktju5eiFEn]
n.  [fluctuations] wavering 
Meteorologists watch the fluctuations of the barometer in order to predict the weather. 

fluency  [5flu:Ensi]
n.  smoothness of speech 
He spoke French with fluency and ease. 

fluke  [flu:k]
n.  unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune 
When Douglass defeated Tyson for the heavyweight championship, some sportscasters dismissed his victory as a fluke. 

fluster  [5flQstE]
v.  [flustered; flustered; flustering] confuse 
The teacher's sudden question flustered him and he stammered his reply. 

fluted  [5flu:tid]
adj.  having vertical parallel grooves (as in a pillar) 
All that remained of the ancient building were the fluted columns. 

flux  [flQks]
n.  flowing; series of changes 
While conditions are in such a state of flux, I do not wish to commit myself too deeply in this affair. 

fodder  [5fRdE]
n.  coarse food for cattle, horses etc. 
One of Nancy's chores at the ranch was to put fresh supplies of fodder in the horses' stalls. 

foible  [5fRibl]
n.  weakness; slight fault 
We can overlook the foibles of our friends; no one is perfect. 

foil  [fRil]
n.  [foils] contrast 
In "Star Wars," dark, evil Darth Vader is a perfect foil for fair-haired, naive Luke Skywalker. 

foil  [fRil]
v.  [foiled; foiled; foiling] defeat; frustrate 
In the end, Skywalker is able to foil Vader's diabolical schemes. 

foist  [fRist]
v.  [foisted; foisted; foisting] insert improperly; palm off 
I will not permit you to foist such ridiculous ideas upon the membership of this group. 

foliage  [5fEuliidV]
n.  masses of leaves 
Every autumn before the leaves fell he promised himself he would drive though the New England to admire the colorful fall foliage. 

foment  [fEu5mZnt]
v.  [fomented; fomented; fomenting] stir up; instigate 
This report will foment dissension in the club. 

foolhardy  [5fu:lhB:di]
adj.  [foolhardier; foolhardiest] rash 
Don't be foolhardy. Get the advice of experienced people before undertaking this venture. 

foppish  [5fRpiF]
adj.  vain about dress and appearance 
He tried to imitate the foppish manner of the young men of the court. 

foray  [5fR:rei]
n.  raid 
The company staged a midnight foray against the enemy outpost. 

forbearance  [fR:5bZErEns]
n.  patience 
We must use forbearance in dealing with him because he is still weak from his illness. 

ford  [fR:d]
n.  [fords] place where a river can be crossed on foot 
Rather than risk using the shaky rope bridge, David walked a half-mile downstream until he came to the nearest ford. 

forebears  [5fR:bit]
n.  ancestors 
Reverence for one's forebears (sometimes referred to as ancestor worship) plays an important part in many Oriental cultures. 

foreboding  [fR:5bEudiN]
n.  [forebodings] premonition of evil 
Caeser ridiculed his wife's foreboding about the Ides of March. 

forensic  [fE5rensik]
adj.  suitable to debate or courts of law 
In her best forensic manner, the lawyer addressed the jury. 

foreshadow  [5fR:5FAdEu]
v.  [foreshadowed; foreshadowed; foreshadowing] give an indication beforehand; portend; prefigure 
In retrospect, political analysts realized that Yeltsin's defiance of the attempted coup foreshadowed his emergence as the dominant figure of the new Russian republic. 

foresight  [5fR:sait]
n.  ability to foresee future happenings; prudence 
A wise investor, she had the foresight to buy land just before the current real estate boom. 

forestall  [fR:5stR:l]
v.  [forestalled; forestalled; forestalling] prevent by taking action in advance 
By setting up a prenuptial agreement, the prospective bride and groom hoped to forestall any potential arguments about money in the event of a divorce. 

forgo  [fR:5gEu]
v.  [forwent; forgone; forgoing] give up; do without 
Determined to lose weight for the summer, Ida decided to forgo dessert until she could fit into a size eight again. 

formality  [fR:5mAliti]
n.  [formalities] adherence to established rules or procedures 
Signing this petition is a mere formality; it does not obligate you in any way. 

formidable  [5fR:midEbl]
adj.  menacing; threatening 
We must not treat the battle lightly for we are facing a formidable foe. 

forsake  [fE5seik]
v.  [forsook; forsaken; forsaking] desert; abandon; renounce 
No one expected Foster to forsake his wife and children and run off with another woman. 

forswear  [fR:5swZE]
v.  [forswore; forsworn; forswearing] renounce; abandon 
The captured knight could escape death only if he agreed to forswear Christianity and embrace Islam as the one true faith. 

forte  [5fR:tei, fR:t]
n.  strong point or special talent 
I am not eager to play this rather serious role, for my forte is comedy. 

forthright  [fR:W5rait]
adj.  straightforward; direct; frank 
I prefer Jill's forthright approach to Jack's tendency to beat around the bush. 

fortitude  [5fR:titju:d]
n.  bravery; courage 
He was awarded the medal for his fortitude in the battle. 

fortuitous  [fR:5tju:itEs]
adj.  accidental; by chance 
There is no connection between these two events; their timing is entirely fortuitous. 

foster  [5fRstE]
v.  [fostered; fostered; fostering] rear; encourage 
According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were fostered by a she-wolf that raised the abandoned infants as her own. 

founder  [5faundE]
v.  fail completely; sink 
After hitting the submerged iceberg, the Titanic started taking in water rapidly and soon foundered. 

founder  [5faundE]
n.  [founders] person who establishes (an organization, business) 
Among those drowned when the Titanic sank was the founder of the Abraham & Straus chain. 

fracas  [5frAkB:]
n.  [fracases, fracas] brawl; melee 
The military police stopped the fracas in the bar and arrested the belligerents. 

fractious  [5frAkFEs]
adj.  unruly 
The fractious horse unseated its rider. 

frailty  [5freilti]
n.  [frailties] weakness 
The doctor prescribed vitamin and mineral supplements for the sick old woman because of her frailty. 

franchise  [5frAntFaiz]
n.  [franchises] right granted by authority 
The city issued a franchise to the company to operate surface transit lines on the streets for ninety-nine years. 

frantic  [5frAntik]
adj.  wild 
At the time of the collision, many people became frantic with fear. 

fraudulent  [5frRdVElEnt]
adj.  cheating; deceitful 
The government seeks to prevent fraudulent and misleading advertising. 

fraught  [frR:t]
adj.  filled 
Since this enterprise is fraught with danger, I will ask for volunteers who are willing to assume the risks. 

fray  [frei]
n.  brawl 
The three musketeers were in the thick of fray. 

frenetic  [fri5netik]
adj.  frenzied; frantic 
His frenetic activities convinced us that he had no organized plan of operation. 

frenzied  [5frenzid]
adj.  madly excited 
As soon as they smelled smoke, the frenzied animals milled about in their cages. 

fresco  [5freskEu]
n.  [frescoes, frescos] painting in plaster (usually fresh) 
The cathedral is visited by many tourists who wish to admire the frescoes by Glotto. 

fret  [fret]
v.  [fretted; fretted; fretting] to be annoyed or vexed 
To fret over your poor grades is foolish; instead, decide to work harder in the future. 

friction  [5frikFEn]
n.  [frictions] clash in opinion; rubbing against 
At this time when harmony is essential, we cannot afford to have any friction in our group. 

frieze  [fri:z]
n.  [friezes] ornamental band on a wall 
The frieze of the church was adorned with sculpture. 

frigid  [5fridVid]
adj.  intensely cold 
Alaska is in the frigid zone. 

fritter  [5fritE]
v.  [frittered; frittered; frittering] waste 
He could not apply himself to any task and frittered away his time in idle conversation. 

frivolous  [5frivElEs]
adj.  lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently carefree; relatively unimportant 
Though Nancy enjoyed Bill's frivolous, lighthearted companionship, she sometimes wondered whether he could ever be serious. 

frolicsome  [5frRliksEm]
adj.  prankish; gay 
The frolicsome puppy tried to lick the face of its master. 

frond  [5frRnd]
n.  fern leaf; palm or banana leaf 
After the storm the beach was littered with the fronds of palm trees. 

fructify  [5frQktifai]
v.  [fructified; fructified; fructifying] bear fruit 
This peach tree should fructify in three years. 

frugality  [fru:5gAliti]
n.  thrift; economy 
In these economically difficult days businesses must practice frugality or risk bankruptcy. 

fruition  [fru5iFEn]
n.  bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization 
This building marks the fruition of all our aspirations and years of hard work. 

fugitive  [5fju:dVitiv]
adj.  fleeting or transitory; roving 
The film brought a few fugitive images to her mind, but on the whole it made no lasting impression upon her. 

fulcrum  [5fQlkrEm]
n.  [fulcrums, fulcra] support on which a lever rests 
If we use this stone as a fulcrum and the crowbar as a lever, we may be able to move this boulder. 

fulminate  [5fQlmEnet]
v.  [fulminated; fulminated; fulminating] thunder; explode 
The people against whom she fulminated were innocent of any wrongdoing. 

fulsome  [5fulsEm]
adj.  disgustingly excessive 
His fulsome praise of the dictator annoyed his listeners. 

functionary  [5fQNkFEnEri]
n.  [functionaries] official 
As his case was transferred from one functionary to another, he began to despair of ever reaching a settlement. 

fundamental  [5fQndE5mentl]
adj.  [more fundamental; most fundamental] basic; primary; essential 
The committee discussed all sorts of side issues without ever getting down to addressing the fundamental problem. 

funereal  [fju5niriEl]
adj.  sad; solemn 
I fail to understand why there is such a funereal atmosphere; we have lost a battle, not a war. 

furor  [5fjuErE]
n.  frenzy; great excitement 
The story of her embezzlement of the funds created a furor on the stock exchange. 

furtive  [5fE:tiv]
adj.  stealthy; sneaky 
The boy gave a furtive look at his classmate's test paper. 

fusillade  [fju:zi5leid]
n.  simultaneous firing or outburst (of missiles, questions, etc.) 
Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture concludes with a thunderous fusillade of cannon fire. 

fusion  [5fjuVEn]
n.  [fusions] union; coalition 
The opponents of the political party in power organized a fusion of disgruntled groups and became an important element in the election. 

futile  [5fju:tail]
adj.  ineffective; fruitless 
Why waste your time on futile pursuits? 

gadfly  [5gAdflai]
n.  [gadflies] animal-biting fly; an irritating person 
Like a gadfly, he irritated all the guests at the hotel; within forty eight hours, everyone regarded him as an annoying busybody. 

gaffe  [gAf]
n.  social blunder 
According to Miss Manners, to call your husband by your lover's name is worse than a mere gaffe; it is a tactical mistake. 

gainsay  [gein5sei]
v.  [gainsaid; gainsaid; gainsaying] deny 
She was too honest to gainsay the truth of the report. 

gait  [geit]
n.  [gaits] manner of walking or running; speed 
The lame man walked with an uneven gait. 

galaxy  [5gAlEksi]
n.  [galaxies] the Milky Way; any collection of brilliant personalities 
The deaths of such famous actors as Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy, and Marlene Dietrich demonstrate that the galaxy of Hollywood superstars is rapidly disappearing. 

gall  [gR:l]
n.  bitterness; nerve 
The knowledge of his failure filled him with gall. 

gall  [gR:l]
v.  [galled; galled; galling] annoy; chafe 
Their taunts galled him. 

galleon  [5gAliEn]
n.  large sailing ship 
The Spaniards pinned their hopes on the galleon, the large warship; the British, on the smaller and faster pinnace. 

galvanize  [5gAlvEnaiz]
v.  [galvanized; galvanized; galvanizing] stimulate by shock; stir up 
The entire nation was galvanized into strong military activity by the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

gambit  [5gAmbit]
n.  opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed 
The player was afraid to accept his opponent's gambit because he feared a trap which as yet he could not see. 

gambol  [5gAmbl]
v.  [gamboled, gambolled; gamboled, gambolled; gamboling, gambolling] skip; leap playfully 
Watching children gamboling in the park is a pleasant experience 

gamely  [`geimli]
adv.  in a spirited manner; with courage 
Because he had fought gamely against a much superior boxer, the crowd gave him a standing ovation when he left the arena. 

gamut  [5gAmEt]
n.  entire range 
In this performance, the leading lady was able to demonstrate the complete gamut of her acting ability. 

gape  [geip]
v.  [gaped; gaped; gaping] open widely 
The huge pit gaped before him; if he stumbled, he would fall in. 

garbled  []
adj.  mixed up; jumbled; distorted 
A favorite party game involves passing a whispered message from one person to another; by the time it reaches the last player, the message has become totally garbled. 

gargantuan  [gB:5gAntFuEn]
adj.  huge; enormous 
The gargantuan wrestler was terrified of mice. 

gargoyle  [5ga:gRil]
n.  waterspout carved in grotesque figures on a building 
The gargoyles adorning the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris are amusing in their grotesqueness. 

garish  [5geriF]
adj.  gaudy 
She wore a garish rhinestone necklace. 

garner  [5garnE]
v.  [garnered; garnered; garnering] gather; store up 
She hoped to garner the world's literature in one library. 

garnish  [5ga:niF]
v.  [garnished; garnished; garnishing] decorate 
Parsley was used to garnish the boiled potato. 

garrulity  [gE5rulEti]
n.  talkativeness 
The man who married a dumb wife asked the doctor to make him deaf because of his wife's garrulity after her cure. 

garrulous  [5gArulEs]
adj.  excessively talkative, especially about unimportant subjects; loquacious; wordy 
Many club members avoided the company of the garrulous junior executive because his constant chatter bored them to tears. 

gastronomy  [gAs5trRnEmi]
n.  science of preparing and serving good food 
One of the by-products of his trip to Europe was his interest in gastronomy; he enjoyed preparing and serving foreign dishes to his friends. 

gauche  [gEuF]
adj.  clumsy; boorish 
Such remarks are gauche and out of place; you should apologize for making them. 

gaudy  [5gR:di]
adj.  [gaudier; gaudiest] flashy; showy 
Her gaudy taste in clothes appalled us. 

gaunt  [gR:nt]
adj.  [gaunter; gauntest] lean and angular; barren 
His once-round face looked surprisingly gaunt after he had lost weight. 

gawk  [gR:k]
v.  [gawked; gawked; gawking] stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe 
The country boy gawked at the skyscrapers and neon lights of the big city. 

gazette  [gE5zet]
n.  official publication 
He read the gazettes regularly for announcement of his promotion. 

genealogy  [dVi:ni5AlEdVi]
n.  [genealogies] record of descent; lineage 
He was proud of his genealogy and constantly referred to the achievements of his ancestors. 

generality  [dVenE5rAliti]
n.  [generalities] vague statement 
This report is filled with generalities; you must be more specific in you statements. 

generic  [dVi5nerik]
adj.  characteristic of an entire class or species 
Sue knew so many computer programmers who spent their spare time playing fantasy games that she began to think that playing Dungeon & Dragons was a generic trait. 

genesis  [5dVenisis]
n.  [genesises] beginning; origin 
Tracing the genesis of a family is the theme of "Roots." 

geniality  [dVi:ni5Aliti]
n.  cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy 
This restaurant is famous and popular because of the geniality of the proprietor, who tries to make everyone happy. 

genre  [VB:Nr]
n.  [genres] particular variety of art or literature 
Both a short story writer and a poet, Langston Hughes proved himself equally skilled in either genre. 

genteel  [dVen5ti:l]
adj.  well-bred; elegant 
We are looking for a man with a genteel appearance who can inspire confidence by his cultivated manner. 

gentility  [dVZn5tilEti]
n.  those of gentle birth; refinement 
Her family was proud of its gentility and elegance. 

gentry  [5dVentri]
n.  people of standing; class of people just below nobility 
The local gentry did not welcome the visits of the summer tourists and tried to ignore their presence in the community. 

genuflect  [5dVenjuflekt]
v.  [genuflected; genuflected; genuflecting] bend the knee as in worship 
A proud democrat, he refused to genuflect to any man. 

germane  [dVE5men]
adj.  pertinent; bearing upon the case at hand 
The lawyer objected that the testimony being offered was not germane to the case at hand. 

germinal  [5dVE:minl]
adj.  pertaining to a germ; creative 
Such an idea is germinal; I am certain that it will influence thinkers and philosophers for many generations. 

germinate  [5dVE:mineit]
v.  [germinated; germinated; germinating] cause to sprout; sprout 
After the seeds germinate and develop their permanent leaves, the plants may be removed from the cold frames and transplanted to the garden. 

gerontocracy  [dVerRn5tRkrEsi]
n.  [gerontocracies] government ruled by old people 
Gulliver visited a gerontocracy in which the young people acted as servants to their elders, all the while dreaming of the day they would be old enough to have servants of their own. 

gerrymander  [5dVerimAndE]
v.  [gerrymandered; gerrymandered; gerrymandering] change in voting district lines in order to favor a political party 
The illogical pattern of the map of this congressional district is proof that the state legislature gerrymandered this area in order to favor the majority party. 

gestate  [5dVesteit]
v.  [gestated; gestated; gestating] evolve, as in prenatal growth 
While this scheme was being gestated by the conspirators, they maintained complete silence about their intentions. 

gesticulation  [dVestikju5leiFEn]
n.  motion; gesture 
Operatic performers are trained to make exaggerated gesticulations because of the large auditoriums in which they appear. 

ghastly  [5ga:stli]
adj.  [ghastlier; ghastliest] horrible 
The murdered man was a ghastly sight. 

gibberish  [5dVibEriF]
n.  nonsense; babbling 
Did you hear that foolish boy spouting gibberish about monsters from outer space? 

gibe  [dVaib]
v.  [gibed; gibed; gibing] mock 
As you gibe at their superstitious beliefs, do you realize that you, too, are guilty of similarly foolish thoughts? 

giddy  [5gidi]
adj.  [giddier; giddiest] light-hearted; dizzy 
He felt his giddy youth was past. 

gingerly  [5dVindVEli]
adv.  very carefully 
To separate egg whites, first crack the egg gingerly. 

girth  [gE:W]
n.  [girths] distance around something; circumference 
It took an extra-large cummerbund to fit around Andrew Carnegie's considerable girth. 

gist  [dVist]
n.  essence 
she was asked to give the gist of the essay in two sentence. 

glacial  [5gleiFEl]
adj.  like a glacier; extremely cold 
 Global warming triggers glacial lakes flood threat. 

glaring  [5glZEriN]
adj.  highly conspicuous; harshly bright 
glaring spelling or grammatical errors in your resume will unfavorably impress potential employers. 

glaze  [gleiz]
v.  [glazed; glazed; glazing] cover with a thin and shiny surface 
The freezing rain glazed the streets and made driving hazardous. 

glean  [gli:n]
v.  [gleaned; gleaned; gleaning] gather leavings 
After the crops had been harvested by the machines, the peasants were permitted to glean the wheat left in the fields. 

glib  [glib]
adj.  [glibber; glibbest] fluent 
He is a glib and articulate speaker. 

glimmer  [5glimE]
v.  [glimmered; glimmered; glimmering] shine erratically; twinkle 
In the darkness of the cavern, the glowworms hanging from the cavern roof glimmered like distant stars. 

gloat  [glEut]
v.  [gloated; gloated; gloating] express evil satisfaction; view malevolently 
As you gloat over your ill-gotten wealth, do you think of the many victims you have defrauded? 

gloss over  []
v.  explain away 
No matter how hard he tried to talk around the issue, President Bush could not gloss over the fact that he had raised the taxes after all. 

glossary  [5glRsEri]
n.  [glossaries] brief explanation of words used in the text 
I have found the glossary in this book very useful; it has eliminated many trips to the dictionary. 

glossy  [5glRsi]
adj.  [glossier; glossiest] smooth and shining 
I want this photograph printed on glossy paper, not matte. 

glower  [5glauE]
v.  [glowered; glowered; glowering] scowl 
The angry boy glowered at his father. 

glut  [glQt]
v.  [glutted; glutted; glutting] overstock; fill to excess 
The many manufacturers glutted the market and could not find purchasers for the many articles they had produced. 

glutinous  [5glu:tinEs]
adj.  sticky; viscous 
Molasses is a glutinous substance. 

glutton  [5glQtn]
n.  [gluttons] someone who eats too much 
When Mother saw that Bobby had eaten all the cookies, she called him a little glutton. 

gnarled  [nB:ld]
adj.  twisted 
The gnarled oak tree had been a landmark for years and was mentioned in several deeds. 

gnome  [nEum]
n.  dwarf; underground spirit 
In medieval mythology, gnomes were the special guardians and inhabitants of subterranean mines. 

goad  [gEud]
v.  [goaded; goaded; goading] urge on 
He was goaded by his friends until he yielded to their wishes. 

gorge  [gR:dV]
n.  [gorges] narrow canyon; steep, rocky cleft 
Terrified of heights, George could not bring himself to peer down into the gorge to see the rapids below. 

gorge  [gR:dV]
v.  [gorged; gorged; gorging] stuff oneself 
The gluttonous guest gorged himself with food as though he had not eaten for days. 

gory  [5gR:ri]
adj.  [gorier; goriest] bloody 
The audience shuddered as they listened to the details of the gory massacre. 

gossamer  [5gRsEmE]
adj.  sheer; like cobwebs 
Nylon can be woven into gossamer or thick fabrics. 

gouge  [gaudV]
v.  [gouged; gouged; gouging] tear out 
In that fight, all the rules were forgotten; the adversaries bit, kicked, and tried to gouge each other's eyes out. 

gourmand  [5guEmEnd]
n.  epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink 
Gourmands lack self-restraint; if they enjoy a particular cuisine, they eat far too much of it. 

gourmet  [5guEmei]
n.  connoisseur of food and drink 
The gourmet stated that this was the best onion soup she had ever tasted. 

graduated  []
adj.  arranged by degree (of height, difficulty, etc.) 
Margaret loved her graduated set of Russian hollow wooden dolls; she spent hours happily putting the smaller dolls into their larger counterparts. 

granary  [5grAnEri]
n.  [granaries] storehouse for grain 
We have reason to be thankful, for our crops were good and our granaries are full. 

grandeur  [5grAndVE]
n.  impressiveness; stateliness; majesty 
No matter how often he hiked through the mountains, David never failed to be struck by the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada range. 

grandiloquent  [grAn5dilEkwEnt]
adj.  pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language 
The politician could never speak simply; she was always grandiloquent. 

grandiose  [5grAndiEus]
adj.  imposing; impressive 
His grandiose manner impressed those who met him for the first time. 

granulate  [5grAnjuleit]
v.  [granulated; granulated; granulating] form into grains 
Sugar that has been granulated dissolves more readily than lump sugar. 

graphic  [5grAfik]
adj.  pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described 
I was particularly impressed by the graphic presentation of the storm. 

grapple  [5grApl]
v.  [grappled; grappled; grappling] wrestle; come to grips with 
He grappled with the burglar and overpowered him. 

grate  [greit]
v.  [grated; grated; grating] make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; shred 
The screams of the quarreling children grated on her nerves. 

gratify  [5grAtifai]
v.  [gratified; gratified; gratifying] please 
Her parents were gratified by her success. 

gratis  [5greitis]
adv.  free 
The company offered to give one package gratis to every purchaser of one of their products. 

gratuitous  [grE5tjuitEs]
adj.  given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for 
Quit making gratuitous comments about my driving; no one asked you for your opinion. 

gratuity  [grE5tju:iti]
n.  [gratuities] tip 
Many service employees rely more on gratuities than on salaries for their livelihood. 

gravity  [5grAviti]
n.  seriousness 
We could tell we were in serious trouble from the gravity of her expression. 

gregarious  [gre5gZEriEs]
adj.  sociable 
Typically, party-throwers are gregarious; hermits are not. 

grievance  [5gri:vEns]
n.  [grievances] cause of complaint 
When her supervisor ignored her complaint, she took her grievance to the union. 

grill  [gril]
v.  [grilled; grilled; grilling] question severely 
In violation of the Miranda law, the police grilled the suspect for several hours before reading him his rights. 

grimace  [gri5meis]
n.  [grimaces] a facial distortion to show feeling such as pain, disgust, etc. 
Even though he remained silent, his grimace indicated his displeasure. 

grisly  [5grizli]
adj.  ghastly 
She shuddered at the grisly sight. 

grotesque  [grEu5tesk]
adj.  fantastic; comically hideous 
On Halloween people enjoy wearing grotesque costumes. 

grotto  [5grRtEu]
n.  [grottoes, grottos] small cavern 
The Blue Grotto in Capri can be entered only by small boats rowed by natives through a natural opening in the rocks. 

grouse  [graus]
v.  complain; fuss 
Students traditionally grouse about the abysmal quality of "mystery meat" and similar dormitory food. 

grovel  [5grRvl]
v.  [groveled, grovelled; groveled, grovelled; groveling, grovelling] crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate 
Even though we have been defeated, we do not have to grovel before our conquerors. 

grudging  [5grQdViN]
adj.  unwilling; reluctant; stingy 
We received only grudging support from the mayor despite his earlier promises of aid. 

gruel  [5gru:El]
n.  thin, liquid porridge 
Our daily allotment of gruel made the meal not only monotonous but also unpalatable. 

grueling  [5gruEliN]
adj.  exhausting 
The marathon is a grueling race. 

gruesome  [5gru:sEm]
adj.  grisly 
People screamed when her gruesome appearance was flashed on the screen. 

gruff  [grQf]
adj.  [gruffer; gruffest] rough-mannered 
Although he was blunt and gruff with most people, he was always gentle with children. 

guffaw  [gQ5fR:]
n.  boisterous laughter 
The loud guffaws that came from the closed room indicated that the members of the committee had not yet settled down to a serious business. 

guile  [gail]
n.  deceit; duplicity 
She achieved her high position by guile and treachery. 

guileless  [gailis]
adj.  without deceit 
He is naive, simple, and guileless; he cannot be guilty of fraud. 

guise  [gaiz]
n.  [guises] appearance; costume 
In the guise of a plumber, the detective investigated the murder case. 

gullible  [5gQlEbl]
adj.  easily deceived 
He preyed upon gullible people, who believed his stories of easy wealth. 

gustatory  [5gQstEtEri]
adj.  affecting the sense of taste 
The Thai restaurant offered an unusual gustatory experience for those used in a bland cuisine. 

gusto  [5gQstEu]
n.  [gustoes, gustos] enjoyment; enthusiasm 
He accepted the assignment with such gusto that I feel he would have been satisfied with a smaller salary. 

gusty  [5gQsti]
adj.  [gustier; gustiest] windy 
The gusty weather made sailing precarious. 

gyroscope  [5gaiErEskEup]
n.  apparatus used to maintain balance, ascertain direction, etc. 
By using a rotating gyroscope, they were able to stabilize the vessel, counteracting the rolling movements of the sea. 

hackles  []
n.  hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog 
The dog's hackles rose and he began to growl as the sound of footsteps grew louder. 

hackneyed  [5hAknid]
adj.  commonplace; trite 
The English teacher criticized her story because of its hackneyed and unoriginal plot. 

haggard  [5hAgEd]
adj.  wasted away; gaunt 
After his long illness, he was pale and haggard. 

haggle  [5hAgl]
v.  [haggled; haggled; haggling] argue about prices 
I prefer to shop in a store that has a one-price policy because, whenever I haggle with a shopkeeper, I am never certain that I paid a fair price for the articles I purchased. 

halcyon  [5hAlsiEn]
adj.  calm; peaceful 
In those halcyon days, people were not worried about sneak attacks and bombings. 

hale  [heil]
adj.  [haler; halest] healthy 
After a brief illness, he was soon hale. 

hallowed  [5hAlEud]
adj.  blessed; consecrated 
She was laid to rest in hallowed ground. 

hallucination  [hElu:sineiFEn]
n.  delusion 
I think you were frightened by a hallucination that you created in you own mind. 

halting  [5hR:ltiN]
adj.  hesitant; faltering 
Novice extemporaneous speakers often talk in a halting fashion as they grope for the right words. 

hamper  [5hAmpE]
v.  [hampered; hampered; hampering] obstruct 
The minority party agreed not to hamper the efforts of the leaders to secure a lasting peace. 

hap  [hAp]
n.  [haps] chance; luck 
In his poem hap, Thomas Hardy objects to the part chance plays in our lives. 

haphazard  [5hAp5hAzEd]
adj.  random; by chance 
His haphazard reading left him unacquainted with the authors of the books. 

hapless  [5hAplis]
adj.  unfortunate 
This hapless creature had never known a moment's pleasure. 

harangue  [hE5rAN]
n.  [harangues] long, passionate, and vehement speech 
In her lengthy harangue, the principal berated the offenders. 

harass  [5hArEs]
v.  [harassed; harassed; harassing] annoy by repeated attacks 
When he could not pay his bills as quickly as he had promised, he was harassed by his creditors. 

harbinger  [5hB:bindVE]
n.  forerunner 
The crocus is an early harbinger of spring. 

harbor  [5hB:bE]
v.  [harbored; harbored; harboring] provide a refuge for; hide 
The church harbored illegal aliens who were political refugees. 

hardy  [5ha:di]
adj.  [hardier; hardiest] sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement weather 
We asked the gardening expert to recommend particularly hardy plants that could withstand our harsh New England winters. 

harping  []
n.  [harpists] tiresome dwelling on a subject 
After he had reminded me several times about what he had done for me I told him to stop his harping on my indebtedness to him. 

harrow  [5hArEu]
v.  [harrowed; harrowed; harrowing] break up ground after plowing; torture 
I don't want to harrow you at this time by asking you to recall the details of your unpleasant experience. 

harry  [5hAri]
v.  [harried; harried; harrying] harass, annoy, torment; raid 
The guerrilla band harried the enemy nightly. 

hatch  [hAtF]
n.  [hatches] deck opening; lid covering a deck opening 
The latch on the hatch failed to catch, so the hatch remained unlatched. 

haughtiness  [5hR:tinis]
n.  pride; arrogance 
I resent his haughtiness because he is no better than we are. 

hazardous  [5hAzEdEs]
adj.  dangerous 
Your occupation is too hazardous for insurance companies to consider your application. 

hazy  [5hezi]
adj.  [hazier; haziest] slightly obscure 
In hazy weather, you cannot see the top of this mountain. 

headlong  [5hedlRN]
adv.  hasty; rash 
The slave seized the unexpected chance to make a headlong dash across the border to freedom. 

headstrong  [5hedstrR:N]
adj.  stubborn; willful; unyielding 
Because she refused to marry the man her parents had chosen for her, everyone scolded Minna and called her a foolish, headstrong girl. 

heckler  [`heklE]
n.  person who verbally harasses others 
The heckler kept interrupting the speaker with rude remarks. 

hedonism  [5hi:dEnizEm]
n.  belief that pleasure is the sole aim in life 
hedonism and asceticism are opposing philosophies of human behavior. 

heedless  [5hi:dlis]
adj.  not noticing; disregarding 
He drove on, heedless of the warnings that the road was dangerous. 

hegemony  [hi:5dVemEni]
n.  [hegemonies] dominance, especially of one nation over others 
As one Eastern European nation after another declared its independence, commentators marveled at the sudden breakdown of the once monolithic Soviet hegemony. 

heinous  [5heinEs]
adj.  atrocious; hatefully bad 
Hitler's heinous crimes will never be forgotten. 

herbivorous  [hE5bivErEs]
adj.  grain-eating 
Some herbivorous animals have two stomachs for digesting their food. 

heresy  [5herEsi]
n.  [heresies] opinion contrary to popular belief or to accepted religion 
He was threatened with excommunication because his remarks were considered to be pure heresy. 

heretic  [5herEtik]
n.  [heretics] person who maintains opinions contrary to the doctrines of the church 
She was punished by the Spanish Inquisition because she was a heretic. 

hermetic  [hE:5metik]
adj.  sealed by fusion so as to be airtight 
After these bandages are sterilized, they are placed in hermetic containers. 

hermetic  [hE:5metik]
adj.  obscure and mysterious; occult 
It is strange to consider that modern chemistry originated in the hermetic teachings of the ancient alchemists. 

hermitage  [5hE:mitidV]
n.  [hermitages] home of a hermit 
Even in his remote hermitage he could not escape completely from the world. 

herpetologist  [5hE:pE5tRlEdVist]
n.  one who studies reptiles 
As a boy, Indiana Jones had a traumatic experience involving snakes; sensibly enough, he studies to be archaeologist, not a herpetologist. 

heterodox  [5hetErEdRks]
adj.  unorthodox; unconventional 
To those who upheld the belief that the earth did not move, Galileo's theory that the earth circled the sun was disturbingly heterodox. 

heterogeneous  [hetErE5dVi:niEs]
adj.  dissimilar 
In a heterogeneous group, we have an unassorted assemblage, while in a homogeneous group we have people or things that have common traits. 

hew  [hju]
v.  [hewed; hewed, hewn; hewing] cut to pieces with ax or sword 
The cavalry rushed into melee and hewed the enemy with their swords. 

heyday  [5heidei]
n.  time of greatest success; prime 
In their heyday, the San Francisco Forty-Niners won the Super Bowl two years running. 

hiatus  [hai5eitEs]
n.  [hiatuses, hiatus] gap; pause 
Except for a brief two-year hiatus, during which she enrolled in the Peace Corps, Ms. Clements has devoted herself to her medical career. 

hibernal  [hai5bE:nl]
adj.  wintry 
Bears prepare for their long hibernal sleep by overeating. 

hibernate  [5haibEneit]
v.  [hibernated; hibernated; hibernating] sleep throughout the winter 
Bears are one of the many species of animals that hibernate. 

hierarchy  [5haiEra:ki]
n.  [hierarchies] body divided into ranks 
It was difficult to step out of one's place in this hierarchy. 

hieroglyphic  [5haiErE5glifik]
n.  [hieroglyphics] picture writing 
The discovery of the Rosetta Stone enabled scholars to read the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. 

hilarity  [hE5lArEti]
n.  boisterous mirth 
The hilarity is improper on this solemn day of mourning. 

hindmost  [5haindmEust]
adj.  furthest behind 
The coward could always be found in the hindmost lines whenever a battle was being waged. 

hindrance  [5hindrEns]
n.  [hindrances] block; obstacle 
Stalled cars along the highway are a hindrance to traffic that tow trucks should remove without delay. 

hinterlands  []
n.  [hinterlands] back country 
They seldom had visitors, living as they did way out in the hinterlands. 

hireling  [5haiEliN]
n.  one who serves for hire (usually used contemptuously) 
In a matter of such importance, I do not wish to deal with hirelings; I must meet with the chief. 

hirsute  [5hE:sut]
adj.  hairy 
He was a hirsute individual with a heavy black beard. 

histrionic  [histri5Rnik]
adj.  theatrical 
He was proud of his histrionic ability and wanted to play the role of Hamlet. 

hoard  [hR:d]
v.  [hoarded; hoarded; hoarding] stockpile; accumulate for future use 
Whenever there are rumors of a food shortage, people are tempted to hoard food. 

hoary  [5hR:ri]
adj.  [hoarier; hoariest] white with age 
The man was hoary and wrinkled when he was 70. 

hoax  [hEuks]
n.  trick; practical joke 
Embarrassed by the hoax, he reddened and left the room. 

holocaust  [5halEkRst]
n.  destruction by fire 
Citizens of San Francisco remember that the destruction of the city was caused not by the earthquake but by the holocaust that followed. 

holster  [5hEulstE]
n.  [holsters] pistol case 
Even when he was not in uniform, he carried a holster and pistol under his arm. 

homage  [5hRmidV]
n.  honor; tribute 
In her speech she tried to pay homage to a great man. 

homeostasis  [,hEumiEu5steisis]
n.  tendency of a system to maintain relative stability 
A breakdown of the body's immune system severely undermines the body's ability to maintain homeostasis. 

homespun  [5hEumspQn]
adj.  domestic; made at home 
homespun wit, like homespun cloth, was often coarse and plain. 

homily  [5hamili]
n.  [homilies] sermon; serious warning 
His speeches were always homilies, advising his listeners to repent and reform. 

homogeneous  [hRmE5dVi:njEs]
adj.  of the same kind 
Many educators try to put pupils of similar abilities in the same class because they believe that his homogeneous grouping is advisable. 

hone  [hEun]
v.  [honed; honed; honing] sharpen 
To make shaving easier, he honed his razor with great care. 

hoodwink  [5hudwiNk]
v.  [hoodwinked; hoodwinked; hoodwinking] deceive; delude 
Having been hoodwinked once by the fast-talking salesman, he was extremely cautious when he went to purchase a used car. 

horde  [hR:d]
n.  [hordes] crowd 
Just before Christmas the stores are filled with hordes of shoppers. 

hortatory  [5hR:tEtEri]
adj.  encouraging 
The crowd listened to his hortatory statements with ever-growing excitement; finally they rushed from the hall to carry to his suggestions. 

horticultural  [hR:ti5kQltFErEl]
adj.  pertaining to cultivation of gardens 
When he bought his house, he began to look for flowers and decorative shrubs, and began to read books dealing with horticultural matters. 

hovel  [5hQvl]
n.  [hovels] shack; small, wretched house 
He wondered how poor people could stand living in such a hovel. 

hover  [5hRvE]
v.  [hovered; hovered; hovering] hang about; wait nearby 
The police helicopter hovered above the accident. 

hubbub  [5hQbQb]
n.  confused uproar 
The marketplace was a scene of hubbub and excitement. 

hubris  [5hju:bris]
n.  arrogance; excessive self-conceit 
Filled with hubris, Lear refused to heed his friends' warnings. 

hue  [hju:]
n.  [hues] color; aspect 
The aviary contained birds of every possible hue. 

hue  [hju:]
n.  [hues] outcry 
When her purse was snatched, she raised such a hue and cry that the thief was captured. 

humane  [hju5mein]
adj.  kind 
His humane and considerate treatment of the unfortunate endeared him to all. 

humdrum  [5hQmdrQm]
adj.  dull; monotonous 
After years of adventure, he could not settle down to a humdrum existence. 

humid  [5hju:mid]
adj.  damp 
She could not stand the humid climate and moved to a drier area. 

humility  [hju:5militi]
n.  humbleness of spirit 
He spoke with a humility and lack of pride that impressed his listeners. 

hummock  [5hQmEk]
n.  small hill 
The ascent of the hummock is not difficult and the view from the hilltop is ample reward tor the effort. 

humus  [5hju:mEs]
n.  substance formed by decaying vegetable matter 
In order to improve his garden, he spread humus over his lawn and flower beds. 

hurtle  [5hE:tl]
v.  [hurtled; hurtled; hurtling] crash; rush 
The runaway train hurtled toward disaster. 

husbandry  [5hQzbEndri]
n.  frugality; thrift; agriculture 
He accumulated his small fortune by diligence and husbandry. 

hybrid  [5haibrid]
n.  [hybrids] mongrel; mixed breed 
Mendel's formula explains the appearance of hybrids and pure species in breeding. 

hydrophobia  [haidrE5fEubiE]
n.  fear of water; rabies 
A dog that bites a human being must be observed for symptoms of hydrophobia. 

hyperbole  [hai5pE:bEli]
n.  [hyperboles] exaggeration; overstatement 
This salesman is guilty of hyperbole in describing his product; it is wise to discount his claims. 

hypercritical  [5haipE5kritikl]
adj.  excessively exacting 
You are hypercritical in your demands for perfection; we all make mistakes. 

hypochondriac  [,haipEu5kRndriAk]
n.  person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illness 
The doctor prescribed chocolate pills for his patient who was a hypochondriac. 

hypocritical  [hipE5kritikl]
adj.  pretending to be virtuous; deceiving 
I resent his hypocritical posing as a friend for I know he is interested only in his own advancement. 

hypothetical  [5haipE5Wetikl]
adj.  based on assumptions or hypotheses 
Why do we have to consider hypothetical cases when we have actual case histories that we may examine? 

ichthyology  [,ikWi5RlEdVi]
n.  study of fish 
Jacques Cousteau's programs about sea life have advanced the cause of ichthyology. 

icon  [5aikRn]
n.  religious image; idol 
The icons on the walls of the church were painted in the 13th century. 

iconoclastic  [ai,kRnE5klAstik]
adj.  attacking cherished traditions 
George Bernard Shaw's iconoclastic plays often startled more conventional people. 

ideology  [aidi5RlEdVi]
n.  [ideologies] ideas of a group of people 
That ideology is dangerous to this country because it embraces undemocratic philosophies. 

idiom  [5idiEm]
n.  [idioms] special usage in language 
I could not understand their idioms because literal translation made no sense. 

idiosyncrasy  [5idiE5sinkrEsi]
n.  [idiosyncrasies] peculiarity; eccentricity 
One of his personal idiosyncrasies was his habit of rinsing all cutlery given him in a restaurant. 

idiosyncratic  [idiEsiN5krAtik]
adj.  private; peculiar to an individual 
Such behavior is idiosyncratic, it is as easily identifiable as a signature. 

idolatry  [ai5dRlEtri]
n.  [idolatries] worship of idols; excessive admiration 
Such idolatry of singers of country music is typical of the excessive enthusiasm of youth. 

idyllic  [ai5dilik]
adj.  charmingly carefree; simple 
Far from the city, she led an idyllic existence in her rural retreat. 

igneous  [5igniEs]
adj.  produced by fire; volcanic 
Lava, pumice, and other igneous rocks are found in great abundance around Mount Vesuvius near Naples. 

ignite  [ig5nait]
v.  [ignited; ignited; igniting] kindle; light 
When Desi crooned, "Baby, light my fire," literal-minded Lucy looked around for some paper to ignite. 

ignoble  [ig5nEubl]
adj.  of lowly origin; unworthy 
This plan is inspired by ignoble motives and I must, therefore, oppose it. 

ignominious  [ignE5miniEs]
adj.  disgraceful 
The country smarted under the ignominious defeat and dreamed of the day when it would be victorious. 

illicit  [i5lisit]
adj.  illegal 
The defense attorney claimed that the police had entrapped his client; that is, they had elicited the illicit action of which they now accuse of him. 

illimitable  [i5limitEbl]
adj.  infinite 
Human beings, having explored the far corners of the earth, are now reaching out into illimitable space. 

illuminate  [i5lju:mineit]
v.  [illuminated; illuminated; illuminating] brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten 
Just as a lamp can illuminate a dark room, a perceptive comment can illuminate a knotty problem. 

illusion  [i5lju:VEn]
n.  [illusions] misleading vision 
It is easy to create an optical illusion in which lines of equal length appear different. 

illusive  [i5lju:siv]
adj.  deceiving 
This is only a mirage; let us not be fooled by its illusive effect. 

illusory  [i5lju:sEri]
adj.  deceptive; not real 
Unfortunately, the costs of running the lemonade stand were so high that Tom's profits proved illusory. 

imbalance  [im5bAlEns]
n.  lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion 
Because of the great imbalance between the number of men and women invited, the dance was unsuccessful. 

imbecility  [imbi5siliti]
n.  [imbecilities] weakness of mind 
I am amazed at the imbecility of the readers of these trashy magazines. 

imbibe  [im5baib]
v.  [imbibed; imbibed; imbibing] drink in 
The dry soil imbibed the rain quickly. 

imbroglio  [im5brEuliEu]
n.  [imbroglios] complicated situation; perplexity; entanglement 
He was called in to settle the imbroglio but failed to bring harmony into the situation. 

imbue  [im5bju]
v.  [imbued; imbued; imbuing] saturate, fill 
His visits to the famous Gothic cathedrals imbued him with feelings of awe and reverence. 

immaculate  [i5mAkjuleit]
adj.  pure; spotless 
The West Point cadets were immaculate as they lined up for inspection. 

imminent  [5iminEnt]
adj.  near at hand; impending 
Rosa was such a last-minute worker that she could never start writing a paper till the deadline was imminent. 

immobility  [imEu5bilEti]
n.  state of being immovable 
Modern armies cannot afford the luxury of immobility, as they are vulnerable to attack while standing still. 

immolate  [5imElet]
v.  [immolated; immolated; immolating] offer as a sacrifice 
The tribal kind offered to immolate his daughter to quiet the angry gods. 

immure  [i5mjuE]
v.  [immured; immured; immuring] imprison; shut up in confinement 
For the two weeks before the examination, the student immured himself in his room and concentrated upon his studies. 

immutable  [i5mju:tEbl]
adj.  unchangeable 
Scientists are constantly seeking to discover the immutable laws of nature. 

impair  [im5pZE]
v.  [impaired; impaired; impairing] worsen; diminish in value 
This arrest will impair her reputation in the community. 

impale  [im5pel]
v.  [impaled; impaled; impaling] pierce 
He was impaled by the spear hurled by his adversary. 

impalpable  [im5pAlpEbl]
adj.  imperceptible; intangible 
The ash is so fine that it is impalpable to the touch but it can be seen as a fine layer covering the window ledge. 

impasse  [i5pAs]
n.  predicament from which there is no escape 
In this impasse, all turned to prayer as their last hope. 

impassive  [im5pAsiv]
adj.  without feeling; not affected by pain 
The Native American has been incorrectly depicted as an impassive individual, undemonstrative and stoical. 

impeach  [im5pi:tF]
v.  [impeached; impeached; impeaching] charge with crime in office; indict 
The angry congressman wanted to impeach the President for his misdeeds. 

impeccable  [im5pekEbl]
adj.  faultless 
He was proud of his impeccable manners. 

impecunious  [impi5kju:niEs]
adj.  without money 
Now that he was wealthy, he gladly contributed to funds to assist impecunious and disabled persons. 

impede  [im5pi:d]
v.  [impeded; impeded; impeding] hinder; block 
The special prosecutor determined that the Attorney General, though inept, had not intentionally set out to impede the progress of the investigation. 

impediment  [im5pedimEnt]
n.  [impediments, impedimenta] hindrance; stumbling-block 
She had a speech impediment that prevented her from speaking clearly. 

impending  [im5pendiN]
n.  nearing; approaching 
The entire country was saddened by the news of his impending death. 

impenetrable  [im5penitrEbl]
adj.  not able to be pierced or entered 
How could the murderer have gotten into the locked room? To Watson, the mystery, like the room, was impenetrable. 

impenitent  [im5penitEnt]
adj.  not repentant 
We could see by his brazen attitude that he was impenitent. 

imperial  [im5piEriEl]
adj.  like an emperor; related to an empire 
When hotel owner Leona Helmsley appeared in ads as Queen Leona standing guard over the Palace Hotel, her critics mocked her imperial fancies. 

imperiousness  []
n.  lordliness; domineering manner; arrogance 
His imperiousness indicated that he had long been accustomed to assuming command. 

impermeable  [im5pE:mjEbl]
adj.  impervious; not permitting passage through its substance 
This new material is impermeable to liquids. 

impertinent  [im5pE:tnEnt]
adj.  insolent 
I regard your remarks as impertinent and I resent them. 

imperturbable  [impE5tE:bEbl]
adj.  calm; placid 
Wellington remained imperturbable and in full command of the situation in spite of the hysteria and panic all around him. 

impervious  [im5pE:viEs]
adj.  not penetrable; not permitting passage through 
You cannot change their habits for their minds are impervious to reasoning. 

impetuous  [im5petjuEs]
adj.  violent; hasty; rash 
We tried to curb his impetuous behavior because we felt that in his haste he might offend some people. 

impetus  [5impitEs]
n.  moving force; incentive; stimulus 
A new federal highway program would create jobs and five added impetus to our economic recovery. 

impiety  [im5paiEti]
n.  [impieties] irreverence; wickedness 
We must regard your blasphemy as an act of impiety. 

impinge  [im5pindV]
v.  [impinged; impinged; impinging] infringe; touch; collide with 
How could they be married without impinging on one another's freedom? 

impious  [5impiEs]
adj.  irreverent 
The congregation was offended by her impious remarks. 

implacable  [im5plAkEbl]
adj.  incapable of being pacified 
Madame Defarge was the implacable enemy of the Evremonde family. 

implausible  [im5plR:zEbl]
adj.  unlikely; unbelievable 
Though her alibi seemed implausible, it in fact turned out to be true. 

implement  [5implimEnt]
v.  put into effect; supply with tools 
The mayor was unwilling to implement the plan until she was sure it had the governor's backing. 

implication  [impli5keiFEn]
n.  [implications] that which is hinted at or suggested 
If I understand the implications of your remark, you do not trust our captain. 

implicit  [im5plisit]
adj.  understood but not stated 
Jack never told Jill he adored her; he believed his love was implicit in his deeds. 

implore  [im5plR:]
v.  [implored; implored; imploring] beg 
He implored her to give him a second chance. 

imply  [im5plai]
v.  [implied; implied; implying] suggest a meaning not expressed 
Even though your statement does not declare that you are at war with that country, your actions imply that that is the actual situation. 

impolitic  [im5pRlitik]
adj.  not wise 
I think it is impolitic to raise this issue at the present time because the public is too angry. 

imponderable  [im5pRndErEbl]
adj.  weightless 
I can evaluate the data gathered in this study; the imponderable items are not so easily analyzed. 

import  [im5pR:t 5impR:t]
n.  significance 
I feel that you have not grasped the full import of the message sent to us by the enemy. 

importunate  [im5pR:tFEnit]
adj.  urging; demanding 
He tried to hide from his importunate creditors until his allowance arrived. 

importune  [im5pRrtjE:n]
v.  [importuned; importuned; importuning] beg persistently 
Democratic and Republican phone solicitors importuned her for contributions so frequently that she decided to give nothing to either party. 

imposture  [im5pRstFE]
n.  assuming a false identity; masquerade 
She was imprisoned for her imposture of a doctor. 

impotent  [5impEtEnt]
adj.  weak; ineffective 
Although he wished to break the nicotine habit, he found himself impotent in resisting the craving for a cigarette. 

imprecation  [impri5keiFEn]
n.  curse 
Roused from the bed at what he considered an ungodly hour, Roy muttered imprecations under his breath. 

impregnable  [im5pregnEbl]
adj.  invulnerable 
Until the development of the airplane as a military weapon, the fort was considered impregnable. 

impromptu  [im5pramptju:]
adj.  without previous preparation 
Her listeners were amazed that such a thorough presentation could be made in an impromptu speech. 

impropriety  [imprE5praiEti]
n.  [improprieties] state of being inappropriate 
Because of the impropriety of his costume, he was denied entrance into the dining room. 

improvident  [im5prRvidEnt]
adj.  thriftless 
He was constantly being warned to mend his improvident ways and begin to "save for a rainy day." 

improvise  [5imprEvaiz]
v.  [improvised; improvised; improvising] compose on the spur of the moment 
She would sit at the piano and improvise for hours on themes from Bach and Handel. 

imprudent  [im5pru:dnt]
adj.  lacking caution; injudicious 
It is imprudent to exercise vigorously and become overheated when you are unwell. 

impugn  [im5pju:n]
v.  [impugned; impugned; impugning] doubt; challenge; gainsay 
I cannot impugn your honesty without evidence. 

impuissance  [im5pju:isns]
n.  powerlessness; feebleness 
The lame duck President was frustrated by his shift from enormous power to relative impuissance. 

impunity  [im5pju:niti]
n.  freedom from punishment 
The bully mistreated everyone in the class with impunity for he felt that no one would dare retaliate. 

impute  [im5pju:t]
v.  [imputed; imputed; imputing] attribute; ascribe 
If I wished to impute blame to the officers in charge of this program, I would state my feelings definitely and immediately. 

inadvertently  []
adv.  carelessly; unintentionally; by oversight 
She inadvertently omitted two questions on the examination and mismarked her answer sheet. 

inalienable  [in5eiljEnEbl]
adj.  not to be taken away; nontransferable 
The Declaration of Independence mentions the inalienable rights that all of us possess. 

inane  [i5nein]
adj.  silly; senseless 
Such comments are inane because they do not help us solve our program. 

inanimate  [in5Animit]
adj.  lifeless 
she was asked to identify the still and inanimate body. 

inarticulate  [inB:5tikjulit]
adj.  speechless; producing indistinct speech 
He became inarticulate with rage and uttered sounds without meaning. 

inaugurate  [i5nR:gjureit]
v.  [inaugurated; inaugurated; inaugurating] begin formally; install in office 
The candidate promised that he would inaugurate a new nationwide health care plan as soon as he was inaugurated as president. 

incandescent  [inkAn5desnt]
adj.  strikingly bright; shining with intense heat 
If you leave on an incandescent light bulb, it quickly grows too hot to touch. 

incantation  [inkAn5teiFEn]
n.  singing or chanting of magical formula 
Uttering incantations to make the brew more potent, the witch doctor stirred the liquid in the caldron. 

incapacitate  [inkE5pAsEtet]
v.  [incapacitated; incapacitated; incapacitating] disable 
During the winter, many people were incapacitated by respiratory ailments. 

incarcerate  [in5karsEret]
v.  [incarcerated; incarcerated; incarcerating] imprison 
The warden will incarcerate the felon after conviction. 

incarnate  [in5kB:neit]
adj.  endowed with flesh; personified 
Your attitude is so fiendish that you must be a devil incarnate. 

incarnation  [inka:5neiFEn]
n.  act of assuming a human body and human nature 
The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a basic tenet of Christian theology. 

incendiary  [in5sendjEri]
n.  [incendiaries] arsonist 
The fire spread in such an unusual manner that the fire department chiefs were certain that it had been set by an incendiary. 

incense  [5insens, in5sens]
v.  [incensed; incensed; incensing] enrage; infuriate 
Unkindness to children incensed her. 

incentive  [in5sentiv]
n.  [incentives] spur; motive 
Students who dislike school must be given an incentive to learn. 

inception  [in5sepFEn]
n.  start; beginning 
She was involved with the project from its inception. 

incessant  [in5sesnt]
adj.  uninterrupted 
The crickets kept up an incessant chirping that disturbed our attempts to fall asleep. 

inchoate  [in5kEueit]
adj.  recently begun; rudimentary; elementary 
Before the Creation, the world was an inchoate mass. 

incidence  [5insidEns]
n.  rate of occurrence; particular occurrence 
Health professionals expressed great concern over the high incidence of infant mortality in major urban areas. 

incidental  [insi5dentl]
adj.  not essential; minor 
The scholarship covered his major expenses at college and some of his incidental expenses as well. 

incipient  [in5sipiEnt]
adj.  beginning; in an early stage 
I will go to sleep early for I want to break an incipient cold. 

incisive  [in5saisiv]
adj.  cutting; sharp 
His incisive remarks made us see the fallacy in our plans. 

incite  [in5sait]
v.  [incited; incited; inciting] arouse to action 
The demagogue incited the mob to take action into its own hands. 

inclement  [in5klemEnt]
adj.  stormy; unkind 
I like to read a good book in inclement weather. 

incline  [in5klain]
n.  slope; slant 
The architect recommended that the nursing home's ramp be rebuilt because its incline was too steep for wheelchairs. 

inclined  [in5klaind]
adj.  tending or leaning toward; bent 
Though I am inclined to be skeptical, the witness's manner inclines me to believe his story. 

inclusive  [in5klu:siv]
adj.  tending to include all 
The comedian turned down the invitation to join the Player's Club, saying any club that would let him in was too inclusive for him. 

incognito  [in5kRgnitEu]
adv.  with identity concealed; using an assumed name 
The monarch enjoyed traveling through the town incognito and mingling with the populace. 

incoherent  [inkEu5hirEnt]
adj.  unintelligible; muddled; illogical 
The bereaved father sobbed and stammered, his words becoming almost incoherent in his grief. 

incommodious  [inkE5mEudiEs]
adj.  not spacious; inconvenient 
In their incommodious quarters, they had to improvise for closet space. 

incompatible  [inkEm5pAtEbl]
adj.  inharmonious 
The married couple argued incessantly and finally decided to separate because they were incompatible. 

incongruity  [inkaN5gruEti]
n.  [incongruities] lack of harmony; absurdity 
The incongruity of his wearing sneakers with formal attire amused the observers. 

inconsequential  [inkRnsi5kwenFEl]
adj.  insignificant; unimportant 
Brushing off Ali's apologies for having broken the wine glass, Tamara said, "Don't worry about it; it's inconsequential." 

inconsistency  [inkEn5sistEnsi]
n.  [inconsistencies] state of being self-contradictory; lack of uniformity or steadiness 
How are lawyers different from agricultural inspectors? Where lawyers check inconsistencies in witnesses' statements, agricultural inspectors check inconsistencies in Grade A eggs. 

incontinent  [in5kRntinEnt]
adj.  lacking self-restraint 
His incontinent behavior off stage shocked many people and they refused to attend the plays and movies in which he appeared. 

incontrovertible  [inkRntrE5vE:tEbl]
adj.  indisputable 
We must yield to the incontrovertible evidence that you have presented and free your client. 

incorporate  [in5kR:pEreit]
v.  [incorporated; incorporated; incorporating] introduce something into a larger whole; combine; unite 
Breaking with precedent, President Truman ordered the military to incorporate blacks into every branch of the armed services. 

incorporeal  [inkR:5pR:riEl]
adj.  immaterial; without a material body 
We must devote time to the needs of our incorporeal mind as well as our corporeal body. 

incorrigible  [in5kB:idVEbl]
adj.  uncorrectable 
Though Widow Douglass hoped to reform Huck, Miss Watson pronounced him incorrigible and said he would come to no good end. 

incredulity  [inkrE5djulEti]
n.  a tendency to disbelief 
Your incredulity in the face of all the evidence is hard to understand. 

incredulous  [in5kredjulEs]
adj.  withholding belief; skeptical 
When Jack claimed he hadn't eaten the jelly doughnut, Jill took an incredulous look at his smeared face and laughed. 

increment  [5inkrimEnt]
n.  increase 
The new contract calls for a 10 percent increment in salary for each employee for the next two years. 

incriminate  [in5krimE5net]
n.  accuse; serve as evidence against 
The witness's testimony against the racketeers incriminates some high public officials as well. 

incubate  [5inkjubeit]
v.  [incubated; incubated; incubating] hatch; scheme 
Inasmuch as our supply of electricity is cut off, we shall have to rely on the hens to incubate these eggs. 

incubus  [5iNkjubEs]
n.  [incubi, incubuses] burden; mental care; nightmare 
The incubus of financial worry helped bring on her nervous breakdown. 

incumbent  [in5kQmbEnt]
n.  [incumbents] officeholder 
The newly elected public official received valuable advice from the present incumbent. 

incur  [in5kE:]
v.  [incurred; incurred; incurring] bring upon oneself 
His parents refused to pay any future debts he might incur. 

incursion  [in5kE:FEn]
n.  temporary invasion 
The nightly incursions and hit-and-run raids of our neighbors across the border tried the patience of the country to the point where we decided to retaliate in force. 

indefatigable  [indi5fAtigEbl]
adj.  tireless 
He was indefatigable in his constant efforts to raise funds for the Red Cross. 

indemnify  [in5demnifai]
v.  [indemnified; indemnified; indemnifying] make secure against loss; compensate for loss 
The city will indemnify all home owners whose property is spoiled by this project. 

indenture  [in5dentFE]
v.  [indentured; indentured; indenturing] bind as servant or apprentice to master 
Many immigrants could come to America only after they had indentured themselves for several years. 

indeterminate  [indi5tE:minit]
adj.  uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite 
That interest rates shall rise appears certain; when they will do so, however, remains indeterminate. 

indicative  [in5dikEtiv]
adj.  suggestive; implying 
A lack of appetite may be indicative of a major mental or physical disorder. 

indict  [in5dait]
v.  [indicted; indicted; indicting] charge 
If the grand jury indicts the suspect, he will go to trial. 

indifferent  [in5difrEnt]
adj.  unmoved; lacking concern 
Because she felt no desire to marry, she was indifferent to his constant proposals. 

indigence  [5indidVEns]
n.  poverty 
Neither the economists nor the political scientists have found a way to wipe out the inequities of wealth and eliminate indigence from our society. 

indigenous  [in5didVinEs]
adj.  native 
Tobacco is one of the indigenous plants that the early explorers found in this country. 

indignation  [indig5neiFEn]
n.  anger at an injustice 
He felt indignation at the ill-treatment of the helpless animals. 

indignity  [in5digniti]
n.  [indignities] offensive or insulting treatment 
Although he seemed to accept cheerfully the indignities heaped upon him, he was inwardly very angry. 

indiscriminate  [indis5kriminit]
adj.  choosing at random; confused 
She disapproved of her son's indiscriminate television viewing and decided to restrict him to educational programs. 

indisputable  [5indis5pju:tEbl]
adj.  too certain to be disputed 
In the face of these indisputable statements, I withdraw my complaint. 

indissoluble  [indi5sRljubl]
adj.  permanent 
The indissoluble bonds of marriage are all too often being dissolved. 

indite  [in5dait]
v.  [indited; indited; inditing] write; compose 
Cyrano indited many letters for Christian. 

indolence  [5indElEns]
n.  laziness 
He outgrew his youthful indolence to become a model of industry and alertness on the job. 

indomitable  [in5dRmitEbl]
adj.  unconquerable 
The founders of our country had indomitable willpower. 

indubitably  []
adv.  beyond a doubt 
Because her argument was indubitably valid, the judge accepted it. 

induce  [in5dju:s]
v.  [induced; induced; inducing] persuade; bring about 
After the quarrel, Tina said nothing could induce her to talk to Tony again. 

inductive  [in5dQktiv]
adj.  pertaining to induction or proceeding from the specific to the general 
The discovery of the planet Pluto is an excellent example of the results that can be obtained from inductive reasoning. 

indulgent  [in5dQldVEnt]
adj.  humoring; yielding; lenient 
indulgent parents spoil their children by giving in to their every whim. 

inebriety  [i5ni:briiti]
n.  habitual intoxication 
Because of his inebriety, he was discharged from his position as family chauffeur. 

ineffable  [in5efEbl]
adj.  unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech 
Such ineffable joy must be experienced; it cannot be described. 

ineffectual  [inE5fektFuEl]
adj.  not effective; weak 
Because the candidate failed to get across his message to the public, his campaign was ineffectual. 

ineluctable  [ini5lQktEbl]
adj.  irresistible; not to be escaped 
He felt that his fate was ineluctable and refused to make any attempt to improve his lot. 

inept  [in5Zpt]
adj.  lacking skill; inadequate; inappropriate 
inept as a carpenter, Ira was all thumbs. 

inequity  [in5ekwiti]
n.  [inequities] unfairness 
In demanding equal pay for equal work, women protest the basic inequity of a system that allots greater financial rewards to men. 

inerrancy  [in5erEnsi]
n.  infallibility 
Jane refused to believe in the pope's inerrancy, reasoning: "All human beings are capable of error. The pope is a human being. Therefore, he pope is capable of error. 

inertia  [i5nE:FjE]
n.  state of being inert or indisposed to move 
Our inertia in this matter may prove disastrous; we must move to aid our allies immediately. 

inevitable  [in5evitEbl]
adj.  unavoidable 
Death and taxes are both inevitable. 

inexorable  [in5eksErEbl]
adj.  relentless; unyielding; implacable 
After listening to the pleas for clemency, the judge was inexorable and gave the convicted man the maximum punishment allowed by law. 

infallible  [in5fAlEbl]
adj.  unerring 
We must remember that none of us is infallible; we all make mistakes. 

infamous  [5infEmEs]
adj.  notoriously bad 
Jesse James was an infamous outlaw. 

infantile  [5infEntail]
adj.  childish; infantlike 
When will he outgrow such infantile behavior? 

infer  [in5fE:]
v.  [inferred; inferred; inferring] deduce; conclude 
We must be particularly cautious when we infer that a person is guilty on the basis of circumstantial evidence. 

infernal  [in5fE:nl]
adj.  pertaining to hell; devilish 
They could think of no way to hinder his infernal scheme. 

infidel  [5infidl]
n.  [infidels] unbeliever 
The Saracens made war against the infidels. 

infiltrate  [in5filtreit]
v.  [infiltrated; infiltrated; infiltrating] pass into or through; penetrate (an organization) sneakily 
In order to infiltrate enemy lines at night without being seen, the scouts darkened their faces and wore black coveralls. 

infinitesimal  [infini5tesiml]
adj.  very small 
In the twentieth century, physicists have made their greatest discoveries about the characteristics of infinitesimal objects like the atom and its parts. 

infirmity  [in5fE:miti]
n.  [infirmities] weakness 
Her greatest infirmity was lack of willpower. 

inflated  [in5fleitid]
adj.  exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or gas) 
His claims about the new product were inflated; it did not work as well as he had promised. 

influx  [5inflQks]
n.  [influxes] flowing into 
The influx of refugees into the country has taxed the relief agencies severely. 

infraction  [in5frAkFEn]
n.  violation 
Because of his many infractions of school regulations, he was suspended by the dean. 

infringe  [in5frindV]
v.  [infringed; infringed; infringing] violate; encroach 
I think your machine infringes on my patent and intend to sue. 

ingenious  [in5dVi:njEs]
adj.  clever 
He came up with a use for Styrofoam packing balls that was so ingenious that his business school professors declared it was marketable. 

ingenuous  [in5dVenjuEs]
adj.  naive; young and unsophisticated 
Although she was over forty, the movie star still insisted that she be cast as an ingenuous sweet young thing. 

ingrained  [in5greind]
adj.  deeply established; firmly rooted 
Try as they would, the missionaries were unable to uproot the ingrained superstitions of the natives. 

ingrate  [in5greit]
n.  ungrateful person 
That ingrate Bob sneered at the tie I gave him. 

ingratiate  [in5greiFieit]
v.  [ingratiated; ingratiated; ingratiating] become popular with 
He tried to ingratiate himself into her parents' good graces. 

inherent  [in5hiErEnt]
adj.  firmly established by nature or habit 
His inherent love of justice compelled him to come to their aid. 

inhibit  [in5hibit]
v.  [inhibited; inhibited; inhibiting] prohibit; restrain 
The child was not inhibited in her responses. 

inimical  [i5nimikl]
adj.  unfriendly; hostile 
She felt that they were inimical and were hoping for her downfall. 

inimitable  [i5nimitEbl]
adj.  matchless; not able to be imitated 
We admire Auden for his inimitable use of language; he is one of a kind. 

iniquitous  [in5ikwEtEs]
adj.  unjust; wicked 
I cannot approve of the iniquitous methods you used to gain your present position. 

initiate  [i5niFieit]
v.  [initiated; initiated; initiating] begin; originate; receive into a group 
The college is about to initiate a program for reducing math anxiety among students. 

injurious  [in5dVuEriEs]
adj.  harmful 
Smoking cigarettes can be injurious to your health. 

inkling  [5iNkliN]
n.  hint 
This came as a complete surprise to me as I did not have the slightest inkling of your plans. 

innate  [i5neit]
adj.  inborn 
His innate talent for music was soon recognized by his parents. 

innocuous  [i5nRkjuEs]
adj.  harmless 
Let him drink it; it is innocuous and will have no ill effect. 

innovation  [inEu5veiFEn]
n.  [innovations] change; introduction of something new 
She loved innovations just because they were new. 

innuendo  [inju5endEu]
n.  [innuendos, innuendoes] hint; insinuation 
I can defend myself against direct accusations; innuendos and oblique attacks on my character are what trouble me. 

inopportune  [in5RpEtju:n]
adj.  untimely; poorly chosen 
A rock concert is an inopportune setting for a quiet conversation. 

inordinate  [i5nE:dinit]
adj.  unrestrained; excessive 
She had an inordinate fondness for candy. 

inquisitive  [in5kwizitiv]
adj.  unduly curious; prying; seeking knowledge 
We need more inquisitive students in this school; lectures are dull. 

inquisitor  [in5kwizitE]
n.  questioner (specially harsh); investigator 
Fearing being grilled ruthlessly by the secret police, Marsha faced her inquisitors with trepidation. 

insalubrious  [,insE5lju:briEs]
adj.  unwholesome; not healthful 
The mosquito-ridden swamp was an insalubrious place, a breeding ground for malarial contagion. 

insatiable  [in5seiFiEbl]
adj.  not easily satisfied; greedy 
Welty's thirst for knowledge was insatiable; she was in the library day and night. 

inscrutable  [in5skru:tEbl]
adj.  impenetrable; not readily understood; mysterious 
Experienced poker players try to keep their expressions inscrutable, hiding their reactions to the cards behind a so-called poker face. 

insensate  [in5senseit]
adj.  without feeling 
She lay there as insensate as a log. 

insensible  [in5sensEbl]
adj.  unconscious; unresponsive 
Sherry and I are very different; at times when I would be covered with embarrassment, she seems insensible to shame. 

insidious  [in5sidiEs]
adj.  treacherous; stealthy; sly 
The fifth column is insidious because it works secretly within our territory for our defeat. 

insinuate  [in5sinjueit]
v.  [insinuated; insinuated; insinuating] hint; imply 
What are you trying to insinuate by that remark? 

insipid  [in5sipid]
adj.  lacking in flavor; dull 
Flat prose and flat ginger ale are equally insipid: both lack sparkle. 

insolence  [5insElEns]
n.  imprudent disrespect; haughtiness 
How dare you treat me so rudely! The manager will hear of you insolence. 

insolvent  [in5sRlvEnt]
adj.  bankrupt; lacking money to pay 
When rumors that he was insolvent reached his creditors, they began to press him for payment of the money due them. 

insomnia  [in5samniE]
n.  wakefulness; inability to sleep 
He refused to join us in a midnight cup of coffee because he claimed it gave him insomnia. 

insouciant  [in5su:sjEnt, -siEnt]
adj.  indifferent; without concern or care 
Your insouciant attitude at such a critical moment indicates that you do not understand the gravity of the situation. 

instigate  [5instEgeit]
v.  [instigated; instigated; instigating] urge; start; provoke 
I am afraid that this statement will instigate a revolt. 

insubordinate  [insE5bR:dnit]
adj.  disobedient 
The insubordinate private was confined to the barracks. 

insubstantial  [insEb5stAnFEl]
adj.  lacking substance; insignificant; frail 
His hopes for a career in acting proved insubstantial; no one would cast him, even in an insubstantial role. 

insularity  [5insju5lAriti]
n.  narrow-mindedness; isolation 
The insularity of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of anything foreign. 

insuperable  [in5sju:pErEbl]
adj.  insurmountable; invincible 
In the face of insuperable difficulties they maintained their courage and will to resist. 

insurgent  [in5sE:dVEnt]
adj.  rebellious 
We will not discuss reforms until the insurgent troops have returned to their homes. 

insurrection  [insE5rekFEn]
n.  [insurrections] rebellion; uprising 
Given the current state of affairs in South Africa, an insurrection seems unavoidable. 

intangible  [in5tAndVEbl]
adj.  not able to be perceived by touch; vague 
Though the financial benefits of his Oxford post were meager, Lewis was drawn to it by its intangible rewards: prestige, intellectual freedom, the fellowship of his peers. 

integral  [5intigrEl]
adj.  complete; necessary for completeness 
Physical education is an integral part of our curriculum; a sound mind and a sound body are complementary. 

integrate  [5intigreit]
v.  [integrated; integrated; integrating] make whole; combine; make into one unit 
She tried to integrate all their activities into one program. 

integrity  [in5tegriti]
n.  uprightness; wholeness 
Lincoln, whose personal integrity has inspired millions, fought a civil war to maintain the integrity of the republic, that these United States might remain undivided for all time. 

intellect  [5intilekt]
n.  [intellects] higher mental powers 
He thought college would develop his intellect. 

intelligentsia  [inteli5dVesiE]
n.  intellectuals; members of the educated elite 
She preferred discussions about sports and politics to the literary conversations of the intelligentsia. 

inter  [in5tE:]
v.  [interred; interred; interring] bury 
They are going to inter the body tomorrow at Broadlawn Cemetry. 

interdict  [intE5dikt]
v.  [interdicted; interdicted; interdicting] prohibit; forbid 
Civilized nations must interdict the use of nuclear weapons if we expect out society to live. 

interim  [5intErim]
n.  meantime 
The company will not consider our proposal until next week; in the interim, let us proceed as we have in the past. 

interloper  [5intElEupE, 5intE5lEupE]
n.  intruder 
The merchant thought of his competitors as interlopers who were stealing away his trade. 

interminable  [in5tE:minEbl]
adj.  endless 
Although his speech lasted for only twenty minutes, it seemed interminable to his bored audience. 

intermittent  [intE5mitnt]
adj.  periodic; on and off 
Our picnic was marred by intermittent rains. 

internecine  [intE5ni:sain]
adj.  mutually destructive 
The rising death toll on both sides indicates the internecine nature of his conflict. 

interpolate  [in5tE:pEleit]
v.  [interpolated; interpolated; interpolating] insert between 
She talked so much that I could not interpolate a single remark. 

interregnum  [intE5regnEm]
n.  [interregnums, interregna] period between two reigns 
Henry VIII desperately sought a male heir because he feared the civil strife that might occur if any prolonged interregnum succeeded his death. 

interrogate  [in5terEgeit]
v.  [interrogated; interrogated; interrogating] question closely; cross-examine 
Knowing that the Nazis would interrogate him about his background, the secret agent invented a cover story that would help him meet their questions. 

intersperse  [intE5spE:s]
v.  [interspersed; interspersed; interspersing] scatter 
The molecules will intersperse throughout the space according to the second law of thermodynamics. 

intervene  [5intE5vi:n]
v.  [intervened; intervened; intervening] come between 
She intervened in the argument between her two sons. 

intimate  [5intimit]
v.  hint 
She intimated rather than stated her preferences. 

intimidation  [intimE5deFEn]
n.  fear 
A ruler who maintains his power by intimidation is bound to develop clandestine resistance. 

intractable  [in5trAktEbl]
adj.  unruly; refractory 
The horse was intractable and refused to enter the starting gate. 

intransigence  [in5trAnsidVEns]
n.  state of stubborn unwillingness to compromise 
The intransigence of both parties in the dispute makes an early settlement almost impossible to obtain. 

intrepid  [in5trepid]
adj.  fearless 
For his intrepid conduct in battle, he was promoted. 

intrinsically  []
adv.  essentially; inherently; naturally 
Although my grandmother's china has intrinsically little value, I shall always cherish it for the memories it evokes. 

introspective  [intrEu5spektiv]
adj.  looking within oneself 
We all have our introspective moments during which we examine our souls. 

introvert  [5intrEvE:t]
n.  one who is introspective; inclined to think more about oneself 
In his poetry, he reveals that he is an introvert by his intense interest in his own problems. 

intrude  [in5tru:d]
v.  [intruded; intruded; intruding] trespass; enter as an uninvited person 
She hesitated to intrude on their conversation. 

intuition  [intju5iFEn]
n.  [intuitions] power of knowing without reasoning 
She claimed to know the truth by intuition. 

inundate  [5inQndeit]
v.  [inundated; inundated; inundating] overflow; flood 
The tremendous waves inundated the town. 

inured  []
adj.  accustomed; hardened 
She became inured to the Alaskan cold. 

invalidate  [in5vAlideit]
v.  [invalidated; invalidated; invalidating] weaken; destroy 
The relatives who received little or nothing sought to invalidate the will by claiming that the deceased had not been in his right mind when he signed the document. 

invective  [in5vektiv]
n.  abuse 
He had expected criticism but not the invective that greeted his proposal. 

inveigh  [in5vei]
v.  [inveighed; inveighed; inveighing] denounce; utter censure or invective 
He inveighed against the demagoguery of the previous speaker and urged that the audience reject his philosophy as dangerous. 

inveigle  [in5vi:gl]
v.  [inveigled; inveigled; inveigling] lead astray; wheedle 
She was inveigled into joining the club after an initial reluctance. 

inverse  [in5vE:s]
adj.  opposite 
There is an inverse ratio between the strength of light and its distance. 

invert  [in5vE:t, 5invE:t]
v.  [inverted; inverted; inverting] turn upside down or inside out 
When he inverted his body in a hand stand, he felt the blood rush to his head. 

inveterate  [in5vetErit]
adj.  deep-rooted; habitual 
She is an inveterate smoker and cannot break the habit. 

invidious  [in5vidiEs]
adj.  designed to create ill will or envy 
We disregarded her invidious remarks because we realized how jealous she was. 

invincible  [in5vinsEbl]
adj.  unconquerable 
Superman is invincible. 

inviolability  [in9vaiElE`bilEti]
n.  security from being destroyed, corrupted or profaned 
They respected the inviolability of her faith and did not try to change her manner of living. 

invoke  [in5vEuk]
v.  [invoked; invoked; invoking] call upon; ask for 
She invoked her advisor's aid in filling out her financial aid forms. 

invulnerable  [in5vQlnErEbl]
adj.  incapable of injury 
Achilles was invulnerable except in his heel. 

iota  [ai5EutE]
n.  [iotas] very small quantity 
She hadn't an iota of common sense. 

irascible  [i5rAsibl]
adj.  irritable; easily angered 
Her irascible temper frightened me. 

irate  [5aireit]
adj.  angry 
When John's mother found out that he had overthrown his checking account for the third month in a row, she was so irate that she could scarcely speak to him. 

iridescent  [iri5desnt]
n.  exhibiting rainbowlike colors 
She admired the iridescent hues of the oil that floated on the surface of the water. 

irksome  [5E:ksEm]
adj.  annoying; tedious 
He found working on the assembly line irksome because of the monotony of the operation he had to perform. 

ironic  [ai5rRnik]
adj.  occurring in an unexpected and contrary manner 
It is ironic that his success came when he least wanted it. 

irony  [5aiErEni]
n.  [ironies] hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that convey a meaning opposite to the literal meaning 
Gradually his listeners began to realize that the excessive praise he was lavishing was merely irony; he was actually denouncing his opponent. 

irreconcilable  [i5rekEnsailEbl]
adj.  incompatible; not able to be resolved 
Because the separated couple were irreconcilable, the marriage counselor recommended a divorce. 

irrelevant  [i5relEvEnt]
adj.  not applicable; unrelated 
This statement is irrelevant and should be disregarded by the jury. 

irremediable  [iri5mi:diEbl]
adj.  incurable; uncorrectable 
The error she made was irremediable; she could see no way to repair it. 

irreparable  [i5repErEbl]
adj.  not able to be corrected or repaired 
Your apology cannot atone for the irreparable damage you have done to her reputation. 

irrepressible  [iri5presEbl]
adj.  unable to be restrained or held back 
Her high spirits were irrepressible. 

irresolute  [i5rezElu:t]
adj.  uncertain how to act; weak 
She had no respect for him because he seemed weak-willed and irresolute. 

irreverent  [i5revErEnt]
adj.  lacking proper respect 
The worshippers resented her irreverent remarks about their faith. 

irrevocable  [i5revEkEbl]
adj.  unalterable 
Let us not brood over past mistakes since they are irrevocable. 

isotope  [5aisEutEup]
n.  varying form of an element 
The study of the isotopes of uranium led to the development of the nuclear bomb. 

isthmus  [5ismEs]
n.  [isthmuses, isthmi] narrow neck of land connecting two larger bodies of land 
In a magnificent feat of engineering, Goethals and his men cut through the isthmus of Panama in constructing the Panama Canal. 

itinerant  [i5tinErEnt]
n.  wandering; traveling 
He was an itinerant peddler and traveled through Pennsylvania and Virginia selling his wares. 

itinerary  [ai5tinErEri]
n.  [itineraries] plan of a trip 
Before leaving for his first visit to France and England, he discussed his itinerary with people who had been there and with his travel agent. 

jaded  [5dVeidid]
adj.  fatigued; surfeited 
He looked for exotic foods to stimulate his jaded appetite. 

jargon  [5dVa:gEn]
n.  [jargons] language used by special group; gibberish 
We tried to understand the jargon of the peddlers in the market place but could not find any basis for comprehension. 

jaundiced  [5dVR:ndist]
adj.  yellowed; prejudiced; envious 
She gazed at the painting with jaundiced eyes; she knew it was better than hers. 

jaunt  [dVR:nt]
n.  trip; short journey 
He took a quick jaunt to Atlantic City. 

jaunty  [5dVR:nti]
adj.  [jauntier; jauntiest] lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree 
In singing in the Rain, Gene Kelly sang and danced his way through the lighthearted title number in a properly jaunty style. 

jeopardy  [5dVepEdi]
n.  exposure to death or danger 
Legally, one cannot be placed in double jeopardy. 

jettison  [5dVZtEsn]
v.  [jettisoned; jettisoned; jettisoning] throw overboard 
In order to enable the ship to ride safely through the storm, the captain had to jettison much of his cargo. 

jingoism  [-gEuizEm]
n.  extremely aggressive and militant patriotism 
We must be careful to prevent a spirit of jingoism from spreading at this time. 

jocose  [dVEu5kEus]
adj.  given to joking 
The salesman was so jocose that many of his customers suggested that he become a stand-up comic. 

jocular  [5dVRkjulE]
adj.  said or done in jest 
Do not take my jocular remarks seriously. 

jocund  [5dVRkEnd]
adj.  merry 
Santa Claus is always vivacious and jocund. 

jollity  [5dVRliti]
n.  [jollities] gaiety; cheerfulness 
The festive Christmas dinner was a merry one, and old and young alike joined in the general jollity. 

jostle  [5dVRsl]
v.  [jostled; jostled; jostling] shove; bump 
In the subway he was jostled by the crowds. 

jovial  [5dVEuviEl]
adj.  good natured; merry 
A frown seemed out of place on his invariably jovial face. 

jubilation  [dVu:bi5leiFEn]
n.  rejoicing 
There was great jubilation when the armistice was announced. 

judicious  [dVu5diFEs]
adj.  sound in judgment; wise 
At a key moment in his life, he made a judicious investment that was the foundation of his later wealth. 

juggernaut  [5dVQgEnR:t]
n.  irresistible crushing force 
Nothing could survive in the path of the juggernaut. 

juncture  [5dVQNktFE]
n.  [junctures] crisis; joining point 
At this critical juncture, let us think carefully before determining the course we shall follow. 

junket  [5dVQNkit]
n.  trip, especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense 
Though she maintained she had gone abroad to collect firsthand data on the Common Market, the opposition claimed that her trip was merely a political junket. 

junta  [5dVQntE]
n.  [juntas] group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal 
As soon as he learned of its existence, the dictator ordered the execution of all of the members of the junta. 

jurisprudence  [dVuEris5pru:dns]
n.  science of law 
He was more a student of jurisprudence than a practitioner of the law. 

juxtapose  [dVQkstE5pEuz]
v.  [juxtaposed; juxtaposed; juxtaposing] place side by side 
Comparison will be easier if you juxtapose the two objects. 

kaleidoscope  [kE5laidEskEup]
n.  tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc., produce interesting symmetrical effects 
People found a new source of entertainment while peering through the kaleidoscope; they found the ever-changing patterns fascinating. 

ken  [ken]
n.  range of knowledge 
I cannot answer your question since this matter is beyond my ken. 

killjoy  [5kildVRi]
n.  grouch; spoilsport 
At breakfast we had all been enjoying our bacon and eggs until that killjoy John started talking about how bad animal fats and cholesterol were for our health. 

kindle  [5kindl]
v.  [kindled; kindled; kindling] start a fire; inspire 
Her teacher's praise kindled a spark a hope inside her. 

kindred  [5kindrid]
adj.  related; similar in nature or character 
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were two kindred spirits. 

kinetic  [kai5netik]
adj.  producing motion 
Designers of the electric automobile find that their greatest obstacle lies in the development of light and efficient storage batteries, the source of the kinetic energy needed to propel the vehicle. 

kismet  [5kismet]
n.  fate 
kismet is the Arabic word for "fate". 

kleptomaniac  [kleptE5meiniAk]
n.  person who has a compulsive desire to steal 
They discovered that the wealthy customer was a kleptomaniac when they caught her stealing some cheap trinkets. 

knavery  [5neivEri]
n.  [knaveries] rascality 
We cannot condone such knavery in public officials. 

knead  [ni:d]
v.  [kneaded; kneaded; kneading] mix; work dough 
Her hands grew strong from kneading bread. 

knell  [nel]
n.  tolling of a bell, especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell 
"The curfew tolls the knell of parting day." 

knit  [nit]
v.  [knitted, knit; knitted, knit; knitting] contract into wrinkles 
Whenever David worries, his brow knits in a frown. 

knoll  [nEul]
n.  [knolls] little, round hill 
Robert Louis Stevenson's grave is on a knoll in Samoa; to reach the grave site, you must climb uphill and walk a short distance along a marked path. 

knotty  [5nRti]
adj.  [knottier; knottiest] intricate; difficult; tangled 
What to Watson had been a knotty problem to Sherlock Holmes was simplicity itself. 

kudos  [5kju:dRs]
n.  honor; glory; praise 
The singer complacently received kudos on his performance from his entourage. 

labile  [5leibail]
adj.  likely to change; unstable 
Because the hormonal changes they undergo affect their spirits, adolescents may become emotionally labile and experience sudden shifts of mood. 

laborious  [lE5bR:riEs]
adj.  demanding much work or care; tedious 
In putting together his dictionary of the English language, Doctor Johnson undertook a laborious task. 

labyrinth  [5lAbErinW]
n.  [labyrinths] maze 
Tom and Becky were lost in the labyrinth of secret caves. 

lacerate  [5lAsEreit]
v.  [lacerated; lacerated; lacerating] mangle; tear 
Her body was lacerated in the automobile crash. 

lachrymose  [5lAkrimEus]
adj.  producing tears 
His voice has a lachrymose quality that is more appropriate at a funeral than a class reunion. 

lackadaisical  [lAkE5deizikl]
adj.  affectedly languid 
He was lackadaisical and indifferent about his part in the affair. 

lackluster  []
adj.  dull 
We were disappointed by the lackluster performance. 

laconic  [lE5kRnik]
adj.  brief and to the point 
Many of the characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types: strong men of few words. 

laggard  [5lAgEd]
adj.  slow; sluggish 
The sailor had been taught not to be laggard in carrying out orders. 

lagoon  [lE5gu:n]
n.  [lagoons] shallow body of water near a sea; lake 
They enjoyed their swim in the calm lagoon. 

laity  [5leiiti]
n.  laypersons; persons not connected with the clergy 
The laity does not always understand the clergy's problems. 

lambaste  [lAm5beist]
v.  [lambasted; lambasted; lambasting] beat; thrash verbally or physically 
It was painful to watch the champion lambaste his opponent, tearing into him mercilessly. 

lament  [lE5ment]
v.  [lamented; lamented; lamenting] grieve; express sorrow 
Even advocates of the war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat. 

lampoon  [lAm5pun]
v.  [lampooned; lampooned; lampooning] ridicule 
This article lampoons the pretensions of some movie moguls. 

languid  [5lANgwid]
adj.  weary; sluggish; listless 
Her siege of illness left her languid and pallid. 

languish  [5lANgwiF]
v.  [languished; languished; languishing] lose animation; lose strength 
In stories, lovelorn damsels used to languish and pine away. 

languor  [5lANgE]
n.  lassitude; depression 
His friends tried to overcome the languor into which he had fallen by taking him to parties and to the theater. 

lank  [lANk]
adj.  [lanker; lankest] long and thin 
lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln was a striking figure. 

larceny  [5lB:sni]
n.  [larcenies] theft 
Because of the prisoner's record, the district attorney refused to reduce the charge from grand larceny to petit larceny. 

larder  [5la:dE]
n.  pantry; place where food is kept 
The first thing Bill did on returning home from school was to check what snacks his mother had in the larder. 

largess  [5lB:dVes]
n.  generous gift 
Lady Bountiful distributed largess to the poor. 

lascivious  [lE5siviEs]
adj.  lustful 
Because they might arouse lascivious impulses in their readers, the lewd books were banned by the clergy. 

lassitude  [5lAsitju:d]
n.  languor; weariness 
The hot, tropical weather created a feeling of lassitude and encouraged drowsiness. 

latent  [5leitEnt]
adj.  dormant; hidden 
Her latent talent was discovered by accident. 

lateral  [5lAtErEl]
adj.  coming from the side 
In order to get good plant growth, the gardener must pinch off all lateral shoots. 

latitude  [5lAtitju:d]
n.  [latitudes] freedom from narrow limitations 
I think you have permitted your son too much latitude in this matter. 

laudable  [5lR:dEbl]
adj.  praiseworthy; commendable 
His laudable deeds will be remarked by all whom he aided. 

laudatory  [5lR:dEtEri]
adj.  expressing praise 
The critics' laudatory comments helped to make her a star. 

lavish  [5lAviF]
adj.  liberal; wasteful 
The actor's lavish gifts pleased her. 

lax  [lAks]
adj.  [laxer; laxest] careless 
We dislike restaurants where the service is lax and inattentive. 

laxative  [5lAksEtiv]
adj.  facilitating evacuation of the bowels 
The effect of the constipation medicine is laxative; it empties the bowels. 

leaven  [5levn]
v.  [leavened; leavened; leavening] cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven 
As bread dough is leavened, it puffs up, expanding in volume. 

lechery  [5letFEri]
n.  [lecheries] gross lewdness; lustfulness 
In his youth he led a life of lechery and debauchery; he did not mend his ways until middle age. 

lectern  [5lektEn]
n.  reading desk 
The chaplain delivered his sermon from a hastily improvised lectern. 

leery  [5liEri]
adj.  [leerier; leeriest] suspicious; cautious 
Don't eat sushi at this restaurant; I'm a bit leery about how fresh it is. 

leeway  [5li:wei]
n.  room to move; margin 
When you set a deadline, allow a little leeway. 

legacy  [5legEsi]
n.  [legacies] a gift made by a will 
Part of my legacy from my parents is an album of family photographs. 

legend  [5ledVEnd]
n.  [legends] explanatory list of symbols on a map 
The legend at the bottom of the map made it clear which symbols stood for rest areas along the highway and which stood for public camp sites. 

legerdemain  [,ledVEdE5mein]
n.  sleight of hand 
The magician demonstrated his renowned legerdemain. 

leniency  [5li:njEnsi]
n.  [leniencies] mildness; permissiveness 
Considering the gravity of the offense, we were surprised by the leniency of the sentence. 

leonine  [5li:Enain]
adj.  like a lion 
He was leonine in his rage. 

lethal  [5liWEl]
adj.  deadly 
It is unwise to leave lethal weapons where children may find them. 

lethargic  [le5Wa:dVik, li-]
adj.  drowsy; dull 
The stuffy room made her lethargic; she felt as if she was about to nod off. 

levee  [5levi]
n.  [levees] earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding 
As the river rose and threatened to overflow the levee, emergency workers rushed to reinforce the walls with sandbags. 

levitate  [5leviteit]
v.  [levitated; levitated; levitating] float in the air (especially by magical means) 
As the magician passed his hands over the recumbent body of his assistant, she appeared to rise and levitate about three feet above the table. 

levity  [5lZvEti]
n.  [levities] lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity 
Stop giggling and wriggling around in the pew; such levity is improper in church. 

levy  [5levi]
v.  [levied; levied; levying] impose (a fine); collect (a payment) 
Crying "No taxation without representation," the colonists demonstrated against England's power to levy taxes. 

lewd  [lu:d]
adj.  [lewder; lewdest] lustful 
They found his lewd stories objectionable. 

lexicographer  [leksi5kRgrEfE]
n.  compiler of a dictionary 
The new dictionary is the work of many lexicographers who spent years compiling and editing the work. 

lexicon  [5leksikEn]
n.  [lexica, lexicons] dictionary 
I cannot find this word in any lexicon in the library. 

liability  [laiE5biliti]
n.  [liabilities] drawback; debts 
Her lack of an extensive vocabulary was a liability that she was able to overcome. 

liaison  [li:5eizEn]
n.  officer who acts as go-between for two armies; intermediary 
As the liaison, he had to avoid offending the leaders of the two armies. 

libelous  [5laibElEs]
adj.  defamatory; injurious to the good name of a person 
He sued the newspaper because of its libelous story. 

libertine  [5libEti:n]
n.  debauched person, roue 
Although she was aware of his reputation as a libertine, she felt she could reform him and help him break his dissolute way of life. 

libidinous  [li5bidinEs]
adj.  lustful 
They objected to his libidinous behavior. 

libido  [li5bi:dEu]
n.  [libidos] emotional urges behind human activity 
The psychiatrist maintained that suppression of the libido often resulted in maladjustment and neuroses. 

libretto  [li5bretEu]
n.  [librettos, libretti] text of an opera 
The composer of an opera's music is remembered more frequently than the author of its libretto. 

licentious  [lai5senFEs]
adj.  wanton; lewd; dissolute 
The licentious monarch helped bring about his country's downfall. 

lien  [5li:En]
n.  [liens] legal claim on a property 
There was a delay before Ralph could take possession of his late uncle's home; apparently, another claimant had a lien upon the estate. 

ligneous  [5ligniEs]
adj.  like wood 
Petrified wood may be ligneous in appearance, but it is stonelike in composition. 

lilliputian  [lili5pju:FiEn]
adj.  extremely small 
Tiny and delicate, the model was built on a lilliputian scale. 

limber  [5limbE]
adj.  flexible 
Hours of ballet classes kept him limber. 

limbo  [5limbEu]
n.  [limbos] region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept 
Among the divisions of Hell are Purgatory and limbo. 

limn  [lim]
v.  [limned; limned; limning] draw; outline; describe 
Paradoxically, the more realistic the details this artist chooses, the better able to limn her fantastic, other-worldly landscapes. 

limpid  [5limpid]
adj.  clear 
A limpid stream ran through his property. 

lineage  [5liniidV]
n.  [lineages] descent; ancestry 
He traced his lineage back to Mayflower days. 

lineaments  []
n.  features, especially of the face 
She quickly sketched the lineaments of his face. 

linguistic  [liN5gwistik]
adj.  pertaining to language 
The modern tourist will encounter very little linguistic difficulty as English has become an almost universal language. 

lionize  [5laiEnaiz]
v.  [lionized; lionized; lionizing] treat as a celebrity 
She enjoyed being lionized and adored by the public. 

liquidate  [5likwideit]
v.  [liquidated; liquidated; liquidating] settle accounts; clear up 
He was able to liquidate all his debts in short period of time. 

list  [list]
v.  [listed; listed; listing] tilt; lean over 
That flagpole should be absolutely vertical; instead, it lists to one side. 

listless  [5listlis]
adj.  lacking in spirit or energy 
We had expected him to be full of enthusiasm and were surprised by his listless attitude. 

litany  [5litEni]
n.  [litanies] supplicatory prayer 
On this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the litany with fervor and intensity. 

lithe  [laiT]
adj.  [lither; lithest] flexible; supple 
Her figure was lithe and willowy. 

litigation  [5liti5geiFEn]
n.  lawsuit 
Try to settle this amicably; I do not want to start litigation. 

litotes  [5laitEuti:z]
n.  [litotes] understatement for emphasis 
To say, "He little realizes," when we mean that he does not realize at all, is an example of the kind of understatement we call litotes. 

livid  [5livid]
adj.  lead-colored; black and blue; ashen; enraged 
His face was so livid with rage that we were afraid that he might have an attack of apoplexy. 

loath  [lEuW]
adj.  averse; reluctant 
They were both loath for him to go. 

loathe  [lEuT]
v.  [loathed; loathed; loathing] detest 
We loathed the wicked villain. 

lode  [lEud]
n.  metal-bearing vein 
If this lode that we have discovered extends for any distance, we have found a fortune. 

lofty  [5lRfti]
adj.  [loftier; loftiest] very high 
They used to tease him about his lofty ambitions. 

loiter  [5lRitE]
v.  [loitered; loitered; loitering] hang around; linger 
The policeman told him not to loiter in the alley. 

loll  [lRl]
v.  [lolled; lolled; lolling] lounge about 
They lolled around in their chairs watching television. 

longevity  [lRn5dVeviti]
n.  long life 
When he reached ninety, the old man was proud of his longevity. 

lope  [lEup]
v.  [loped; loped; loping] gallop slowly 
As the horses loped along, we had an opportunity to admire the ever-changing scenery. 

loquacious  [lEu5kweiFEs]
adj.  talkative 
She is very loquacious and can speak on the telephone for hours. 

lout  [laut]
n.  clumsy person 
The delivery boy is an awkward lout. 

low  [lEu]
v.  moo 
From the hilltop, they could see the herd like ants in the distance; they could barely hear the cattle low. 

lucid  [5lju:sid]
adj.  easily understood; clear; intelligible 
Her explanation was lucid enough for a child to grasp. 

lucrative  [5lu:krEtiv]
adj.  profitable 
He turned his hobby into a lucrative profession. 

lucre  [5lu:kE]
n.  money 
Preferring lucre to undying fame, he wrote stories of popular appeal. 

ludicrous  [5lu:dikrEs]
adj.  laughable; trifling 
Let us be serious; this is not a ludicrous issue. 

lugubrious  [lu:5gju:briEs]
adj.  mournful 
The lugubrious howling of the dogs added to our sadness. 

lull  [lQl]
n.  moment of calm 
Not wanting to get wet, they waited under the awning for a lull in the rain. 

lumber  [5lQmbE]
v.  [lumbered; lumbered; lumbering] move heavily of clumsily 
Still somewhat torpid after its long hibernation, the bear lumbered through the woods. 

lumen  [5lu:min]
n.  [lumens, lumina] unit of light energy (one candle's worth) 
In buying light bulbs, she checked not only their power, as measured in watts, but their brightness, as measured in lumens. 

luminary  [5lu:minEri]
n.  [luminaries] celebrity; dignitary 
A leading light of the American stage, Ethel Barrymore was a theatrical luminary whose name lives on. 

luminous  [5lju:minEs]
adj.  shining; issuing light 
The sun is a luminous body. 

lunar  [5lju:nE]
adj.  pertaining to the moon 
lunar craters can be plainly seen with the aid of a small telescope. 

lurid  [5ljuErid]
adj.  wild; sensational 
The lurid stories he told shocked his listeners. 

lurk  [lE:k]
v.  [lurked; lurked; lurking] stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived 
"Who knows what evils lurk in the hearts of men? The shadow knows." 

luscious  [5lQFEs]
adj.  pleasing to taste or smell 
The ripe peach was luscious. 

luster  [5lQstE]
n.  shine; gloss 
The soft luster of the silk in the dim light was pleasing. 

lustrous  [5lQstrEs]
adj.  shining 
Her large and lustrous eyes gave a touch of beauty to an otherwise drab face. 

luxuriant  [lQg5zjuEriEnt]
adj.  fertile; abundant; ornate 
Farming was easy in this luxuriant soil. 

macabre  [mE5kB:bE]
adj.  gruesome; grisly 
The city morgue is a macabre spot for the uninitiated. 

mace  [meis]
n.  [maces] ceremonial staff; clublike medieval weapon 
The Grand Marshal of the parade raised his mace to signal that it was time for the procession to begin. 

macerate  [5mAsEreit]
v.  [macerated; macerated; macerating] soften by soaking in liquid; waste away 
The strawberries had been soaking in the champagne for so long that they had begun to macerate: they literally fell apart at the touch of a spoon. 

machiavellian  [mAkiE5veliEn]
n.  crafty; double-dealing 
I do not think he will be a good embassador because he is not accustomed to the machiavellian maneuverings of foreign diplomats. 

machinations  []
n.  schemes 
I can see through your wily machinations. 

maculated  []
adj.  spotted; stained 
Instead of writing that Gorbachev had a birthmark on his forehead, the pompous young poet sang of the former premier's maculated brow. 

madrigal  [5mAdrigl]
n.  pastoral song 
His program of folk songs included several madrigals which he sang to the accompaniment of a lute. 

maelstrom  [5meilstrEm]
n.  whirlpool 
The canoe was tossed about in the maelstrom. 

magisterial  [mAdVis5tiEriEl]
adj.  authoritative; imperious 
The learned doctor laid down the law to his patient in a magisterial tone of voice. 

magnanimity  [mAgnE5nimiti]
n.  [magnanimities] generosity 
Noted for his magnanimity, philanthropist Eugene Lang donated millions to charity. 

magnate  [5mAgneit]
n.  [magnates] person of prominence or influence 
The steel magnate decided to devote more time to city politics. 

magniloquent  [mAg5nilEkwEnt]
adj.  boastful, pompous 
In their stories of the trial, the reporters ridiculed the magniloquent speeches of the defense attorney. 

magnitude  [5mAgnitju:d]
n.  [magnitudes] greatness; extent 
It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of his crime. 

maim  [meim]
v.  [maimed; maimed; maiming] mutilate; injure 
The hospital could not take care of all who had been mangled or maimed in the railroad accident. 

maladroit  [mAlE5drRit]
adj.  clumsy; bungling 
In his usual maladroit way, he managed to upset the cart and spill the food. 

malaise  [mA5leiz]
n.  uneasiness; distress 
She felt a sudden vague malaise when she heard sounds at the door. 

malapropism  [5mAlEprRpizEm]
n.  comic misuse of a word 
When Mrs. Malaprop criticizes Lydia for being "as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile," she confuses "allegory" and "allegator" in a typical malapropism. 

malcontent  [5mAlkEntent]
n.  person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs 
He was one of the few malcontents in the Congress; he constantly voiced his objections to the Presidential program. 

malediction  [mAlE5dikFEn]
n.  curse 
The witch uttered maledictions against her captors. 

malefactor  [5mAlifAktE]
n.  criminal 
We must try to bring these malefactors to justice. 

malevolent  [mE5levElEnt]
adj.  wishing evil 
We must thwart his malevolent schemes. 

malfeasance  [mAl5fi:zEns]
n.  wrongdoing 
The authorities did not discover the campaign manager's malfeasance until after he had spent most of the money he had embezzled. 

malicious  [mE5liFEs]
adj.  dictated by hatred or spite 
The malicious neighbor spread the gossip. 

malign  [mE5lain]
v.  [maligned; maligned; maligning] speak evil of; defame 
Because of her hatred of the family, she maligns all who are friendly to them. 

malignant  [mE5lignEnt]
adj.  having an evil influence; virulent 
This is a malignant disease; we must have to use drastic measures to stop its spread. 

malingerer  [mE5liNgErE]
n.  one who feigns illness to escape duty 
The captain ordered the sergeant to punish all malingerers and force them to work. 

malleable  [5mAliEbl]
adj.  capable of being shaped by pounding 
Gold is a malleable metal. 

malodorous  [mA5lEudErEs]
adj.  foul-smelling 
The component heap was most malodorous in summer. 

mammal  [5mAml]
n.  [mammals] vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young 
Many people regard the whale as a fish and do not realize that it is a mammal. 

mammoth  [5mAmEW]
adj.  gigantic 
The mammoth corporations of the twentieth century are a mixed blessing 

manacle  [5mAnEkl]
v.  [manacled; manacled; manacling] restrain; handcuff 
The police immediately manacled the prisoner so he could not escape. 

mandate  [5mAndeit]
n.  [mandates] order; charge 
In his inaugural address, the President stated that he had a mandate from the people to seek an end to social evils such as poverty and poor housing. 

mandatory  [5mAndEtEri]
adj.  obligatory 
These instructions are mandatory; any violation will be severely punished. 

mangy  [5meingi]
adj.  [mangier; mangiest] shabby; wretched 
We finally thew out the mangy rug that the dog had destroyed. 

maniacal  [mE5naiEkl]
adj.  raving mad 
His maniacal laughter frightened us. 

manifest  [5mAnifest]
adj.  understandable; clear 
His evil intentions were manifest and yet we could not stop him. 

manifestation  [mAnifes5teiFEn]
n.  [manifestations] outward demonstration; indication 
Mozart's early attraction to the harpsichord was the first manifestation of his pronounced musical bent. 

manifesto  [mAni5festEu]
n.  [manifestos, manifestoes] declaration; statement of policy 
The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels proclaimed the principles of modern communism. 

manifold  [5mAnifEuld]
adj.  numerous; varied 
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your manifold kindnesses. 

manipulate  [mE5nipjuleit]
v.  [manipulated; manipulated; manipulating] operate with the hands; control or change by artful means 
How do you manipulate these puppets? 

mannered  [5mAnEd]
adj.  affected; not natural 
Attempting to copy the style of his wealthy neighbors, Gatsby adopted a mannered, artificial way of speech. 

manumit  [mAnju5mit]
v.  [manumitted; manumitted; manumitting] emancipate; free from bondage 
Enlightened slave owners were willing to manumit their slaves and thus put an end to the evil slavery in the country. 

marital  [5mAritl]
adj.  pertaining to marriage 
After the publication of his book on marital affairs, he was often consulted by married people on the verge of divorce. 

maritime  [5mAritaim]
adj.  bordering on the sea; nautical 
The maritime Provinces depend on the sea for their wealth. 

marked  [mB:kt]
adj.  noticeable; targeted for vengeance 
He walked with a marked limp, a souvenir of an old IRA attack. As British ambassador, he knew he was a marked man. 

marred  []
adj.  damaged; disfigured 
She had to refinish the marred surface of the table. 

marshal  [5ma:FEl]
v.  [marshaled, marshalled; marshaled, marshalled; marshaling, marshalling] put in order 
At a debate tournament, extemporaneous speakers have only a minute or two to marshal their thoughts before addressing their audience. 

marsupial  [mB:5sju:piEl]
n.  one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch 
The most common marsupial in North America is the opossum. 

martial  [5ma:FEl]
adj.  warlike 
The sound of martial music was always inspiring to the young poet. 

martinet  [ma:ti5net]
n.  strict disciplinarian 
The commanding officer was a martinet who observed each regulation to the letter. 

masochist  [`mAsEukist]
n.  person who enjoys his own pain 
The masochist begs, "Hit me." The sadist smiles and says, "I won't." 

masticate  [5mAstEkeit]
v.  [masticated; masticated; masticating] chew 
We must masticate our food carefully and slowly in order to avoid digestive disorders. 

materialism  [mE5tiEriElizEm]
n.  preoccupation with physical comforts and things 
By its nature, materialism is opposed to idealism, for where the materialist emphasizes the needs of the body, the idealist emphasizes the needs of the soul. 

maternal  [mE5tE:nl]
adj.  motherly 
Many animals display maternal instincts only while their offspring are young and helpless. 

matriarch  [5meitria:k]
n.  woman who rules a family or larger social group 
The matriarch ruled her gypsy tribe with a firm hand. 

matrix  [5meitriks]
n.  [matrices, matrixes] point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die 
Some historians claim the Nile Valley was the matrix of the Western civilization. 

maudlin  [5mR:dlin]
adj.  effusively sentimental 
I do not like such maudlin pictures. I call them tearjerkers. 

maul  [mRl]
v.  [mauled; mauled; mauling] handle roughly 
The rock star was mauled by his overexcited fans. 

mausoleum  [mR:sE5liEm]
n.  [mausoleums, mausolea] monumental tomb 
His body was placed in the family mausoleum. 

mauve  [mEuv]
adj.  pale purple 
The mauve tint in the lilac bush was another indication that spring had finally arrived. 

maverick  [5mAvErik]
n.  rebel; nonconformist 
To the masculine literary establishment, George Sand with her insistence on wearing trousers and smoking cigars was clearly a maverick who fought her proper womanly role. 

mawkish  [5mR:kiF]
adj.  sickening; insipid 
Your mawkish sighs fill me with disgust. 

maxim  [5mAksim]
n.  [maxims] proverb; a truth pithily stated 
Aesop's fables illustrate moral maxims. 

mayhem  [5mei5hem]
n.  injury to the body 
The riot was marked not only by mayhem, with its attendant loss of life and limb, but also by arson and pillage. 

meager  [5mi:gE]
n.  scanty; inadequate 
His salary was far too meager for him to afford to buy a new car. 

mealymouthed  []
adj.  indirect speech; hypocritical; evasive 
Rather than tell Jill directly what he disliked, Jack made a few mealymouthed comments and tried to change the subject. 

meander  [mi5AndE]
v.  [meandered; meandered; meandering] to wind or turn in its course 
It is difficult to sail up this stream because of the way it meanders through the countryside. 

meddlesome  [5medlsEm]
adj.  interfering 
He felt his marriage was suffering because of his meddlesome mother-in-law. 

mediate  [5midieit]
v.  [mediated; mediated; mediating] settle a dispute through the services of an outsider 
Let us mediate out differences rather than engage in a costly strike. 

mediocre  [5midiEukE]
adj.  ordinary; commonplace 
We were disappointed because he gave a rather mediocre performance in this role. 

meditation  [5medi5teiFEn]
n.  [meditations] reflection; thought 
She reached her decision only after much meditation. 

medley  [5medli]
n.  [medleys] mixture 
The band played a medley of Gershwin tunes. 

meek  [mi:k]
adj.  [meeker; meekest] submissive; patient and long-suffering 
Mr. Barrett never expected his meek daughter would dare to defy him by eloping with her suitor. 

megalomania  [megElE5meiniE]
n.  mania for doing grandiose things 
Developers who spend millions trying to build the world's tallest skyscraper suffer from megalomania. 

melee  [me5lei]
n.  fight 
The captain tried to ascertain the cause of the melee that had broken out among the crew members. 

mellifluous  [me5lifluEs]
adj.  flowing smoothly; smooth 
Italian is a mellifluous language. 

memento  [mi5mentEu]
n.  [mementos, mementoes] token; reminder 
Take this book as a memento of your visit. 

memorialize  [mi5mR:riElaiz]
v.  [memorialized; memorialized; memorializing] commemorate 
Let us memorialize his great contribution by dedicating this library in his honor. 

mendacious  [men5deiFEs]
adj.  lying; false 
He was pathological liar, and his friends learned to discount his mendacious stories. 

mendicant  [5mendikEnt]
n.  beggar 
From the moment we left the ship, we were surrounded by mendicants and peddlers. 

menial  [5miniEl]
adj.  suitable for servants; low 
I cannot understand why a person of your ability and talent should engage in such menial activities. 

mentor  [5mZntE]
n.  counselor; teacher 
During this very trying period, she could not have had a better mentor, for the teacher was sympathetic and understanding. 

mercantile  [5mE:kEntail]
adj.  concerning trade 
I am more interested in the opportunities available in the mercantile field than I am in those in the legal profession. 

mercenary  [5mE:sinEri]
adj.  motivated solely by money or gain 
"I'm not in this war because I get my kicks waving flags," said the mercenary soldier. "I'm in it for the dough." 

mercurial  [mE:5kjuriEl]
adj.  fickle; changing 
He was of a mercurial temperament and therefore unpredictable. 

meretricious  [merE5triFEs]
adj.  flashy; tawdry; falsely attractive 
Her jewels were inexpensive but not meretricious. 

merger  [mE:dVE]
n.  [mergers] combination (of two business corporations) 
When the firm's president married the director of financial planning, the office joke was that it wasn't a marriage, it was a merger. 

mesmerize  [5mesmEraiz]
v.  [mesmerized; mesmerized; mesmerizing] hypnotize 
The incessant drone seemed to mesmerize him and place him in a trance. 

metallurgical  [,metE5lE:dVikEl]
adj.  pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores 
During the course of his metallurgical research, the scientist developed a steel alloy of tremendous strength. 

metamorphosis  [metE5mR:fEsis]
n.  [metamorphoses] change of form 
The metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly is typical of many such changes in animal life. 

metaphor  [5metEfE]
n.  implied comparison 
"He soared like an eagle" is an example of a simile; "He is an eagle in flight," is a metaphor. 

metaphysical  [metE5fizikl]
adj.  pertaining to speculative philosophy 
The modern poets have gone back to the fanciful poems of the metaphysical poets of the seventeenth century for many of their images. 

mete  [mi:t]
v.  [meted; meted; meting] measure; distribute 
He tried to be impartial in his efforts to mete out justice. 

meteoric  [mi:ti5R:rik]
adj.  swift; momentarily brilliant 
We all wondered at his meteoric rise to fame. 

methodical  [mE5WRdikl]
adj.  systematic 
An accountant must be methodical and maintain order among his financial records. 

meticulous  [mE5tikjulEs]
adj.  excessively careful 
He was meticulous in checking his accounts and never made mistakes. 

metropolis  [mi5trRpElis]
n.  [metropolises] large city 
Every evening this terminal is filled with the thousands of commuters who are going from this metropolis to their homes in the suburbs. 

mettle  [5metl]
n.  courage; spirit 
When challenged by the other horses in the race, the thoroughbred proved its mettle by its determination to hold the lead. 

miasma  [mi5AzmE]
n.  [miasmas, miasmata] swamp gas; heavy, vaporous atmosphere, often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence 
The smog hung over Victorian London like a dark cloud; noisome, reeking of decay, it was a visible miasma. 

microcosm  [5maikrEukRzm]
n.  small world 
In the microcosm of our rural village, we find illustrations of all the evils that beset the universe. 

migrant  [5maigrEnt]
n.  changing its habitat; wandering 
These migrant birds return every spring. 

migratory  [5maigrEtEri]
adj.  wandering 
The return of the migratory birds to the northern sections of this country is a harbinger of spring. 

milieu  [5mi:ljE:]
n.  [milieus, milieux] environment; means of expression 
His milieu is watercolors, although he has produced excellent oil paintings and lithographs. 

militant  [5militEnt]
adj.  [more militant; most militant] combative; bellicose 
Although at this time he was advocating a policy of neutrality, one could usually find him adopting a more militant attitude. 

militate  [5militeit]
v.  [militated; militated; militating] work against 
Your record of lateness and absence will militate against your chances of promotion. 

millennium  [mi5leniEm]
n.  [millenniums, millennia] thousand-year period; period of happiness and prosperity 
I do not expect the millennium to come during my lifetime. 

millinery  [5milinEri]
n.  person who makes or sells women's hats 
The millinery displayed fashionable hats in the street where many women passed by. 

mimicry  [5mimikri]
n.  imitation 
Her gift for mimicry was so great that her friends said that she should be in the theater. 

minatory  [5minEtEri]
adj.  menacing; threatening 
Jabbing a minatory forefinger at Dorothy, the Wicked Witch cried, "I'll get you, and your little dog, too!" 

mincing  [5minsiN]
adj.  affectedly dainty 
Yum-Yum walked across the stage with mincing steps. 

minion  [5minjEn]
n.  [minions] a servile dependent 
He was always accompanied by several of his minions because he enjoyed their subservience and flattery. 

minuscule  [mi5nQskjul]
adj.  extremely small 
Why should I involve myself with a project with so minuscule a chance for success? 

minute  [5minit, mai5nju:t]
adj.  extremely small 
The twins resembled one another closely; only minute differences set them apart. 

minutia  [mai5nju:FiE]
n.  [minutiae] petty details (usually used in plural) 
She would have liked to ignore the minutiae of daily living. 

mirage  [5mirB:V]
n.  unreal reflection; optical illusion 
The lost prospector was fooled by a mirage in the desert. 

mire  [5maiE]
v.  [mired; mired; miring] entangle; stick in swampy ground 
Their rear wheels became mired in mud. 

mirth  [mE:W]
n.  merriment; laughter 
Sober Malvolio found Sir Toby's mirth improper. 

misadventure  [5misEd5ventFE]
n.  mischance; ill luck 
The young explorer met death by misadventure. 

misanthrope  [5mizEnWrEup]
n.  one who hates mankind 
We thought the hermit was a misanthrope because he shunned our society. 

misapprehension  [5misApri5henFEn]
n.  error; misunderstanding 
To avoid misapprehension, I am going to ask all of you to repeat the instructions I have given. 

miscellany  [mi5selEni]
n.  [miscellanies] mixture of writings on various subjects 
This is an interesting miscellany of nineteenth-century prose and poetry. 

mischance  [mis5tFAns]
n.  [mischances] ill luck 
By mischance, he lost his week's salary. 

misconstrue  [5miskEn5stru:]
v.  [misconstrued; misconstrued; misconstruing] interpret incorrectly; misjudge 
She took the passage seriously rather than humourously because she misconstrued the author's ironic tone. 

miscreant  [5miskriEnt]
n.  wretch; villain 
His kindness to the miscreant amazed all of us who had expected to hear severe punishment pronounced. 

misdemeanor  [5misdi5mi:nE]
n.  minor crime 
The culprit pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor rather than face trial for a felony. 

miserly  [5maizEli]
adj.  stingy; mean 
The miserly old man hoarded his coins not out of prudence but out of greed. 

misgivings  []
n.  [misgivings] doubts 
Hamlet described his misgivings to Horatio but decided to fence with Laertes despite his foreboding of evil. 

mishap  [mis5hAp]
n.  [mishaps] accident 
With a little care you could have avoided this mishap. 

misnomer  [5mis5nEumE]
n.  wrong name; incorrect designation 
His tyrannical conduct proved to all that his nickname, King Eric the Just, was a misnomer. 

misogamy  [mi5sRgEmi]
n.  hatred of marriage 
He remained a bachelor not because of misogamy but because of ill fate: his fiancee died before the wedding. 

misogynist  [mai5sRdVinist]
n.  hater of women 
She accused him of being a misogynist because he had been a bachelor all his life. 

missile  [5misail]
n.  [missiles] object to be thrown or projected 
Scientists are experimenting with guided missiles. 

missive  [5misiv]
n.  letter 
The ambassador received a missive from the Secretary of State. 

mite  [mait]
n.  [mites] very small object or creature; small coin 
Gnats are annoying mites that sing. 

mitigate  [5mitigeit]
v.  [mitigated; mitigated; mitigating] appease 
Nothing he did could mitigate her wrath; she was unforgiving. 

mnemonic  [ni:5mRnik]
adj.  pertaining to memory 
He used mnemonic tricks to master new words. 

mobile  [5mEubail]
adj.  [more mobile; most mobile] movable; not fixed 
The mobile blood bank operated by the Red Cross visited our neighborhood today. 

mode  [mEud]
n.  [modes] prevailing style 
She was not used to their lavish mode of living. 

modicum  [5mRdikEm]
n.  [modicums, modica] limited quantity 
Although his story is based on a modicum of truth, most of the events he describes are fictitious. 

modish  [5mEudiF]
adj.  fashionable 
She always discarded all garments that were no longer modish. 

modulation  [mRdju5leiFEn]
n.  toning down; changing from one key to another 
When we she spoke, it was with quiet modulation of voice. 

mogul  [5mEugEl]
n.  powerful person 
The oil moguls made great profits when the price of gasoline rose. 

molecule  [5mRlikju:l]
n.  [molecules] the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance 
In chemistry, we study how atoms and molecules react to form new substances. 

mollify  [5mRlifai]
v.  [mollified; mollified; mollifying] soothe 
We tried to mollify the hysterical child by promising her many gifts. 

mollycoddle  [5mRlikRdl]
v.  [mollycoddled; mollycoddled; mollycoddling] pamper; indulge excessively 
Don't mollycoddle the boy, Maud! You'll spoil him. 

molt  [mEult]
v.  [molted; molted; molting] shed or cast off hair or feathers 
The male robin molted in the spring. 

molten  [5mEultEn]
adj.  melted 
The city of Pompeii was destroyed by volcanic ash rather than by molten lava flowing from Mount Vesuvius. 

momentous  [mEu5mentEs]
adj.  very important 
On this momentous occasion, we must be very solemn. 

momentum  [mEu5mentEm]
n.  [momenta, momentums] quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus 
The car lost momentum as it tried to ascend the steep hill. 

monarchy  [mRnEki]
n.  [monarchies] government under a single hereditary ruler with varying degrees of power 
England today remains a monarchy. 

monastic  [mE5nAstik]
adj.  related to monks 
Wanting to live a religious life, he took his monastic vows. 

monetary  [5mQnitEri]
adj.  pertaining to money 
Jane held the family purse strings: she made all monetary decisions affecting the household. 

monochromatic  [mRnEkrE5mAtik]
adj.  having only one color 
Most people who are color blind actually can distinguish several colors; some, however, have a truly monochromatic view of a world all in shades of gray. 

monolithic  [mRnEu5liWik]
adj.  solidly uniform; unyielding 
Knowing the importance of appearing resolute, the patriots sought to present a monolithic front. 

monotheism  [5mRnEuWi:izEm]
n.  belief in one God 
Abraham was the first to proclaim his belief in monotheism. 

monotony  [mE5nRtEni]
n.  sameness leading to boredom 
He took a clerical job, but soon grew to hate the monotony of his daily routine. 

monumental  [5mRnju5mentl]
adj.  massive 
Writing a dictionary is a monumental task. 

moodiness  []
n.  fits of depression or gloom 
We could not discover the cause of her recurrent moodiness. 

moratorium  [mB:E5tR:riEm]
n.  [moratoria, moratoriums] legal delay of payment 
If we declare a moratorium and delay collection of debts for six months, I am sure the farmers will be able to meet their bills. 

morbid  [5mR:bid]
adj.  given to unwholesome thought; gloomy 
These morbid speculations are dangerous; we must lighten our spirits by emphasizing more pleasant matters. 

mordant  [5mR:dnt]
adj.  biting; sarcastic; stinging 
Actors feared the critic's mordant pen. 

mores  [5mR:ri:z]
n.  customs 
The mores of Mexico are those of Spain with some modifications. 

moribund  [5mRribQnd]
adj.  at the point of death 
The doctors called the family to the bedside of the moribund patient. 

morose  [mE5rEus]
adj.  ill-humored; sullen 
When we first meet Hamlet, we find him morose and depressed. 

mortician  [mR:5tiFEn]
n.  undertaker 
The mortician prepared the corpse for burial. 

mortify  [5mR:tifai]
v.  [mortified; mortified; mortifying] humiliate; punish the flesh 
She was so mortified by her blunder that she ran to her room in tears. 

mosaic  [mE5zeiik]
n.  [mosaics] picture made of small, colorful inlaid tiles 
The mayor compared the city to a beautiful mosaic made up of people of every race and religion on earth. 

mote  [mEut]
n.  [motes] small speck 
The tiniest mote in the eye is very painful. 

motif  [mEu5ti:f]
n.  [motifs] theme 
This simple motif runs throughout the score. 

motility  [mEu5tiliti]
n.  ability to move spontaneously 
Certain organisms exhibit remarkable motility; motile spores, for example, may travel for miles before coming to rest. 

motley  [5mRtli]
adj.  parti-colored; mixed 
The captain had gathered a motley crew to sail the vessel. 

mottled  [5mRtld]
adj.  spotted 
When he blushed, his face took on a mottled hue. 

mountebank  [5mauntEbANk]
n.  charlatan; boastful pretender 
The patent medicine man was a mountebank. 

muddle  [5mQdl]
v.  [muddled; muddled; muddling] confuse; mix up 
His thoughts were muddled and chaotic. 

muggy  [5mQgi]
adj.  [muggier; muggiest] warm and damp 
August in New York City is often muggy. 

mulct  [mQlkt]
v.  [mulcted; mulcted; mulcting] defraud a person of something 
The lawyer was accused of trying to mulct the boy of his legacy. 

multifarious  [mQltE5fZEriEs]
adj.  varied; greatly diversified 
A career woman and mother, she was constantly busy with the multifarious activities of her daily life. 

multiform  [5mQltifR:m]
adj.  having many forms 
Snowflakes are multiform but always hexagonal. 

multilingual  [5mQlti5liNgwEl]
adj.  having many languages 
Because they are bordered by so many countries, the Swiss people are multilingual. 

multiplicity  [mQlti5plisiti]
n.  [multiplicities] state of being numerous 
He was appalled by the multiplicity of details he had to complete before setting out on his mission. 

mundane  [5mQndein]
adj.  worldly as opposed to spiritual 
He was concerned only with mundane matters, especially the daily stock market quotations. 

munificent  [mju:5nifisnt]
adj.  very generous 
The munificent gift was presented to the bride by her rich uncle. 

murkiness  [5mE:kinis]
n.  darkness; gloom 
The murkiness and fog of the waterfront that evening depressed me. 

muse  [mju:z]
v.  [mused; mused; musing] ponder 
For a moment he mused about the beauty of the scene, but his thought soon changed as he recalled his own personal problems. 

musky  [5mQski]
adj.  having the odor of musk 
She left a trace of musky perfume behind her. 

muster  [5mQstE]
v.  [mustered; mustered; mustering] gather; assemble 
Washington mustered his forces at Trenton. 

musty  [5mQsti]
adj.  [mustier; mustiest] stale; spoiled by age 
The attic was dark and musty. 

mutable  [5mju:tEbl]
adj.  changing in form; fickle 
His opinion were mutable and easily influenced by anyone who had any powers of persuasion. 

muted  []
adj.  silent; muffled; toned down 
In the funeral parlor, the mourners' voices had a muted quality. 

mutilate  [5mju:tileit]
v.  [mutilated; mutilated; mutilating] maim 
The torturer threatened to mutilate his victim. 

mutinous  [5mju:tinEs]
adj.  unruly; rebellious 
The captain had to use force to quiet his mutinous crew. 

mutter  [5mQtE]
v.  [muttered; muttered; muttering] murmur or grumble 
The child muttered at the doll. 

myopic  [mai5Rpik]
adj.  nearsighted 
In thinking only of your present needs and ignoring the future, you are being rather myopic. 

myriad  [5miriEd]
n.  [myriads] very large number 
myriads of mosquitoes from the swamps invaded our village every twilight. 

nadir  [5neidE]
n.  lowest point 
Although few people realized it, the Dow-Jones averages had reached their nadir and would soon begin an upward surge. 

naivete  [nB:5i:vtei]
n.  quality of being unsophisticated 
I cannot believe that such naivete is unassumed in a person of her age and experience. 

narcissist  [nB:5sisist]
n.  conceited person 
A narcissist is his own best friend. 

narrative  [5nArEtiv]
adj.  related to telling a story 
A born teller of tales, Olsen used her impressive narrative skills to advantage in her story "I Stand Here Ironing." 

nascent  [5nAsnt]
adj.  incipient; coming into being 
If we could identify these revolutionary movements in their nascent state, we would be able to eliminate serious trouble in later years. 

natation  [nei5teiFEn]
n.  swimming 
The Red Cross emphasizes the need for courses in natation. 

natty  [5nAti]
adj.  [nattier; nattiest] neatly or smartly dressed 
Priding himself on being a natty dresser, the gangster Bugsy Siegel collected a wardrobe of imported suits and ties. 

nauseate  [5nR:sieit]
v.  [nauseated; nauseated; nauseating] cause to become sick; fill with disgust 
The foul smells began to nauseate him. 

nautical  [5nR:tikEl]
adj.  pertaining to ships or navigation 
The Maritime Museum contains many models of clipper ships, logbooks, anchors and many other items of a nautical nature. 

nebulous  [5nebjulEs]
adj.  vague; hazy; cloudy 
She had only a nebulous memory of her grandmother's face. 

necromancy  [5nekrEumAnsi]
n.  black magic; dealings with the dead 
Because he was able to perform feats of necromancy, the natives thought he was in league with the devil. 

nefarious  [ni5fVEriEs]
adj.  very wicked 
He was universally feared because of his many nefarious deeds. 

negation  [ni5geiFEn]
n.  denial 
I must accept his argument since you have been unable to present any negation of his evidence. 

negligence  [5neglidVEns]
n.  carelessness 
negligence can prove costly near complicated machinery. 

negligible  [5neglidVEbl]
adj.  so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded 
Because the damage to his car had been negligible, Michael decided he wouldn't bother to report the matter to his insurance company. 

nemesis  [5nemEsis]
n.  [nemeses] revenging agent 
Captain Bligh vowed to be Christian's nemesis. 

neologism  [ni:5RlEdVizm]
n.  new or newly coined word or phrase 
As we invent new techniques and professions, we must also invent neologisms such as "microcomputer" and "astronaut" to describe them. 

neophyte  [5ni:Efait]
n.  recent convert; beginner 
This mountain slope contains slides that will challenge experts as well as neophytes. 

nepotism  [5nepEtizm]
n.  favoritism (to a relative) 
John left his position with the company because he felt that advancement was based on nepotism rather than ability. 

nether  [5neTE]
adj.  lower 
Tradition locates hell in the nether regions. 

nettle  [5netl]
v.  [nettled; nettled; nettling] annoy; vex 
Do not let him nettle you with his sarcastic remarks. 

nexus  [5neksEs]
n.  [nexus] connection 
I fail to see the nexus that binds these two widely separated events. 

nib  [nib]
n.  beak; pen point 
The nibs of fountain pens often become clotted and corroded. 

nicety  [5naisiti]
n.  [niceties] precision; minute distinction 
I cannot distinguish between such niceties of reasoning. 

niggardly  [5nigEdli]
adj.  meanly stingy; parsimonious 
The niggardly pittance the widow receives from the government cannot keep her from poverty. 

niggle  [5nigl]
v.  [niggled; niggled; niggling] spend too much time on minor points; carp 
Let's not niggle over details. 

nihilism  [5naiilizm]
n.  denial of traditional values; total skepticism 
nihilism holds that existence has no meaning. 

nirvana  [nE:5vB:nE]
n.  Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude 
Despite his desire to achieve nirvana, the young Buddhist found that even the buzzing of a fly could distract him from his meditation. 

nocturnal  [nRk5tE:nEl]
adj.  done at night 
Mr. Jones obtained a watchdog to prevent the nocturnal raids on his chicken coops. 

noisome  [5nRisEm]
adj.  foul smelling; unwholesome 
I never could stand the noisome atmosphere surrounding the slaughter houses. 

nomadic  [nEu5mAdik]
adj.  wandering 
Several nomadic tribes of Indians would hunt in this area each year. 

nomenclature  [5nEumEnkleitFE]
n.  terminology; system of names 
She struggled to master scientific nomenclature. 

nominal  [5nRminl]
adj.  in name only; trifling 
He offered to drive her to the airport for only a nominal fee. 

nonchalance  [nRnFE5lRns]
n.  indifference; lack of interest 
Few people could understand how he could listen to the news of the tragedy with such nonchalance; the majority regarded him as callous and unsympathetic. 

noncommittal  [nRnkE5mitmEnt]
adj.  neutral; unpledged; undecided 
We were annoyed by his noncommittal reply for we had been led to expect definite assurances of his approval. 

nondescript  [5nRndiskript]
adj.  distinctive; ordinary 
The private detective was a short, nondescript fellow with no outstanding features, the sort of person one would never notice in a crowd. 

nonentity  [nRn5entiti]
n.  [nonentities] person of no importance; nonexistence 
Don't dismiss John as a nonentity; in his quiet way, he's very important to the firm. 

nonplus  [5nRn5plQs]
v.  [nonplussed, nonplused; nonplussed, nonplused; nonplussing, nonplusing] bring to a halt by confusion; perplex 
Jack's uncharacteristic rudeness nonplussed Jill, leaving her uncertain how to react. 

nostalgia  [na5stAldViE]
n.  homesickness; longing for the past 
The first settlers found so much work to do that they had little time for nostalgia. 

nostrum  [5nRstrEm]
n.  questionable medicine 
No quack selling nostrums is going to cheat me. 

notoriety  [nEutE5raiEti]
n.  [notorieties] disrepute; ill fame 
To the starlet, any publicity was good publicity: if she couldn't have a good reputation, she'd settle for notoriety. 

novelty  [5nRvElti]
n.  [novelties] something new; newness 
The computer is no longer a novelty around the office. 

novice  [5nRvis]
n.  [novices] beginner 
Even a novice can do good work if he follows these simple directions. 

noxious  [5nRkFEs]
adj.  [more noxious; most noxious] harmful 
We must trace the source of these noxious gases before they asphyxiate us. 

nuance  [nju:5B:ns]
n.  shade of difference in meaning or color 
The unskilled eye of the layperson has difficulty in discerning the nuances of color in the paintings. 

nubile  [5nju:bail]
adj.  marriageable 
Mrs. Bennet, in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, was worried about finding suitable husbands for her five nubile daughters. 

nugatory  [5nju:gEtEri]
adj.  futile; worthless 
This agreement is nugatory for no court will enforce it. 

nullify  [5nQlifai]
v.  [nullified; nullified; nullifying] to make invalid 
Once the contract was nullified, it no longer had any legal force. 

numismatist  [nju:5mizmEtist]
n.  person who collects coins 
The numismatist had a splendid collection of antique coins. 

nuptial  [5nQpFEl]
adj.  related to marriage 
Their nuptial ceremony was performed in Golden Gate Park. 

nurture  [5nE:tFE]
v.  [nurtured; nurtured; nurturing] nourish; educate; foster 
The head Start program attempts to nurture prekindergarten children so that they will do well when they enter public school. 

nutrient  [5njutriEnt]
n.  [nutrients] nourishing substance 
As a budding nutritionist, Kim has learned to design diets that contain foods rich in important basic nutrients. 

oaf  [Euf]
n.  stupid, awkward person 
He called the unfortunate waiter a clumsy oaf. 

obdurate  [5Rbdjurit]
adj.  stubborn 
He was obdurate in his refusal to listen to our complaints. 

obeisance  [Eu5beisEns]
n.  [obeisances] bow 
She made an obeisance as the king and queen entered the room. 

obelisk  [5Rblisk]
n.  [obelisks] tall column tapering and ending in a pyramid 
Cleopatra's Needle is an obelisk in New York City's Central Park. 

obese  [Eu5bi:s]
adj.  excessively fat 
It is advisable that obese people try to lose weight. 

obfuscate  [Rb5fQskeit]
v.  [obfuscated; obfuscated; obfuscating] confuse; muddle 
Do not obfuscate the issues by dragging in irrelevant arguments. 

obituary  [E5bitFuEri]
n.  [obituaries] death notice 
I first learned of her death when I read the obituary in the newspaper. 

objective  [Rb5dVektiv]
adj.  [more objective; most objective] not influenced by emotions; fair 
Even though he was her son, she tried to be objective about his behavior. 

objective  [Rb5dVektiv]
n.  [objectives] goal; aim 
A degree in medicine was her ultimate objective. 

obligatory  [Eb5ligEtEri]
adj.  binding; required 
It is obligatory that books borrowed from the library be returned within two weeks. 

oblique  [E5bli:k]
adj.  [more oblique; most oblique] slanting; deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line 
The sergeant ordered the men to march "oblique right." 

obliterate  [E5blitEreit]
v.  [obliterated; obliterated; obliterating] destroy completely 
The tidal wave obliterated several island villages. 

oblivion  [E5bliviEn]
n.  forgetfulness 
Her work had fallen into a state of oblivion; no one bothered to read them. 

obloquy  [5ablEkwi]
n.  [obloquies] slander; disgrace; infamy 
I resent the obloquy that you are casting upon my reputation. 

obnoxious  [Eb5nRkFEs]
adj.  [more obnoxious; most obnoxious] offensive 
I find your behavior obnoxious; please mend your ways. 

obscure  [Eb5skjuE]
adj.  [obscurer; obscurest] dark; vague; unclear 
Even after I read the poem a fourth time, its meaning was still obscure. 

obscure  [Eb5skjuE]
v.  [obscured; obscured; obscuring] darken; make unclear 
At times he seemed purposely to obscure his meaning, preferring mystery to clarity. 

obsequious  [Eb5sikwiEs]
adj.  [more obsequious; most obsequious] slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic 
Helen valued people who behaved as if they respected themselves; nothing irritated her more than an excessively obsequious waiter or a fawning salesclerk. 

obsequy  []
n.  [obsequies] funeral ceremony 
Hundreds paid their last respects at his obsequies. 

obsession  [Eb5seFEn]
n.  [obsessions] fixed idea; continued brooding 
This obsession with the supernatural has made him unpopular with his neighbors. 

obsidian  [Rb5sidiEn]
n.  black volcanic rock 
The deposits of obsidian on the mountain slopes were an indication that volcano had erupted in ancient times. 

obsolete  [5RbsEli:t]
adj.  outmoded 
"Hip" is an obsolete expression; it went out with love beads and tie-dye shirts. 

obstetrician  [Rbste5triFEn]
n.  physician specializing in delivery of babies 
Unlike midwives, who care for women giving birth at home, obstetricians generally work in a hospital setting. 

obstinate  [5Rbstinit]
adj.  [more obstinate; most obstinate] stubborn 
We tried to persuade him to give up smoking, but he was obstinate and refused to change. 

obstreperous  [Eb5stepErEs]
adj.  boisterous; noisy 
The crowd became obstreperous and shouted their disapproval of the proposals made by the speaker. 

obtrusive  [Eb5tru:siv]
adj.  pushing forward 
I found her a very obtrusive person, constantly seeking the center of the stage. 

obtuse  [Eb5tju:s]
adj.  blunt; stupid 
Because he was so obtuse, he could not follow the teacher's reasoning and asked foolish questions. 

obviate  [5Rbvieit]
v.  [obviated; obviated; obviating] make unnecessary; get rid of 
I hope this contribution will obviate any need for further collections of funds. 

occident  [5RksidEnt]
n.  the West 
It will take occident to understand the ways and customs of the orient. 

occlude  [E5klu:d]
v.  [occluded; occluded; occluding] shut; close 
A blood clot occluded an artery to the heart. 

occult  [R5kQlt]
adj.  mysterious; secret; supernatural 
The occult rites of the organization were revealed only to members. 

oculist  [5RkjElist]
n.  physician who specialized in treatment of the eyes 
In many states, an oculist is the only one who may apply medicinal drops to the eyes for the purpose of examining them. 

odious  [5EudjEs]
adj.  [more odious; most odious] hateful 
I find the task of punishing you most odious. 

odium  [5EudiEm]
n.  repugnance; dislike 
I cannot express the odium I feel at your heinous actions. 

odoriferous  [EudE5rifErEs]
adj.  giving off an odor 
The odoriferous spices stimulated her jaded appetite. 

odorous  [5EudErEs]
adj.  having an odor 
This variety of hybrid tea rose is more odorous than the one you have in your garden. 

odyssey  [5Rdisi]
n.  [odysseys] long, eventful journey 
The refugee's journey from Cambodia was a terrifying odyssey. 

offensive  [E5fensiv]
adj.  [more offensive; most offensive] attacking; insulting; distasteful 
Getting into street brawls is no minor offense for professional boxers, who are required by law to restrict their offensive impulses to the ring. 

offhand  [5Rf5hAnd]
adj.  casual; done without prior thought 
Expecting to be treated with due propriety by her costs, Great-Aunt Maud was offended by their offhand manner. 

officious  [E5fiFEs]
adj.  meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services 
After her long flight, Jill just wanted to nap, but the officious bellboy was intent on showing her all the special features of the deluxe suite. 

ogle  [5Eugl]
v.  [ogled; ogled; ogling] glance coquettishly at; make eyes at 
Sitting for hours at the sidewalk cafe, the old gentleman would ogle the young girls and recall his youthful romances. 

olfactory  [Rl5fAktEri]
adj.  concerning the sense of smell 
The olfactory organ is the nose. 

oligarchy  [5Rliga:ki]
n.  [oligarchies] government by a few 
The feudal oligarchy was supplanted by an autocracy. 

ominous  [5RminEs]
adj.  [more ominous; most ominous] threatening 
Those clouds are ominous; they suggest that a severe storm is on the way. 

omnipotent  [Rm5nipEtEnt]
adj.  all-powerful 
The monarch regarded himself as omnipotent and responsible to no one for his acts. 

omnipresent  [Rmni5preznt]
adj.  universally present; ubiquitous 
On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus is omnipresent. 

omniscient  [Rm5nisiEnt]
adj.  all-knowing 
I do not pretend to be omniscient, but I am positive about this fact. 

omnivorous  [Rm5nivErEs]
adj.  eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything 
Some animals, including humans, are omnivorous and eat both meat and vegetables; others are either carnivorous or herbivorous. 

onerous  [5RnErEs]
adj.  burdensome 
He asked for an assistant because his work load was too onerous. 

onomatopoeia  [RnEumAtEu5pi:E]
n.  words formed in imitation of natural sounds 
Words like "rustle" and "gargle" are illustrations of onomatopoeia. 

onslaught  [5RnslR:t]
n.  [onslaughts] vicious assault 
We suffered many casualties during unexpected onslaught of the enemy troops. 

onus  [5EunEs]
n.  [onuses] burden; responsibility 
The emperor was spared the onus of signing the surrender papers; instead, he relegated the assignment to his generals. 

opalescent  [EupE5lesnt]
adj.  iridescent 
The Ancient Mariner admired the opalescent sheen on the water. 

opaque  [Eu5peik]
adj.  dark; not transparent 
The opaque window kept the sunlight out of the room. 

opiate  [5Eupiit]
n.  sleep producer; deadener of pain 
By such opiates, she made the people forget their difficulties and accept their unpleasant circumstances. 

opportune  [RpE5tju:n]
adj.  [more opportune; most opportune] timely; well chosen 
You have come at an opportune moment for I need a new secretary. 

opportunist  [RpE5tju:nist]
n.  individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances 
Forget about ethics! He's such an opportunist that he'll vote in favor of any deal that will give him a break. 

opprobrium  [E5prEubriEm]
n.  infamy; vilification 
He refused to defend himself against the slander and opprobrium hurled against him by the newspapers; he preferred to rely on his record. 

optician  [Rp5tiFEn]
n.  maker and seller of eyeglasses 
The patient took the prescription given him by his oculist to the optician. 

optimist  [`Rptimist]
n.  person who looks on the bright side 
The pessimist says the glass is half-empty; the optimist says it is half-full. 

optimum  [5RptimiEm]
adj.  most favorable 
If you wait for the optimum moment to act, you may never begin your project . 

optional  [5RpFEnl]
adj.  not compulsory; left to one's choice 
I was impressed by the range of optional accessories for my microcomputer that were available. 

optometrist  [Rp5tRmitrist]
n.  one who fits glasses to remedy visual defects 
Although an optometrist is qualified to treat many eye disorders, she may not use medicines or surgery in her examinations. 

opulence  [apjElEns]
adj.  extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance 
The glitter and opulence of the ballroom took Cinderella's breath away. 

opus  [5EupEs]
n.  [opuses, opera] work 
Although many critics hailed his Fifth Symphony, he did not regard it as his major opus. 

oracular  [R:5rAkjulE]
adj.  foretelling; mysterious 
Oedipus could not understand the oracular warning he received. 

oratorio  [5RrE5tR:riEu]
n.  [oratorios] dramatic poem set to music 
The Glee Club decided to present an oratorio during their recital. 

ordain  [R:5dein]
v.  [ordained; ordained; ordaining] command; arrange; consecrate 
The king ordained that no foreigner should be allowed to enter the city. 

ordeal  [R:5di:l]
n.  [ordeals] severe trial or affliction 
Terry Anderson spoke movingly of his long ordeal as a hostage in Lebanon. 

ordinance  [5R:dinEns]
n.  [ordinances] decree 
Passing a red light is a violation of a city ordinance. 

ordination  [R:di5neiFEn]
n.  ceremony conferring holy orders 
The candidate for ordination had to meet with the bishop and the diocesan officers before being judged ready to be ordained a deacon. 

orient  [5R:riEnt]
v.  get one's bearings; adjust 
Philip spent his first day in Denver orienting himself to the city. 

orientation  [R:rien5teiFEn]
n.  [orientations] act of finding oneself in society 
Freshman orientation provides the incoming students with an opportunity to learn about their new environment and their place in it. 

orifice  [5Rrifis]
n.  [orifices] mouthlike opening; small opening 
The Howe Caverns were discovered when someone observed that a cold wind was issuing from an orifice in the hillside. 

ornate  [R:5neit]
adj.  [more ornate; most ornate] excessively or elaborately decorated 
Furniture of the Baroque period can be recognized by its ornate carvings. 

ornithologist  [R:ni5WRlEdVist]
n.  scientific student of birds 
Auduborn's drawings of American bird life have been of interest not only to the ornithologists but also to the general public. 

orthodox  [5R:WEdRks]
adj.  [more orthodox; most orthodox] traditional; conservative in belief 
Faced with a problem, he preferred to take an orthodox approach rather than shock anyone. 

orthography  [R:5WRgrEfi]
n.  [orthographies] correct spelling 
Many of us find English orthography difficult to master because so many of our words are written phonetically. 

oscillate  [5Rsileit]
v.  [oscillated; oscillated; oscillating] vibrate pendulumlike; waver 
It is interesting to note how public opinion oscillates between the extremes of optimism and pessimism. 

osseous  [5RsiEs]
adj.  made of bone; bony 
The hollow "soft spot" found at the top of the infant's skull gradually closes as new osseous tissue fills in the gap. 

ossify  [5Rsifai]
v.  [ossified; ossified; ossifying] change or harden into bone 
When he called his opponent a "bonehead," he implied that his adversary's brain had ossified and that he was not capable of clear thinking. 

ostensible  [Rs5tensEbl]
adj.  apparent; professed; pretended 
Although the ostensible purpose of this expedition is to discover new lands, we are really interested in finding new markets for our products. 

ostentatious  [Rsten5teiFEs]
adj.  [more ostentatious; most ostentatious] showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention 
Trump's latest casino in Atlantic City is the most ostentatious gambling place in the East: it easily outglitters its competitors. 

ostracize  [5RstrEsaiz]
v.  [ostracized; ostraized; ostracizing] exclude from public favor; ban 
As soon as the newspapers carried the story of his connection with the criminals, his friends began to ostracize him. 

oust  [aust]
v.  [ousted; ousted; ousting] expel; drive out 
The world wondered if Aquino would be able to oust Marcos from office. 

outlandish  [aut5lAndiF]
adj.  bizarre; peculiar; unconventional 
The eccentric professor who engages in markedly outlandish behavior is a stock figure in novels with an academic setting. 

outmoded  [aut5mEudid]
adj.  no longer stylish; old-fashioned 
Unconcerned about keeping in style, Lenore was perfectly happy to wear outmoded clothes as long as they were clean and unfrayed. 

outskirts  [5autskE:ts]
n.  fringes; outer borders 
Living outskirts of Boston, Sarah sometimes felt as if she were cut off from the cultural heart of the city. 

outspoken  [aut5spEukEn]
adj.  candid; blunt 
The candidate was too outspoken to be a successful politician; he had not yet learned to weigh his words carefully. 

outstrip  [aut5strip]
v.  [outstripped; outstripped; outstripping] surpass; outdo 
Jesse Owens easily outstripped his competitors to win the gold metal at the Olympic Games. 

outwit  [aut5wit]
v.  [outwitted; outwitted; outwitting] outsmart; trick 
By disguising himself as an old woman, Holmes was able to outwit his pursuers and escape capture. 

ovation  [Eu5veiFEn]
n.  [ovations] enthusiastic applause 
When Placido Domingo came on stage in the first act of La Boheme, he was greeted by a tremendous ovation. 

overbearing  [5EuvE5bZEriN]
adj.  bossy; arrogant; decisively important 
Certain of her own importance and of the unimportance of everyone else, Lady Bracknell was intolerably overbearing in manner. "In choosing a husband," she said, "good birth is of overbearing importance; compared to that, neither wealth nor talent signified 

overhaul  [EuvE5hR:l]
v.  [overhauled; overhauled; overhauling] thoroughly examine the condition of and repair if necessary 
It is necessary for the engineers of NASA to overhaul the rocket everyday; otherwise, an incident similar to that of Challenger accident might happen. 

overt  [5EuvE:t]
adj.  open to view 
According to the United States Constitution, a person must commit an overt act before he may be tried for treason. 

overweening  [5EuvE5wi:niN]
adj.  presumptuous; arrogant 
His overweening pride in his accomplishments was not justified. 

overwrought  [5EuvE5rR:t]
adj.  extremely agitated; hysterical 
When Kate heard the news of the sudden tragedy, she became too overwrought to work and had to leave the office early. 

ovoid  [5EuvRid]
adj.  egg-shaped 
At Easter she had to cut out hundreds of brightly colored ovoid shapes. 

pachyderm  [5pAkEdE:m]
n.  thick-skinned animal 
The elephant is probably the best-known pachyderm. 

pacifist  [5pAsifist]
n.  one opposed to force; antimilitarist 
The pacifists urged that we reduce our military budget and recall our troops stationed overseas. 

pacify  [5pAsifai]
v.  [pacified; pacified; pacifying] soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue 
Dentists criticize the practice of giving fussy children sweets to pacify them. 

paean  [5pi:En]
n.  song of praise or joy 
paeans celebrating the victory filled the air. 

painstaking  [5peinzteikiN]
adj.  showing hard work; taking great care 
The new high-frequency word list is the result of painstaking efforts on the part of our research staff. 

palatable  [5pAlEtEbl]
adj.  agreeable; pleasing to the taste 
Neither Jack's underbaked opinions nor his overcooked casseroles were palatable to me. 

palatial  [pE5leiFEl]
adj.  magnificent 
He proudly showed us through his palatial home. 

paleontology  [,pAliRn5tRlEdVi]
n.  study of prehistoric life 
The professor of paleontology had a superb collection of fossils. 

palette  [5pAlit]
n.  board on which a painter mixes pigments 
At the present time, art supply stores are selling a paper palette that may be discarded after use. 

palimpsest  [5pAlimpsest]
n.  parchment used for second time after original writing has been erased 
Using chemical reagents, scientists have been able to restore the original writings on many palimpsests. 

pall  [pR:l]
v.  [palled; palled; palling] grow tiresome 
The study of word lists can eventually pall and put one to sleep. 

pallet  [5pAlit]
n.  [pallets] small, poor bed 
The weary traveler went to sleep on his straw pallet. 

palliate  [5pAlieit]
v.  [palliated; palliated; palliating] ease pain; make less severe or offensive 
If we cannot cure this disease at present, we can, at least try to palliate the symptoms. 

pallid  [5pAlid]
adj.  [more pallid; most pallid] pale; wan 
Because his occupation required that he work at night and sleep during the day, he had an exceptionally pallid complexion. 

palpable  [5pAlpEbl]
adj.  tangible; easily perceptible 
I cannot understand how you could overlook such a palpable blunder. 

palpitate  [5pAlpiteit]
v.  [palpitated; palpitated; palpitating] throb; flutter 
As he became excited, his heart began to palpitate more and more erratically. 

paltry  [5pR:ltri]
adj.  [paltrier; paltriest] insignificant; petty 
This is a paltry sum to pay for such a masterpiece. 

pan  [pAn]
v.  [panned; panned; panning] criticize harshly 
Hoping for a rave review of his new show, the playwright was miserable when the critics panned it unanimously. 

panacea  [pAnE5siE]
n.  [panaceas] cure-all; remedy for all diseases 
There is no easy panacea that will solve our complicated international situation. 

panache  [pE5nAF]
n.  flair; flamboyance 
Many performers imitate Noel Coward, but few have his panache and sense of style. 

pandemic  [pAn5demik]
adj.  widespread; affecting the majority of people 
They feared the AIDS epidemic would soon reach pandemic proportions. 

pandemonium  [5pAndi5mEunjEm]
n.  [pandemoniums] wild tumult 
When the ships collided in the harbor, pandemonium broke out among the passengers. 

pander  [pAndE]
v.  [pandered; pandered; pandering] cater to the low desires of others 
The reviewer accused the makers of Lethal Weapon of pandering to the masses' taste of violence. 

panegyric  [pAni5dVirik]
n.  formal praise 
The modest hero blushed to hear the speakers delivering panegyrics about his valorous act. 

panoramic  [,pAnE5rAmik]
adj.  denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view 
On a clear day, from the top of the World Trade Center you can get a panoramic view of New York City and neighboring stretches of New Jersey and Long Island. 

pantomime  [5pAntEmaim]
n.  acting without dialogue 
Because he worked in pantomime, the clown could be understood wherever he appeared. 

papyrus  [pE5pairEs]
n.  [papyri, papyruses] ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant 
The ancient Egyptians were among the first to write on papyrus. 

parable  [5pArEbl]
n.  [parables] short, simple story teaching a moral 
Let us apply to our own conduct the lesson that this parable teaches. 

paradigm  [5pArEdaim]
n.  model; example; pattern 
Pavlov's experiment in which he trains a dog to salivate on hearing a bell is a paradigm of the conditioned-response experiment in behavioral psychology. 

paradox  [5pArEdRks]
n.  [paradoxes] statement that looks false but is actually correct; a contradictory statement 
Wordworth's "The child is father to the man" is an example of paradox. 

paragon  [5pArEgEn]
n.  model of perfection 
The class disliked him because the teacher was always pointing him out as a paragon of virtue. 

parallelism  [5pArElelizm]
n.  state of being parallel; similarity 
There is a striking parallelism between the twins. 

parameter  [pE5rAmitE]
n.  [parameters] limit; independent variable 
We need to define the parameters of the problem. 

paramount  [5pArEmaunt]
adj.  foremost in importance; supreme 
Proper nutrition and hygiene are of paramount importance in adolescent development and growth. 

paramour  [5pArEmuE]
n.  [paramours] illicit lover 
She sought a divorce on the grounds that her husband had a paramour in another town. 

paranoia  [pArE5nRiE]
n.  psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution 
Suffering from paranoias, he claimed everyone was out to get him; ironically, his claim was accurate; even paranoias have enemies. 

paraphernalia  [pArEfE5neiljE]
n.  equipment; odds and ends 
His desk was cluttered with paper, pen, ink, dictionary and other paraphernalia of the writing craft. 

paraphrase  [5pArEfreiz]
v.  [paraphrased; paraphrased; paraphrasing] restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of author 
In 250 words or less, paraphrase this article. 

parasite  [5pArEsait]
n.  [parasites] animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant 
The tapeworm is an example of the kind of parasite that may infest the human body. 

parched  [pB:tFt]
adj.  extremely dry; very thirsty 
The parched desert landscape seemed hostile to life. 

pariah  [pE5raiE]
n.  social outcast 
I am not a pariah to be shunned and ostracized. 

parity  [5pAriti]
n.  [parities] equality; close resemblance 
I find your analogy inaccurate because I do not see the parity between the two illustrations. 

parlance  [5pa:lEns]
n.  language; idiom 
All this legal parlance confuses me; I need an interpreter. 

parley  [5pa:li]
n.  [parleys] conference 
The peace parley has not produced the anticipated truce. 

parochial  [pE5rEukjEl]
adj.  narrow in outlook; provincial; related to parishes 
Although Jane Austen writes novels set in small rural communities, her concerns are universal, not parochial. 

parody  [5pArEdi]
n.  [parodies] humorous imitation; travesty 
We enjoyed the clever parodies of popular songs that the chorus sang. 

paroxysm  [5pArEksizEm]
n.  fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage 
When he heard of his son's misdeeds, he was seized by a paroxysm of rage. 

parquet  [pB:5kei]
n.  floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic-like pattern. 
In laying the floor, the carpenters combined redwood and oak in an elegant parquet. 

parry  [5pAri]
v.  [parried; parried; parrying] ward off a blow 
He was content to wage a defensive battle and tried to parry his opponent's thrusts. 

parsimonious  [5pa:si5mEuniEs]
adj.  stingy; excessively frugal 
His parsimonious nature did not permit him to enjoy any luxuries. 

partial  [5pa:FEl]
adj.  incomplete 
In this issue we have published only a partial list of contributors because we lack space to acknowledge everyone. 

partial  [5pa:FEl]
adj.  biased; having a liking for something 
I am extremely partial to chocolate eclairs. 

partiality  [pB:Fi5Aliti]
n.  inclination; bias 
As a judge, not only must I be unbiased, but I must also avoid any evidence of partiality when I award the prize. 

partisan  [5pa:ti5zAn]
adj.  one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party 
On certain issues of conscience, she refused to take a partisan stand. 

passe  [5pa:sei]
adj.  old-fashioned; past the prime 
Her style is passe and reminiscent of the Victorian era. 

passive  [5pAsiv]
adj.  [more passive; most passive] not active; acted upon 
Mahatma Gandhi urged his followers to pursue a program of passive resistance as he felt that it was more effective than violence and acts of terrorism. 

pastiche  [pA5sti:F]
n.  imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing 
We cannot even say that her music is a pastiche of this or that composer; it is rather, reminiscent of many musicians. 

pastoral  [5pa:stErEl]
adj.  rural 
In these stories of pastoral life, we find an understanding of the daily tasks of country folk. 

patent  [5peitEnt]
adj.  open for the public to read; obvious 
It was patent to everyone that the witness spoke the truth. 

pathetic  [pE5Wetik]
adj.  [more pathetic; most pathetic] causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching 
Everyone in the auditorium was weeping by the time he finished his pathetic tale about the orphaned boy. 

pathological  [5pAWE5lRdVikEl]
adj.  pertaining to disease 
As we study the pathological aspects of this disease, we must not overlook the psychological elements. 

pathos  [5peiWRs]
n.  tender to sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings. 
The quiet tone of pathos that ran through the novel never degenerated into the maudlin or the overly sentimental. 

patina  [5pAtinE]
n.  [patinas] green crust on old bronze works; tone slowly taken by varnished painting 
Judging by the patina on this bronze statue, we can conclude that this is the work of a medieval artist. 

patois  [5pAtwa:]
n.  [patois] local or provincial dialect 
His years of study of the language at the university did not enable him to understand the patois of the natives. 

patriarch  [5peitria:ki]
n.  [patriarchs] father and ruler of a family or tribe 
In many primitive tribes, the leader and lawmaker was the patriarch. 

patrician  [pE5triFEn]
adj.  noble; aristocratic 
We greatly admired her well-bred, patrician elegance 

patronize  [5pAtrEnaiz]
v.  [patronized; patronized; patronizing] support; act superior toward 
Experts in a field sometimes appear to patronize people who are less knowledgeable of the subject. 

paucity  [5pR:siti]
n.  scarcity 
They closed the restaurant because the paucity of customers made it uneconomical to operate. 

pauper  [5pR:pE]
n.  [paupers] very poor person 
Though Widow Brown was living on a reduced income, she was by no means a pauper. 

peccadillo  [pekE5dilEu]
n.  [peccadilloes, peccadillos] slight offense 
If we examine these escapades carefully, we will realize that they are mere peccadilloes rather than major crimes. 

pecuniary  [pi5kju:njEri]
adj.  pertaining to money 
I never expected a pecuniary reward for my work in this activity. 

pedagogue  [5pedEgRg]
n.  teacher 
He could never be a stuffy pedagogue; his classes were always lively and filled with humor. 

pedagogy  [5pedEgEudVi]
n.  [pedagogies] teaching; art of education 
Though Maria Montessori gained fame for her innovations in pedagogy, it took years before her teaching techniques became common practice in American schools. 

pedant  [5pednt]
n.  scholar who overemphasizes book learning or technicalities 
Her insistence that the book be memorized marked the teacher as a pedant rather than a scholar. 

pedantic  [pi5dAntik]
adj.  [more pedantic; most pedantic] showing off learning; bookish 
Leaving his decisions with humorous, down-to-earth anecdotes, Judge Walker was not at all pedantic legal scholar. 

pedestrian  [pi5destriEn]
adj.  ordinary; unimaginative 
Unintentionally boring, he wrote page after page of pedestrian prose. 

pediatrician  [5pi:diE5triFn]
n.  physician specializing in children's diseases. 
The family doctor advised the parents to consult a pediatrician about their child's ailment. 

pejorative  [5pi:dVEreitiv]
adj.  negative in connotation; having a belittling effect. 
Instead of criticizing Clinton's policies, the Republicans made pejorative remarks about his character. 

pell-mell  [5pel5mel]
adv.  in confusion; disorderly 
The excited students dashed pell-mell into the stadium to celebrate the victory. 

pellucid  [pE5lju:sid]
adj.  transparent; limpid; easy to understand 
After reading these stodgy philosophers, I find his pellucid style very enjoyable. 

penance  [5penEns]
n.  [penances] self-imposed punishment for sin 
The Ancient Mariner said, "I have penance done and penance more will do," to atone for the sin of killing the albatross. 

penchant  [5pentFEnt]
n.  strong inclination; liking 
He had a strong penchant for sculpture and owned many statues. 

pendant  [5pendEnt]
n.  [pendants] hanging down from something 
Her pendant earrings glistened in the light. 

pendant  [5pendEnt]
n.  [pendants] ornament (hanging from a necklace, etc.) 
The grateful team presented the coach with a silver chain and pendant engraved with the school's motto. 

pendulous  [5pendVElEs]
adj.  hanging; suspended 
The pendulous chandeliers swayed in the breeze as if they were about to fall from the ceiling. 

penitent  [5penitEnt]
adj.  repentant 
When he realized the enormity of his crime, he became remorseful and penitent. 

pensive  [5pensiv]
adj.  [more pensive; most pensive] dreamily thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness 
The pensive youth gazed at the painting for a long time and then sighed. 

penumbra  [pi5nQmbrE]
n.  [penumbrae, penumbras] partial shadow (in an eclipse) 
During an eclipse, we can see an area of total darkness and a lighter area, which is the penumbra. 

penurious  [pi5njuEriEs]
adj.  stingy; parsimonious 
He was a penurious man, averse to spending money even for the necessities of life. 

penury  [5penjuri]
n.  extreme poverty 
When his pension fund failed, George feared he would end his days in penury. 

peon  [5pi:En]
n.  landless agricultural worker; bond servant 
The land reformers sought to liberate the peons and establish them as independent farmers. 

perceptive  [pE5septiv]
adj.  insightful; aware; wise 
Although Maud was a generally perceptive critic, she had her blind sports: she could never see flaws in the work of her friends. 

percussion  [pE5kQFEn]
n.  striking one object against another sharply 
The drum is a percussion instrument. 

perdition  [pE:5diFEn]
n.  damnation; complete ruin 
Praying for salvation, young Daedalus feared he was damned to eternal perdition. 

peregrination  [perigri5neiFEn]
n.  journey 
Auntie Mame was a world traveler whose peregrinations took her from Tiajuana to Timbuctoo. 

peremptory  [pE5remptEri]
adj.  [more peremptory; most peremptory] demanding and leaving no choice 
From Jack's peremptory knock on the door, Jill could tell he would not give up until she let him in. 

perennial  [pE5renjEl]
adj.  something long-lasting 
These plants are hardy perennials and will bloom for many years. 

perfidious  [pE:5fidiEs]
adj.  treacherous; disloyal 
When Caesar realized that Brutus had betrayed him, he reproached his perfidious friend. 

perforate  [5pE:fEreit]
v.  [perforated; perforated; perforating] pierce; put a hole through 
Before you can open the aspirin bottle, you must first perforate the plastic safety seal that covers the cap. 

perfunctory  [pE5fQNktri]
adj.  [more perfunctory; most perfunctory] superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm 
The auditor's perfunctory inspection of the books overlooked many errors. 

perigee  [5peridVi:]
n.  point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth 
The rocket which was designed to take photographs of the moon was launched as the moon approached its perigee. 

perimeter  [pE5rimitE]
n.  outer boundary 
To find the perimeter of any quadrilateral, we add the lengths of the four sides. 

peripatetic  [peripE5tetik]
adj.  walking about; moving 
The peripatetic school of philosophy derives its name from the fact that Aristotle walked with his pupils while discussing philosophy with them. 

peripheral  [pE5rifErEl]
adj.  marginal; outer 
We lived, not in central London, but in one of those peripheral suburbs that spring up on the outskirts of the great city. 

periphery  [pE5rifEri]
n.  [peripheries] edge, especially of a round surface 
He sensed that there was something just beyond the periphery of his vision. 

perjury  [5pE:dVEri]
n.  [perjuries] false testimony while under oath 
When several witnesses appeared to challenge his story, he was indicted for perjury. 

permeable  [5pE:miEbl]
adj.  porous; allowing passage through 
Glass is permeable to light. 

pernicious  [pE:5niFEs]
adj.  [more pernicious; most pernicious] very destructive, harmful 
He argued that these books had a pernicious effect on young and susceptible minds. 

peroration  [perE5reiFEn]
n.  conclusion of an oration 
The peroration was largely hortatory and brought the audience to its feet clamoring for action at its close. 

perpetrate  [5pE:pitreit]
v.  [perpetrated; perpetrated; perpetrating] commit an offense 
Only an insane person could perpetrate such a horrible crime. 

perpetual  [pE5petFuEl]
adj.  everlasting 
Ponce de Leon hoped to find perpetual youth. 

perquisite  [5pE:kwizit]
n.  any gain above stipulated salary 
The perquisites attached to this job make it even more attractive than the salary indicates. 

personable  [5pE:sEnEbl]
adj.  attractive 
The man I am seeking to fill this position must be personable since he will be representing us before the public. 

perspicacious  [pE:spi5keiFEs]
adj.  having insight; penetrating; astute 
The brilliant lawyer was known for his perspicacious deductions. 

perspicuity  [pE:spi5kju:iti]
n.  clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity 
One of the outstanding features of this book is the perspicuity of its author; her meaning is always clear. 

perspicuous  [pE5spikjuEs]
adj.  plainly expressed 
Her perspicuous comments eliminated all possibility of misinterpretation. 

pert  [pE:t]
adj.  [perter; pertest] impertinent; forward 
I think your pert and impudent remarks call for an apology. 

pertinacious  [pE:ti5neiFEs]
adj.  stubborn; persistent 
He is bound to succeed because his pertinacious nature will not permit him to quit. 

pertinent  [5pE:tinEnt]
adj.  suitable; to the point 
The lawyer wanted to know all the pertinent details. 

perturb  [pE5tE:b]
v.  [perturbed; perturbed; perturbing] disturb greatly 
I am afraid this news will perturb him and cause him grief. 

perusal  [pE5ru:zl]
n.  reading 
I am certain that you have missed important details in your rapid perusal of this document. 

pervasive  [pE5veisiv]
adj.  spread throughout 
Despite airing them for several hours, she could not rid her clothes of the pervasive odor of mothballs that clung to them. 

perverse  [pE5vE:s]
adj.  [more perverse; most perverse] stubbornly wrongheaded; wicked and unacceptable 
When Hannibal Lecter was in a perverse mood, he ate the flesh of his victims. 

perversion  [pE5vE:Fn]
n.  corruption; turning from right to wrong 
Inasmuch as he had no motive for his crimes, we could not understand his perversion. 

pessimism  [5pesimizm]
n.  belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess 
The good news we have been receiving lately indicates that there is little reason for your pessimism. 

pest  [pest]
n.  [pests] troublesome or annoying person 
He was a pest; always bothering people. 

pestilential  [pestil5enFEl]
adj.  causing plague; baneful 
People were afraid to explore the pestilential swap. 

pestle  [5pesl]
n.  [pestles] tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl 
From the way in which the elderly pharmacist pounded the drug with his pestle, young George could tell that his employer was agitated about something. 

petrify  [5petrifai]
v.  [petrified; petrified; petrifying] turn to stone 
His sudden and unexpected appearance seemed to petrify her. 

petty  [5peti]
adj.  [pettier; pettiest] trivial; unimportant; very small 
She had no major complaints to make about his work, only a few petty quibbles that were almost too minor to state. 

petulant  [5petFElEnt]
adj.  [more petulant; most petulant] touchy; peevish 
The feverish patient was petulant and restless. 

pharisaical  [5fAriseiizEm]
adj.  pertaining to Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical 
Walter Lippmann has pointed out that moralists who do not attempt to explain the moral code they advocate are often regarded as pharisaical and ignored. 

phenomena  [fi5nRminE]
n.  observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation 
We kept careful records of the phenomena we noted in the course of these experiments. 

philanderer  [fi`lAndErE]
n.  faithless lover; flirt 
Swearing he had never so much as looked at another woman, Jack assured Jill he was no philanderer. 

philanthropist  [fi5lAnWrEpist]
n.  [philanthropists] lover of mankind; doer of good 
As he grew older, he became famous as a philanthropist and benefactor of the needy. 

philatelist  [fi5lAtlist]
n.  stamp-collector 
When she heard the value of the Penny Black stamp, Phyllis was inspired to become a philatelist. 

philistine  [fE5listin]
n.  narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain 
We need more men of culture and enlightenment; we have too many philistines among us. 

philology  [fi5lRlEdVi]
n.  study of language 
The professor of philology advocated the use of Esperanto as an international language. 

phlegmatic  [flZg5mAtik]
adj.  calm; not easily disturbed 
The nurse was a cheerful but phlegmatic person, unexcited in the face of sudden emergencies. 

phobia  [5fEubiE]
n.  [phobias] morbid fear 
Her fear of flying was more than mere nervousness; it was a real phobia. 

physiognomy  [fizi5RgnEmi]
n.  [physiognomies] face 
He prided himself on his ability to analyze a person's character by studying his physiognomy. 

physiological  [fiziE5lRdVikEl]
adj.  pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms 
To understand this disease fully, we must examine not only its physiological aspects but also its psychological elements. 

piebald  [5paibR:ld]
adj.  of different colors; mottled; spotted 
You should be able to identify Polka Dot in this race; he is the only piebald horse running. 

pied  [paid]
adj.  variegated; multicolored 
The pied piper of Hamelin got his name from the multicolored clothing he wore. 

piety  [5paiEti]
n.  [pieties] devoutness; reverence for God 
Living her life in prayer and good works, Mother Teresa exemplifies the true spirit of piety. 

pigment  [5pigmEnt]
n.  [pigments] coloring matter 
Van Gogh mixed various pigments with linseed oil to create his paints. 

pillage  [5pilidV]
v.  [pillaged; pillaged; pillaging] plunder 
The enemy pillaged the quiet village and left it in ruins. 

pillory  [5pilEri]
v.  [pilloried; pilloried; pillorying] punish by placing in a wooden frame; subject to criticism and ridicule 
Even though he was mocked and pilloried, he maintained that he was correct in his beliefs. 

pine  [pain]
v.  languish, decline; long for, yearn 
Though she tried to be happy living with Clara in the city, Heidi pined for the mountains and for her gruff but loving grandfather. 

pinion  [5pinjEn]
v.  [pinioned; pinioned; pinioning] restrain 
They pinioned his arms against his body but left his legs free so that he could move about. 

pinnacle  [5pinEkl]
n.  [pinnacles] peak 
We could see the morning sunlight illuminate the pinnacle while the rest of the mountain lay in shadow. 

pious  [5paiEs]
adj.  devout 
The pious parents gave their children a religious upbringing. 

piquant  [5pi:kEnt]
adj.  pleasantly tart-tasting; stimulating 
The piquant sauce added to our enjoyment of the meal. 

pique  [pi:k]
n.  irritation; resentment 
She showed her pique by her refusal to appear with the other contestants at the end of the contest. 

piscatorial  [piskE5tR:riEl]
adj.  pertaining to fishing 
He spent many happy hours at the lake in his piscatorial activities. 

pithy  [5piWi]
adj.  [pithier; pithiest] concise; meaty 
I enjoy reading his essays because they are always compact and pithy. 

pittance  [5pitns]
n.  a small allowance or wage 
He could not live on the pittance he received as a pension and had to look for an additional source of revenue. 

pivotal  [5pivEtEl]
adj.  central; critical 
De Klerk's decision to set Nelson Mandela free was pivotal; without Mandela's release, there was no possibility that the African National Congress would entertain talks with the South African government. 

placate  [plE5keit]
v.  [placated; placated; placating] pacify; conciliate 
The teacher tried to placate the angry mother. 

placebo  [plE5si:bEu]
n.  [placebos, placeboes] harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill 
In a controlled experiment, fifty volunteers were given erythromycin tablets; the control group received only placebos. 

placid  [5plAsid]
adj.  [more placid; most placid] peaceful; calm 
After his vacation in this placid section, he felt soothed and rested. 

plagiarize  [5pleidVEraiz]
v.  [plagiarized; plagiarized; plagiarizing] steal another's ideas and pass them off as one's own 
The editor could tell that the writer had plagiarized parts of the article; he could recognize whole paragraphs from the original source. 

plaintive  [5pleintiv]
adj.  [more plaintive; most plaintive] mournful 
The dove has a plaintive and melancholy call 

plasticity  [plAs5tisiti]
n.  ability to be molded 
When clay dries out, it loses its plasticity and becomes less malleable. 

platitude  [5plAtitjud]
n.  trite remark; commonplace statement 
The platitudes in his speech were applauded by the vast majority in his audience; only a few people perceived how trite his remarks were. 

platonic  [plE5tRnik]
adj.  purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire 
Accused of impropriety in his dealings with female students, the professor maintained he had only a platonic interest in the women involved. 

plauditory  []
adj.  approving; applauding 
The theatrical company reprinted the plauditory comments of the critics in its advertisement. 

plausible  [5plR:zEbl]
adj.  [more plausible; most plausible] having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious 
Even though your argument is plausible, I still would like to have more proof. 

plebeian  [pli5bi(:)En]
adj.  common; pertaining to the common people 
His speeches were aimed at the plebeian minds and emotions; they disgusted the more refined. 

plenary  [5pli:nEri]
adj.  complete; full 
The union leader was given plenary power to negotiate a new contract with the employers. 

plenitude  [5plenitju:d]
n.  abundance; completeness 
Looking in the pantry, we admired the plenitude of fruits and pickles we had preserved during the summer. 

plethora  [5pleWErE]
n.  excess; overabundance 
She offered a plethora of excuses for her shortcomings. 

pliable  [5plaiEbl]
adj.  flexible; yielding; adaptable 
In remodeling the bathroom, we replaced all the old, rigid lead pipes with new, pliable copper tubing. 

pliant  [5plaiEnt]
adj.  flexible; easily influenced 
Catherine's disposition was pliant; she was like putty in her suitor's hands. 

pluck  [plQk]
n.  [plucks] courage 
Even the adversaries of young Indiana Jones were impressed by the boy's pluck in trying to rescue the archeological treasure they had stolen. 

plumb  [plQm]
adj.  vertical 
Before hanging wallpaper it is advisable to drop a plumb line from the ceiling as a guide. 

plummet  [5plQmit]
v.  [plummeted; plummeted; plummeting] fall sharply 
Stock prices plummeted as Wall Street reacted to the rise in interest rates. 

plutocracy  [plu:5tRkrEsi]
n.  [plutocracies] society ruled by the wealthy 
From the way the government caters to the rich, you might think our society is a plutocracy rather than a democracy. 

podiatrist  [pEu5daiEtrist]
n.  doctor who treats ailments of the feet 
He consulted a podiatrist about his fallen arches. 

podium  [5pEudjEm]
n.  [podiums, podia] pedestal; raised platform 
The audience applauded as the conductor made his way to the podium. 

poignancy  [5pRinEnsi]
n.  quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion 
Watching the tearful reunion of the long-separated mother and child, the social worker was touched by the poignancy of the scene. 

polarize  [5pEulEraiz]
v.  [polarized; polarized; polarizing] split into opposite extremes or camps 
The abortion issue has polarized the country into pro-choice and anti-abortion camps. 

polemic  [pR5lemik]
n.  controversy; argument in support of point of view 
Her essays were, for the main part, polemics for the party's policy. 

politic  [5pRlitik]
adj.  expedient; prudent; well devised 
Even though he was disappointed, he did not think it politic to refuse the offer. 

polity  [5pRliti]
n.  [polities] form of government of nation or state 
Our polity should be devoted to the concept that the government should strive for the good of all citizens. 

polygamist  [pR5ligEmist]
n.  one who has more than one spouse at a time 
He was arrested as a polygamist when his two wives filed complaints about him. 

polyglot  [5pRliglRt]
adj.  speaking several languages 
New York City is a polyglot community because of the thousands of immigrants who settle there. 

pomposity  [pRm5pRsiti]
n.  [pomposities] self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt 
Although the commencement speaker had some good things to say, we had to laugh at his pomposity and general air of parading his own dignity. 

ponderous  [5pRndErEs]
adj.  [more ponderous; most ponderous] weighty; unwieldy 
His humor lacked the light touch; his jokes were always ponderous. 

pontifical  [pRn5tifikl]
adj.  pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious 
From the very beginning of his ministry it was clear from his pontifical pronouncements that John was destined for a high pontifical office. 

pore  [pR:]
v.  [pored; pored; poring] study industriously; ponder; scrutinize 
Determined to become a physician, Beth spends hours poring over her anatomy text. 

porous  [5pR:rEs]
adj.  [more porous; most porous] full of pores; like a sieve 
Dancers like to wear porous clothing because it allows the ready passage of water and air. 

portend  [pR:5tend]
n.  foretell; presage 
The king did not know what these omens might portend and asked his soothsayers to interpret them. 

portent  [5pR:tent]
n.  sign; omen; forewarning 
He regarded the black cloud as a portent of evil. 

portly  [5pR:tli]
adj.  [portlier; portliest] stout; corpulent 
The salesclerk tactfully referred to the overweight customer as portly rather than fat. 

poseur  [pEu5zE:]
n.  person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others 
Some thought Dali was a brilliant painter; others dismissed him as a poseur. 

posterity  [pRs5teriti]
n.  descendants; future generations 
We hope to leave a better world to posterity. 

posthumous  [5pRsthjumEs]
adj.  after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death) 
The critics ignored his works during his lifetime; it was only after the posthumous publication of his last novel that they recognized his great talent. 

postulate  [5pRstjuleit]
n.  self-evident truth 
We must accept these statements as postulates before pursuing our discussions any further. 

posture  [5pRstFE]
v.  [postured; postured; posturing] assume an affected pose; act artificially 
No matter how much Arnold boasted or postured, I could not believe he was as important as he pretended to be. 

potable  [5pEutEbl]
adj.  suitable for drinking 
The recent drought in the Middle Atlantic States has emphasized the need for extensive research in ways of making sea water potable. 

potent  [5pEutEnt]
adj.  [more potent; most potent] powerful; persuasive; greatly influential 
The jury was swayed by the highly potent testimony of the crime's sole eyewitness. 

potentate  [5pEutEnteit]
n.  [potentates] monarch; sovereign 
The potentate spent more time at Monte Carlo than he did at home on his throne. 

potential  [pE5tenFEl]
adj.  expressing possibility; latent 
The juvenile delinquent is a potential murderer. 

potion  [5pEuFEn]
n.  dose (of liquid) 
Tristan and Lsolde drink a love potion in the first act of the opera. 

potpourri  [5pEu5puri:]
n.  [potpourris] heterogeneous mixture; medley 
He offered a potpourri of folk songs from many lands. 

poultice  [5pEultis]
n.  soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body 
He was advised to apply a flaxseed poultice to the inflammation. 

practicable  [5prAktikEbl]
adj.  [more practicable; most practicable] feasible 
The board of directors decided that the plan was practicable and agreed to undertake the project. 

practical  [5prAktikEl]
adj.  [more practical; most practical] based on experience; useful 
He was a practical man, opposed to theory 

pragmatic  [prAg5mAtik]
adj.  practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something 
This coming trip to France should provide me with a pragmatic test of the value of my conversational French class. 

pragmatist  [5prAgmEtist]
n.  practical person 
No pragmatist enjoys becoming involved in a game that he can never win 

prate  [preit]
v.  [prated; prated; prating] speak foolishly; boast idly 
Let us not prate about our qualities; rather, let our virtues speak for themselves. 

prattle  [5prAtl]
v.  [prattled; prattled; prattling] babble 
The children prattle endlessly about their new toys. 

preamble  [5pri:Ambl]
n.  introductory statement 
In the preamble to the Constitution, the purpose of the document is set forth. 

precarious  [pri5kZEriEs]
adj.  [more precarious; most precarious] uncertain; risky 
I think this stock is a precarious investment and advise against its purchase. 

precedent  [5presidEnt]
n.  [precedents] something preceding in time that may be used as an authority or guide for future action 
This decision sets a precedent for future cases of a similar nature. 

precedent  [5presidEnt]
adj.  preceding in time, rank, etc. 
Our discussions, precedent to this event, certainly did not give you any reason to believe that we would adopt your proposal. 

precept  [5pri:sept]
n.  [precepts] practical rule guiding conduct 
"Love thy neighbor as thyself" is a worthwhile precept. 

precipice  [5presipis]
n.  [precipices] cliff; dangerous position 
Suddenly Indiana Jones found himself dangling from the edge of a precipice. 

precipitate  [pri5sipiteit]
adj.  headlong; rash 
Do not be precipitate in this matter; investigate further. 

precipitate  [pri5sipiteit]
v.  [precipitated; precipitated; precipitating] throw headlong; hasten 
The removal of American political support appeared to have precipitated the downfall of the Marcos regime. 

precipitous  [pri5sipitEs]
adj.  [more precipitous; most precipitous] steep; overhasty 
This hill is difficult to climb because it is so precipitous; one slip, and our descent will be precipitous as well. 

precise  [pri5sais]
adj.  [more precise; most precise] exact 
If you don't give me precise directions and a map, I'll never find your place. 

preclude  [pri5klu:d]
v.  [precluded; precluded; precluding] make impossible; eliminate 
This contract does not preclude my being employed by others at the same time that I am working for you. 

precocious  [pri5kEuFEs]
adj.  [more precocious; most precocious] advanced in development 
By her rather adult manner of discussing serious topics, the child demonstrated that she was precocious. 

precursor  [pri5kE:sE]
n.  forerunner 
Though Gray and Burns share many traits with the Romantic poets who followed them, most critics consider them precursors of the Romantic Movement, not true Romantics. 

predatory  [5predEtri]
adj.  plundering 
The hawk is a predatory bird. 

predecessor  [5pri:disesE]
n.  [predecessors] former occupant of a post 
I hope I can live up to the fine example set by my late predecessor in this office. 

predilection  [pri:di5lekFEn]
n.  partiality; preference 
Although the artist used various media from time to time, she had a predilection for watercolors. 

preeminent  [pri:5eminEnt]
adj.  outstanding; superior 
The king traveled to Boston because he wanted the preeminent surgeon in the field to perform the operation. 

preempt  [pri:5empt]
v.  [preempted; preempted; preempting] head off; forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself; supplant 
Hoping to preempt any attempts by the opposition to make educational reform a hot political issue, the candidate set out her own plan to revitalize the public schools. 

preen  [pri:n]
v.  [preened; preened; preening] make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction 
As Kitty preened before the mirror, carefully smoothing her shining hair, she couldn't help preening herself on her good looks. 

prefatory  [5prefEtEri]
adj.  introductory 
The chairman made a few prefatory remarks before he called on the first speaker. 

prehensile  [pri5hensl]
adj.  capable of grasping or holding 
Monkeys use not only their arms and legs but also their prehensile tails in traveling through the trees. 

prelate  [5prelit]
n.  [prelates] church dignitary 
The archbishop of Moscow and other high-ranking prelates visited the Russian Orthodox seminary. 

prelude  [5prelju:d]
n.  [preludes] introduction; forerunner 
I am afraid that this border raid is the prelude to more serious attacks. 

premeditate  [pri5mediteit]
v.  [premeditated; premeditated; premeditating] plan in advance 
She had premeditated the murder for months, reading about common poisons and buying weed killer that contained arsenic. 

premise  [5premis, pri5maiz]
n.  [premises] assumption; postulate 
Because Jack had based his argument upon a faulty premise, his opponent cheerfully pointed out the holes in his logic. 

premonition  [pri:mE5niFEn]
n.  forewarning 
We ignored these premonitions of disaster because they appeared to be based on childish fears. 

premonitory  [pri5mRnitEri]
adj.  serving to warn 
You should have visited a doctor as soon as you felt these premonitory chest pains. 

preponderance  [pri5pRndErEns]
n.  superiority of power, quantity, etc. 
The rebels sought to overcome the preponderance of strength of the government forces by engaging in guerrilla tactics. 

preposterous  [pri5pRstErEs]
adj.  [more preposterous; most preposterous] absurd; ridiculous 
When the candidate tried to downplay his youthful experiments with marijuana by saying he hadn't inhaled, we all thought, "What a preposterous excuse!" 

prerogative  [pri5rRgEtiv]
n.  [prerogatives] privilege; unquestionable right 
The President cannot levy taxes; that is the prerogative of the legislative branch of government. 

presage  [pri5sedV]
v.  [presaged; presaged; presaging] foretell 
The vultures flying overhead presaged the discovery of the corpse in the desert. 

prescience  [5presiEns]
n.  ability to foretell the future 
Given the current wave of Japan-bashing, it does not take prescience for me to foresee problems in our future trade relations with Japan. 

presentiment  [pri5zentimEnt]
n.  premonition; foreboding 
Hamlet felt a presentiment about his meeting with Laertes. 

prestige  [pres5ti:V]
n.  impression produced by achievements or reputation 
The wealthy man sought to obtain social prestige by contributing to popular charities. 

presumptuous  [pri5zQmptjuEs]
adj.  arrogant; taking liberties 
It seems presumptuous for one so relatively new to the field to challenge the conclusions of its leading experts. 

pretentious  [pri5tenFEs]
adj.  [more pretentious; most pretentious] ostentatious; ambitious 
I do not feel that your limited resources will permit you to carry out such a pretentious program. 

preternatural  [pri:tE5nAtFErEl]
adj.  beyond that which is normal in nature 
John's mother's total ability to tell when he was lying struck him as almost preternatural. 

pretext  [5pri:tekst]
n.  [pretexts] excuse 
He looked for a good pretext to get out of paying a visit to his aunt. 

prevail  [pri5veil]
v.  [prevailed; prevailed; prevailing] induce; triumph over 
He tried to prevail on her to type his essays for him. 

prevalent  [5prevElEnt]
adj.  widespread; generally accepted 
A radical committed to social change, Reed had no patience with the conservative views prevalent in the America of his day. 

prevaricate  [pri5vArikeit]
v.  [prevaricated; prevaricated; prevaricating] lie 
Some people believe that to prevaricate in a good cause is justifiable and regard the statement as a "white lie." 

prey  [prei]
n.  target of a hunt; victim 
In Stalking the Wild Asparagus, Euell Gibbons has as his prey not wild beasts but wild plants. 

prim  [prim]
adj.  [primmer; primmest] very precise and formal; exceedingly proper 
Many people commented on the contrast between the prim attire of the young lady and the inappropriate clothing worn by her escort. 

primogeniture  [5praimEu5dVenitFE]
n.  seniority by birth 
By virtue of primogeniture, in some cultures the first-born child has many privileges denied his brothers and sisters. 

primordial  [prai5mR:diEl]
adj.  existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary 
The Neanderthal Man is one of our primordial ancestors. 

primp  [primp]
v.  [primped; primped; primping] dress or groom oneself with care 
She primps for hours before a dance. 

pristine  [5pristain]
adj.  characteristic of earlier times; primitive, unspoiled 
This area has been preserved in all its pristine wildness. 

privation  [prai5veiFEn]
n.  [privations] hardship; want 
In his youth, he knew hunger and privation. 

privy  [5privi]
adj.  secret; hidden; not public 
We do not care for privy chamber of government. 

probe  [prEub]
v.  [probed; probed; probing] explore with tools 
The surgeon probed the wound for foreign matter before suturing it. 

probity  [5prabEti]
n.  uprightness; incorruptibility 
Everyone took his probity for granted; his defalcations, therefore, shocked us all. 

problematic  [5prRblE5mAtik]
adj.  perplexing; unsettled: questionable 
Given the many areas of conflict still awaiting resolution, the outcome of the peace talks remains problematic. 

proclivity  [prE5kliviti]
n.  [proclivities] inclination; natural tendency 
The cross old lady has a proclivity to grumble. 

procrastinate  [prEu5krAstineit]
v.  [procrastinated; procrastinated; procrastinating] postpone; delay 
It is wise not to procrastinate; otherwise, we find ourselves bogged down in a mass of work that should have been finished long ago. 

procurement  [-mEnt]
n.  obtaining 
The personnel department handles the procurement of new employees. 

prod  [prRd]
v.  [prodded; prodded; prodding] poke; stir up; urge 
If you prod him hard enough, he'll eventually clean his room. 

prodigal  [5prRdigEl]
adj.  wasteful; reckless with money 
The prodigal son squandered his inheritance. 

prodigious  [prE5didVEs]
adj.  [more prodigious; most prodigious] enormous; marvelous 
He marveled at her prodigious appetite when he saw all the food she ate. 

prodigy  [5prRdidVi]
n.  [prodigies] highly gifted child; marvel 
Menuhin was a prodigy, performing wonders on his violin when he was barely eight years old. 

profane  [prE5fein]
v.  [profaned; profaned; profaning] violate; desecrate 
Tourists are urged not to profane the sanctity of holy places by wearing improper garb. 

profligate  [5prRfligit]
adj.  dissipated; wasteful; licentious 
In this profligate company, she lost all sense of decency. 

profound  [prE5faund]
adj.  [profounder; profoundest] deep; not superficial; complete 
Freud's remarkable insights into human behavior caused his fellow scientists to honor him as a profound thinker. 

profusion  [prE5fju:VEn]
n.  lavish expenditure; overabundant condition 
Seldom have I seen food and drink served in such profusion as at the wedding feast. 

progenitor  [prEu5dVenEtE]
n.  [progenitors] ancestor 
The Roth family, whose progenitors emigrated from Germany early in the nineteenth century, settled in Peru, Illinois. 

progeny  [5prRdVini]
n.  children; offspring 
He was proud of his progeny but regarded George as the most promising of all his children. 

prognosis  [prRg5nEusis]
n.  [prognoses] forecasted course of a disease; prediction 
If the doctor's prognosis is correct, the patient will be in a coma for at least twenty-four hours. 

prognosticate  [prEg5nRstikeit]
v.  [prognosticated; prognosticated; prognosticating] predict 
I prognosticate disaster unless we change our wasteful ways. 

prohibitive  [prE5hibitiv]
adj.  [more prohibitive; most prohibitive] extremely high (of prices etc.) 
The super computer's price was prohibitive. 

projectile  [prE5dVektil]
n.  [projectiles] missile 
Man has always hurled projectiles at his enemy whether in the form of stones or of highly explosive shells. 

proletarian  [prEulE5tZEriEn]
n.  member of the working class 
The aristocrats feared mob rule and gave the right to vote only to the wealthy, thus depending the proletarians of a voice in government. 

proliferate  [prEu5lifEreit]
v.  [proliferated; proliferated; proliferating] grow rapidly; spread; multiply 
Times of economic hardship inevitably encourage countless get-rich-quick schemes to proliferate 

prolific  [prE5lifik]
adj.  abundantly fruitful 
She was a prolific writer who produced as many as three books a year. 

prolix  [5prEuliks]
adj.  verbose; drawn out 
Her prolix arguments irritated and bored the jury. 

prolong  [prE5lRN]
v.  [prolonged; prolonged; prolonging] extend; draw out; lengthen 
In their determination to discover ways to prolong human life, doctors fail to take into account that longer lives are not always happier ones. 

prominent  [5prRminEnt]
adj.  [more prominent; most prominent] conspicuous; notable; protruding 
Have you ever noticed that Prince Charles's prominent ears make him resemble the big-eared character in Mad comics? 

promiscuous  [prE5miskjuEs]
adj.  mixed indiscriminately; haphazard; irregular, particularly sexually 
In the opera La Boheme, we get a picture of the promiscuous life led by the young artists of Paris. 

promontory  [5prRmEntEri]
n.  [promontories] headland 
They erected a lighthouse on the promontory to warn approaching ships of their nearness to the shore. 

prompt  [prRmpt]
v.  [prompted; prompted; prompting] cause; provoke; provide a cue for an actor 
Whatever prompted you to ask for such a big piece of cake when you're on a diet? 

promulgate  [prR5mElgeit]
v.  [promulgated; promulgated; promulgating] make known by official proclamation or publication 
As soon as the Civil Service Commission promulgates the names of the successful candidates, we shall begin to hire members of our staff. 

prone  [prEun]
adj.  inclined to; prostrate 
She was prone to sudden fits of anger. 

propagate  [5prRpEgeit]
v.  [propagated; propagated; propagating] multiply; spread 
Since bacteria propagate more quickly in unsanitary environments, it is important to keep hospital rooms clean. 

propellant  [prE5pelEnt]
n.  substance that propels or drives forward 
The development of our missile program has forced our scientists to seek more powerful propellants. 

propensity  [prE5pensiti]
n.  [propensities] natural inclination 
Convinced of his own talent, Sol has an unfortunate propensity to belittle the talents of others. 

prophetic  [prE5fetik]
adj.  having to do with predicting the future 
In interpreting Pharaoh's prophetic dream, Joseph said that the seven fat cows eaten by the seven lean cows represented seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. 

prophylactic  [prEufi5lAktik]
adj.  used to prevent disease 
Despite all prophylactic measures introduced by the authorities, the epidemic raged until cool weather set in. 

propinquity  [prE5piNkwiti]
n.  nearness; kinship 
Their relationship could not be explained as being based on mere propinquity: they were more than relatives; they were true friends. 

propitiate  [prE5piFieit]
v.  [propitiated; propitiated; propitiating] appease 
The natives offered sacrifices to propitiate the gods. 

propitious  [prE5piFEs]
adj.  [more propitious; most propitious] favorable; kindly 
I think it is advisable that we wait for a more propitious occasion to announce our plans; this is not a good time. 

proponent  [prE5pEunEnt]
n.  person who supports or proposes (an idea) 
After the bill had been amended and re-amended in committee, even its original proponents didn't want to vote in its favor. 

propound  [prE5paund]
v.  [propounded; propounded; propounding] put forth for analysis 
In you discussion, you have propounded several questions; let us consider each one separately. 

propriety  [prE5praiEti]
n.  [proprieties] fitness; correct conduct 
I want you to behave at this dinner with propriety; don't embarrass me. 

propulsive  [prE5pQlsiv]
adj.  driving forward 
The jet plane has a greater propulsive power than the engine-driven plane. 

prosaic  [prEu5seiik]
adj.  [more prosaic; most prosaic] dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact; factual 
Though the ad writers had come up with a highly creative campaign to publicize the company's newest product, the head office rejected it for a more prosaic, down-to-earth approach. 

proscenium  [prEu5si:njEm]
n.  [prosceniums, proscenia] part of stage in front of curtain 
In the theater-in-the-round there can be no proscenium or proscenium arch. 

proscribe  [prEus5kraib]
v.  [proscribed; proscribed; proscribing] ostracize; banish; outlaw 
Antony, Octavius and Lepidus proscribed all those who had conspired against Julius Caesar. 

proselytize  [5prRslitaiz]
v.  [proselytized; proselytized; proselytizing] induce someone to convert to religion or belief 
In these interfaith meetings, there must be no attempt to proselytize; we must respect all points of view. 

prosody  [5prRsEdi]
n.  [prosodies] the art of versification 
This book on prosody contains a rhyming dictionary as well as samples of the various verse forms. 

prosperity  [prRs5periti]
n.  good fortune; financial success; physical well-being 
Promising to stay together "for richer, for poorer," the newlyweds vowed to be true to one another in prosperity and hardship alike. 

prostrate  [5prRstreit]
v.  [prostrated; prostrated; prostrating] stretch out full on ground 
He prostrated himself before the idol. 

protean  [5prEutiEn]
adj.  versatile; able to take on many forms 
A remarkably protean actor, Alec Guinness could take on any role. 

protocol  [5prEutEkRl]
n.  diplomatic etiquette 
We must run this state dinner according to protocol if we are to avoid offending any of our guests. 

prototype  [5prEutEtaip]
n.  original work used as a model by others 
The crude typewriter on display in this museum is the prototype of the elaborate machines in use today. 

protract  [prE5trAkt]
v.  [protracted; protracted; protracting] prolong 
Seeking to delay the union members' vote, the management team tried to protract the negotiations endlessly, but the union representatives saw through their strategy. 

protrude  [prE5tru:d]
v.  [protruded; protruded; protruding] stick out 
His fingers protruded from the holes in his gloves. 

protuberance  [prEu5tju:bErEns]
n.  protrusion; bulge 
A ganglionic cyst is a fluid-filled tumor (generally benign) that develops near a joint membrane or tendon sheath, and that bulges beneath the skin, forming a protuberance. 

provenance  [5prRvinEns]
n.  origin or source of something 
I am not interested in its provenance; I am more concerned with its usefulness than with its source. 

provender  [5prRvEndE]
n.  dry food; fodder 
I am afraid of a severe winter because I have stored a large quantity of provender for the cattle. 

provident  [5prRvidEnt]
adj.  displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies 
In his usual provident manner, he had insured himself against this type of loss. 

provincial  [prE5vinFEl]
adj.  [more provincial; most provincial] pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; unsophisticated 
As provincial governor, Sir Henry administered the Queen's law in his remote corner of Canada. 

provisional  [prE5viVEnl]
adj.  tentative 
The appointment is provisional; only on the approval of the board of directors will it be made permanent. 

proviso  [prE5vaizEu]
n.  [provisos, provisoes] stipulation 
I am ready to accept your proposal with the two proviso that you meet your obligations within the next two weeks. 

provoke  [prE5vEuk]
v.  [provoked; provoked; provoking] stir up anger; cause retaliation 
In order to prevent a sudden outbreak of hostilities, we must not provoke our foe. 

proximity  [prak5simEti]
n.  nearness 
The deer sensed the hunter's proximity and bounded away. 

proxy  [5prRksi]
n.  [proxies] authorized agent 
Please act as my proxy and vote for this slate of candidates in my absence. 

prude  [pru:d]
n.  excessively modest or proper person 
The X-rated film was definitely not for prudes. 

prudent  [5pru:dEnt]
adj.  [more prudent; most prudent] cautious; careful 
A miser hoards money not because he is prudent but because he is greedy. 

prune  [pru:n]
v.  [pruned; pruned; pruning] cut away; trim 
With the help of her editor, she was able to prune her manuscript into publishable form. 

pseudonym  [5psju:dEnim]
n.  pen name 
Samuel Clemens' pseudonym was Mark Twain. 

psychiatrist  [sai5kaiEtrist]
n.  a doctor who treats mental diseases 
A psychiatrist often needs long conferences with his patient before a diagnosis can be made. 

psychopathic  [saikE5pAWik]
adj.  pertaining to mental derangement 
The psychopathic patient suffers more frequently from a disorder of the nervous system than from a diseased brain. 

psychosis  [sai5kEusis]
n.  [psychoses] mental disorder 
We must endeavor to find an outlet for the patient's repressed desires if we hope to combat this psychosis. 

pterodactyl  [terE5dAktil]
n.  extinct flying reptile 
The remains of pterodactyls indicate that these flying reptiles had a wingspan of as much as twenty feet. 

puerile  [5pju:Erail]
adj.  childish 
His puerile pranks sometimes offended his more mature friends. 

pugilist  [5pju:dVilist]
n.  boxer 
The famous pugilist Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammed Ali. 

pugnacious  [pQg5neiFEs]
adj.  combative; disposed to fight 
As a child he was pugnacious and fought with everyone. 

puissant  [5pju:isnt]
adj.  powerful; strong; potent 
We must keep his friendship for he will make a puissant ally. 

pulchritude  [5pQlkritju:d]
n.  beauty; comeliness 
I do not envy the judges who have to select this year's Miss America from this collection of female pulchritude. 

pulmonary  [5pQlmEnEri]
adj.  pertaining to the lungs 
In his researches on pulmonary diseases, he discovered many facts about the lungs of animals and human beings. 

pulsate  [5pQlset]
v.  [pulsated; pulsated; pulsating] throb 
We could see the blood vessels in his temple pulsate as he became more angry. 

pulverize  [5pQlvEraiz]
v.  [pulverized; pulverized; pulverizing] crush or grind into very small particles 
Before sprinkling the dried herbs into the stew, Michael first pulverized them into a fine powder. 

pummel  [5pQml]
v.  [pummeled, pummelled; pummeled, pummelled; pummeling, pummelling] beat 
The severity with which he was pummeled was indicated by the bruises he displayed on his head and face. 

punctilious  [pQNk5tiliEs]
adj.  laying stress on niceties of conduct or form; precise 
We must be punctilious in our planning of this affair, for any error may be regarded as a personal affront. 

pundit  [5pQndit]
n.  learned Hindu; any learned person; authority on a subject 
Even though he discourses on the matter like a pundit, he is actually rather ignorant about this topic. 

pungency  [5pQndVEnsi]
n.  sharpness; stinging quality 
The pungency of the cigarette smoke made me cough. 

punitive  [5pju:nitiv]
adj.  punishing 
He asked for punitive measures against the offender. 

puny  [5pjuni]
adj.  [punier; puniest] insignificant; tiny; weak 
Our puny efforts to stop the flood were futile. 

purchase  [5pE:tFEs]
n.  [purchases] firm grasp or footing 
The mountaineer struggled to get a proper purchase on the slippery rock. 

purgatory  [5pE:gEtEri]
n.  [purgatories] place of spiritual expiation 
In this purgatory, he could expect no help from his comrades. 

purge  [pE:dV]
v.  [purged; purged; purging] clean by removing impurities; clear of changes 
If you are to be purged of the charge of contempt of Congress, you must be willing to answer the questions previously asked. 

purport  [5pE:pEt]
n.  intention; meaning 
If the purport of your speech was to arouse the rabble, you succeeded admirably. 

purveyor  [pE5veiE]
n.  [purveyors] furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer 
As purveyor of rare wines and viands, he traveled through France and Italy every year in search of new products to sell. 

pusillanimous  [pju:si5lAnimEs]
adj.  cowardly; fainthearted 
You should be ashamed of your pusillanimous conduct during this dispute. 

putative  [5pju:tEtiv]
adj.  supposed; reputed 
Although there are some doubts, the putative author of this work is Massinger. 

putrid  [5pju:trid]
adj.  foul; rotten; decayed 
The gangrenous condition of the wound was indicated by the putrid smell when the bandages were removed. 

pyre  [5paiE]
n.  heap of combustible material, esp. for burning a corpse. 
The mortician put pyre on the corpse before burning a corpse. 

pyromaniac  [pairE5meiniAk]
n.  person with an insane desire to set things on fire 
The detectives searched the area for the pyromaniac who had set these costly fires. 

quack  [kwAk]
n.  [quacks] charlatan; impostor 
Do not be misled by the exorbitant claims of this quack; he cannot cure you. 

quadruped  [5kwRdruped]
n.  four-footed animal 
Most mammals are quadrupeds. 

quaff  [kwa:f, kwRf]
v.  [quaffed; quaffed; quaffing] drink with relish 
As we quaffed our ale, we listened to the gay songs of the students in the tavern. 

quagmire  [5kwAgmaiE]
n.  soft, wet, boggy land; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself 
Up to her knees in mud, Myra wondered how on earth she was going to extricate herself from this quagmire. 

quail  [kweil]
v.  cower; lose heart 
He was afraid that he would quail in the face of danger. 

quaint  [kweint]
adj.  [quainter; quaintest] odd; old-fashioned; picturesque 
Her quaint clothes and old-fashioned language marked her as an eccentric. 

qualified  [5kwRlifaid]
adj.  [more qualified; most qualified] limited; restricted 
Unable to give the candidate full support, the mayor gave him only a qualified endorsement. 

qualms  []
n.  [qualms] misgivings 
His qualms of conscience had become so great that he decided to abandon his plans. 

quandary  [5kwRndEri]
n.  [quandaries] dilemma 
When the two colleges to which he had applied accepted him, he was in a quandary as to which one he should attend. 

quarantine  [5kwRrEnti:n]
n.  isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection 
We will have to place this house under quarantine until we determine the nature of the disease. 

quarry  [5kwRri]
n.  [quarries] victim; object of a hunt 
The police closed in on their quarry. 

quarry  [5kwRri]
v.  [quarried; quarried; quarrying] dig into 
They quarried blocks of marble out of the hillside. 

quash  [kwRF]
v.  [quashed; quashed; quashing] subdue; crush; squash 
The authorities acted quickly to quash the student rebellion, sending in tanks to cow the demonstrators. 

quay  [ki:]
n.  [quays] dock; landing place 
Because of the captain's carelessness, the ship crashed into the quay. 

queasy  [5kwi:zi]
adj.  [queasier; queasiest] easily nauseated; squeamish 
As the ship left the harbor, he became queasy and thought that he was going to suffer from seasickness. 

quell  [kwel]
v.  [quelled; quelled; quelling] put down; quiet 
The police used fire hoses and teat gas to quell the rioters. 

querulous  [5kwerulEs]
adj.  fretful; whining 
His classmates were repelled by his querulous and complaining statements. 

queue  [kju:]
n.  [queues] line 
They stood patiently in the queue outside the movie theatre. 

quibble  [5kwibl]
v.  [quibbled; quibbled; quibbling] equivocate; play on words 
Do not quibble; I want a straightforward and definite answer. 

quiescent  [kwai5esnt]
adj.  at rest; dormant 
After this geyser erupts, it will remain quiescent for twenty-four hours. 

quietude  [5kwaiEtju:d]
n.  tranquility 
He was impressed by the air of quietude and peace that pervaded the valley. 

quintessence  [kwin5tesns]
n.  purest and highest embodiment 
Noel Coward displayed the quintessence of wit. 

quip  [kwip]
n.  taunt 
You are unpopular because you are too free with your quips and sarcastic comments. 

quirk  [kwE:k]
n.  peculiarity of action or behavior; caprice 
By a quirk of fate, he found himself working for the man whom he had discharged years before. 

quisling  [5kwizliN]
n.  traitor who aids invaders 
In his conquest of Europe, Hitler was aided by the quislings who betrayed their own people and served in the puppet governments established by the Nazis. 

quiver  [5kwivE]
n.  [quivers] case for arrows 
Robin Hood reached back and plucked one last arrow from his quiver. 

quixotic  [kwik5sRtik]
adj.  idealistic but impractical 
His head is in the clouds; he is constantly presenting these quixotic schemes. 

quizzical  [5kwizikEl]
adj.  bantering; comical; humorously serious 
Will Rogers' quizzical remarks endeared him to his audiences. 

quorum  [5kwR:rEm]
n.  number of members necessary to conduct a meeting 
The senator asked for a roll call to determine whether a quorum was present. 

quotidian  [kwR5tidiEn]
adj.  daily; commonplace; customary 
To Philip, each new day of his internship was filled with excitement; he could not dismiss his rounds as merely quotidian routine. 

rabid  [5rAbid]
adj.  like a fanatic; furious 
He was a rabid follower of the Dodgers and watched them play whenever he could go to the ball park. 

raconteur  [5rAkRn5tE:]
n.  story-teller 
My father was a gifted raconteur with an unlimited supply of anecdotes. 

ragamuffin  [5rAgEmQfin]
n.  person wearing tattered clothes 
He felt sorry for the ragamuffin who was begging for food and gave him money to buy a meal. 

rail  [reil]
v.  [railed; railed; railing] scold; rant 
You may rail at him all you want; you will never change him. 

raiment  [5reimEnt]
n.  clothing 
"How can I go to the ball?" asked Cinderella. "I have no raiment fit to wear." 

rakish  [5reikiF]
adj.  stylish; sporty 
He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle. 

ramble  [5rAmbl]
n.  [rambles] wander aimlessly (physically or mentally) 
Listening to the teacher ramble, Judy wondered whether he'd ever get to his point. 

ramification  [rAmifi5keiFEn]
n.  branching out; subdivision 
We must examine all the ramifications of this problem. 

ramify  [5rAmifai]
v.  [ramified; ramified; ramifying] divide into branches or subdivisions 
When the plant begins to ramify, it is advisable to nip off most of the new branches. 

ramp  [rAmp]
n.  [ramps] slope; inclined plane 
The house was built with ramps instead of stairs in order to enable the man in the wheelchair to move easily from room to room and floor to floor. 

rampant  [5rAmpEnt]
adj.  [more rampant; most rampant] rearing up on hind legs; unrestrained 
The rampant weeds in the garden killed all the flowers that had been planted in the spring. 

rampart  [5rAmpa:t]
n.  [ramparts] defensive mound on earth 
"From the ramparts we watched" as the fighting continued. 

ramshackle  [5rAmFAkl]
adj.  rickety; falling apart 
The boys propped up the ramshackle clubhouse with a couple of boards. 

rancid  [5rAnsid]
adj.  having the odor of stale fat 
A rancid odor filled the ship's galley and nauseated the crew. 

rancor  [5rANkE]
n.  bitterness; hatred 
Let us forget out rancor and cooperate in this new endeavor. 

random  [5rAndEm]
adj.  without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard 
Although the sponsor of the raffle claimed all winners were chosen at random, people had their suspicions when the grand prize went to the sponsor's brother-in-law. 

rankle  [5rANkl]
v.  [rankled; rankled; rankling] irritate; fester 
The memory of having been jilted rankled him for years. 

rant  [rAnt]
v.  [ranted; ranted; ranting] rave; speak bombastically 
As we heard him rant on the platform, we could not understand his strange popularity with many people. 

rapacious  [rE5peiFEs]
adj.  excessively grasping; plundering 
Hawks and other rapacious birds prey on variety of small animals. 

rapport  [rA5pR:]
n.  emotional closeness; harmony 
In team teaching, it is important that all teachers in the group have good rapport with one another. 

rarefied  [5rZErifaid]
adj.  made less dense [of a gas] 
The mountain climbers had difficulty breathing in the rarefied atmosphere. 

raspy  [5rAspi]
adj.  [raspier; raspiest] grating; harsh 
The sergeant's raspy voice grated on the recruits' ears. 

ratify  [5rAtifai]
v.  [ratified; ratified; ratifying] approve formally; verify 
Before the treaty could go into effect, it had to be ratified by the president. 

ratiocination  [rAtiRsi5neiFEn]
n.  reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises 
While Watson was a man of average intelligence, Holmes was a genius, whose gift for ratiocination made him a superb detective. 

rationalization  [5rAFElai5zeiFn, -li5z-]
n.  bringing into conformity with reason 
All attempts at rationalization at this time are doomed to failure; tempers and emotions run too high for intelligent thought to prevail. 

rationalize  [5rAFEnElaiz]
v.  [rationalized; rationalized; rationalizing] reason; justify an improper act 
Do not try to rationalize your behavior by blaming your companions. 

raucous  [5rR:kEs]
adj.  harsh and shrill 
His raucous laughter irritated me and grated on my ears. 

ravage  [5rAvidV]
v.  [ravaged; ravaged; ravaging] plunder; despoil 
The marauding army ravaged the countryside. 

rave  [reiv]
n.  [raves] overwhelmingly favorable review 
Though critic John Simon seldom has a good word to say about contemporary plays, his review of All in the Timing was a total rave. 

ravel  [5rAvEl]
v.  [raveled, ravelled; raveled, ravelled; raveling, ravelling] fall apart into tangles; unravel or untwist; entangle 
A single thread pulled loose, and the entire scarf started to ravel. 

ravenous  [5rQvinEs]
adj.  [more ravenous; most ravenous] extremely hungry 
The ravenous dog upset several garbage pails in its search for food. 

ravine  [rE5vi:n]
n.  [ravines] narrow valley with steep sides 
Steeper than a gully, less precipitous than a canyon, a ravine is, like them, the product of years of erosion. 

raze  [reiz]
v.  [razed; razed; razing] destroy completely 
The owners intend to raze the hotel and erect an office building on the site. 

reactionary  [ri:5AkFEnEri]
adj.  [more reactionary; most reactionary] recoiling from progress; retrograde 
His program was reactionary since it sought to abolish many of the social reforms instituted by the previous administration. 

realm  [5relm]
n.  [realms] kingdom; sphere 
The realm of possibilities for the new invention was endless. 

reaper  [5ri:pE]
n.  [reapers] one who harvests grain 
Death, the Grim Reaper, cuts down men and women, just as a farmer cuts down the ripened grain. 

rebate  [5ribeit]
n.  discount 
We offer a rebate of ten percent to those who pay cash. 

rebuff  [ri5bQf]
v.  [rebuffed; rebuffed; rebuffing] snub; beat back 
She rebuffed his invitation so smoothly that he did not realize he had been snubbed. 

rebus  [5ri:bEs]
n.  [rebuses] puzzle in which pictures stand for words 
A coven of witches beside a tree is a possible rebus for the town Coventry. 

rebuttal  [ri5bQtl]
n.  refutation; response with contrary evidence 
The defense lawyer confidently listened to the prosecutor sum up his case, sure that she could answer his arguments in her rebuttal. 

recalcitrant  [ri5kAlsitrEnt]
adj.  obstinately stubborn 
Donkeys are reputed to be the most recalcitrant of animals. 

recant  [ri5kAnt]
v.  [recanted; recanted; recanting] repudiate; withdraw previous statement 
Unless you recant your confession, you will be punished severely. 

recapitulate  [rikE5pitjuleit]
v.  [recapitulated; recapitulated; recapitulating] summarize 
Let us recapitulate what has been said thus far before going ahead. 

receptive  [ri5septiv]
adj.  quick or willing to receive ideas, suggestions, etc. 
Adventure-loving Huck Finn proved a receptive audience for Tom's tales of buried treasure and piracy. 

recession  [ri5seFEn]
n.  [recessions] withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity 
The slow recession of the flood waters created problems for the crews working to restore power to the area. 

recidivism  [ri5sidivizm]
n.  habitual return to crime 
Prison reformers in the United States are disturbed by the high rate of recidivism; the number of persons serving second and third terms indicates the failure of the prisons to rehabilitate the inmates. 

recipient  [ri5sipiEnt]
n.  [recipients] receiver 
Although he had been the recipient of many favors, he was not grateful to his benefactor. 

reciprocal  [ri5siprEkEl]
adj.  mutual; exchangeable; interacting 
The two nations signed a reciprocal trade agreement. 

reciprocate  [ri5siprEkeit]
v.  [reciprocated; reciprocated; reciprocating] repay in kind 
If they attack us, we shall be compelled to reciprocate and bomb their territory. 

recluse  [ri5klu:s]
n.  hermit 
The recluse lived in a hut in the forest. 

reconcile  [5rekEnsail]
v.  [reconciled; reconciled; reconciling] correct inconsistencies; become friendly after a quarrel 
Every time we try to reconcile our checkbook with the bank statement, we quarrel. However, despite these monthly lovers' quarrels, we always manage to reconcile. 

recondite  [5rekEndait]
adj.  abstruse; profound; secret 
He read many recondite books in order to obtain the material for the scholarly thesis. 

reconnaissance  [ri5kRnisEns]
n.  survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering 
If you encounter any enemy soldiers during your reconnaissance, capture them for questioning. 

recount  [ri5kaunt]
v.  [recounted; recounted; recounting] narrate or tell; count over again 
About to recount the latest adventure of Sherlock Holmes, Watson lost track of exactly how many cases Holmes had solved and refused to begin his tale until he'd recounted them one by one. 

recourse  [ri5kR:s]
n.  [recourses] resorting to help when in trouble 
The boy's only recourse was to appeal to his father for aid. 

recrimination  [rikrimE5neiFEn]
n.  countercharges 
Loud and angry recriminations were her answer to his accusations. 

rectify  [5rektifai]
v.  [rectified; rectified; rectifying] correct 
I want to rectify my error before it is too late. 

rectitude  [5rektitju:d]
n.  uprightness 
He was renowned for his rectitude and integrity. 

recumbent  [ri5kQmbEnt]
adj.  reclining; lying down completely or in part 
The command "AT EASE" does not permit you to take a recumbent position. 

recuperate  [ri5kju:pEreit]
v.  [recuperated; recuperated; recuperating] recover 
The doctors were worried because the patient did not recuperate as rapidly as they had expected. 

recurrent  [ri5kQrEnt]
adj.  occurring again and again 
These recurrent attacks disturbed us and we consulted a physician. 

redolent  [5redlEnt]
adj.  fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odor 
Even though it is February, the air is redolent of spring. 

redoubtable  [ri5dautEbl]
adj.  formidable; causing fear 
During the Cold War period, neighboring countries tried not to offend the Russians because they could be redoubtable foes. 

redress  [ri5dres]
n.  remedy; compensation 
Do you mean to tell me that I can get no redress for my injuries? 

redundant  [ri5dQndEnt]
adj.  [more redundant; most redundant] superfluous; excessively wordy; repetitious 
Your composition is redundant; you can easily reduce its length. 

reek  [ri:k]
v.  [reeked; reeked; reeking] emit (odor) 
The room reeked with stale tobacco smoke. 

refectory  [ri5fektEri]
n.  [refectories] dining hall 
In this huge refectory, we can feed the entire student body at one sitting. 

refraction  [ri5frAkFEn]
n.  bending of a ray of light 
When you look at a stick inserted in water, it looks bent because of the refraction of the light by the water. 

refractory  [ri5frAktEri]
adj.  stubborn; unmanageable 
The refractory horse was eliminated from the race when he refused to obey the jockey. 

refrain  [ri5frein]
v.  [refrained; refrained; refraining] abstain from; resist n. chorus 
Whenever he heard a song with a lively chorus, Sol could never refrain from joining in on the refrain. 

refurbish  [ri:5fE:biF]
v.  [refurbished; refurbished; refurbishing] renovate; make bright by polishing 
The flood left a deposit of mud on everything; it was necessary to refurbish our belongings. 

refute  [ri5fju:t]
v.  [refuted; refuted; refuting] disprove 
The defense called several respectable witnesses who were able to refute the false testimony of the prosecution's only witness. 

regal  [5ri:gEl]
adj.  royal 
Prince Albert had a regal manner. 

regale  [ri5geil]
v.  [regaled; regaled; regaling] entertain 
John regaled us with tales of his adventures in Africa. 

regatta  [ri5gAtE]
n.  [regattas] boat or yacht race 
Many boating enthusiasts followed the regatta in their own yachts. 

regeneration  [ridVenE5reiFEn]
n.  spiritual rebirth 
Modern penologists strive for the regeneration of the prisoners. 

regicide  [5redVisaid]
n.  murder of a king or queen 
The beheading of Mary Queen of Scots was an act of regicide. 

regime  [rei5Vi:m]
n.  [regimes] method or system of government 
When a Frenchman mentions the Old Regime, he refers to the government existing before the revolution. 

regimen  [5rZdVEmZn]
n.  prescribed diet and habits 
I doubt whether the results warrant our living under such a strict regimen. 

rehabilitate  [ri:hE5biliteit]
v.  [rehabilitated; rehabilitated; rehabilitating] restore to proper condition 
We must rehabilitate those whom we send to prison. 

reimburse  [riim5bE:s]
v.  [reimbursed; reimbursed; reimbursing] repay 
Let me know what you have spent and I will reimburse you. 

reiterate  [ri:5itEreit]
v.  [reiterated; reiterated; reiterating] repeat 
He reiterated the warning to make sure everyone understood it. 

rejoinder  [ri5dVRindE]
n.  retort; comeback; reply 
When someone has been rude to me, I find it particularly satisfying to come up with a quick rejoinder. 

rejuvenate  [ri5dVu:vineit]
v.  [rejuvenated; rejuvenated; rejuvenating] make young again 
The charlatan claimed that his elixir would rejuvenate the aged and weary. 

relapse  [ri5lAps]
v.  [relapsed; relapsed; relapsing] fall back or sink again 
The economy relapsed into a depression from the peak. 

relegate  [5religeit]
v.  [relegated; relegated; relegating] banish; consign to inferior position 
If we relegate these experts to minor posts because of their political persuasions, we shall lose their valuable services. 

relent  [ri5lent]
v.  [relented; relented; relenting] give in 
When her stern father would not relent and allow her to marry Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett eloped with her suitor. 

relevant  [5relivEnt]
adj.  [more relevant; most relevant] pertinent; referring to the case in hand 
Teri was impressed by how relevant Virginia Woolf's remarks were to her as a woman writer; it was as if Woolf had been writing with Teri's situation in mind. 

relic  [5relik]
n.  [relics] surviving remnant; memento 
Egypt's Department of Antiquities prohibits tourists from taking mummies and other ancient relics out of the country. 

relinquish  [ri5liNkwiF]
v.  [relinquished; relinquished; relinquishing] abandon 
I will relinquish my claims to this property if you promise to retain my employees. 

relish  [5reliF]
n.  [relishes] savor; enjoy 
I relish a good joke as much as anyone else. 

remediable  [ri5mi:djEbl]
adj.  reparable 
Let us be grateful that the damage is remediable. 

reminiscence  [remi5nisns]
n.  [reminiscences] recollection 
Her reminiscences of her experiences are so fascinating that she ought to write a book. 

remiss  [ri5mis]
adj.  negligent 
He was accused of being remiss in his duty when the prisoner escaped. 

remission  [ri5miFEn]
n.  temporary moderation of disease symptoms; cancellation of a debt; forgiveness or pardon 
Though Senator Tsongas had been treated for cancer, his symptoms were in remission, and he was considered fit to handle the strains of a Presidential race. 

remnant  [5remnEnt]
n.  [remnants] remainder 
I suggest that you wait until the store places the remnants of these goods on sale. 

remonstrance  [ri5mRnstrEns]
n.  [remonstrances] protest; objection 
The authorities were deaf to the pastor's remonstrances about the lack of police protection in the area. 

remorse  [ri5mR:s]
n.  guilt; self-reproach 
The murderer felt no remorse for his crime. 

remunerative  [ri5mju:nEreitiv]
adj.  [more remunerative; most remunerative] compensating; rewarding 
I find my new work so remunerative that I may not return to my previous employment. 

rend  [rend]
v.  [rent; rent; rending] split; tear apart 
In his grief, he tried to rend his garments. 

render  [5rendE]
v.  [rendered; rendered; rendering] deliver; provide; represent 
He rendered aid to the needy and indigent. 

rendezvous  [5rRndEvu:]
n.  [rendezvous] meeting place 
The two fleets met at the rendezvous at the appointed time. 

rendition  [ren5diFEn]
n.  translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc. 
The audience cheered enthusiastically as she completed her rendition of the aria. 

renegade  [5renigeid]
n.  deserter; traitor 
Because he had abandoned his post and joined forces with the Indians, his fellow officers considered the hero of Dances with Wolves a renegade. 

renege  [ri5ni:g]
v.  [reneged; reneged; reneging] deny; go back on 
He reneged on paying off his debt. 

renounce  [ri5nauns]
v.  [renounced; renounced; renouncing] abandon; disown; repudiate 
Even though she knew she would be burned at the stake as a witch, Joan of Arc refused to renounce her belief that her voices came from God. 

renovate  [5renEuveit]
v.  [renovated; renovated; renovating] restore to good condition; renew 
They claim that they can renovate worn shoes so that they look like new ones. 

renown  [ri5naun]
n.  fame 
For many years an unheralded researcher, Barbara McClintock gained international renown when she won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine. 

rent  [rent]
n.  tear or rip; split 
The conflict over abortion threatens to split our nation, creating a rent in the social fabric that will be difficult to mend. 

reparable  [5repErEbl]
adj.  capable of being repaired 
Fortunately, the damages we suffered in the accident were reparable and our car looks brand new. 

reparation  [repE5reiFEn]
n.  [reparations] amends; compensation 
At the peace conference, the defeated country promised to pay reparations to the victors. 

repartee  [repa:5ti:]
n.  clever reply 
He was famous for his witty repartee and his sarcasm. 

repeal  [ri5pi:l]
v.  [repealed; repealed; repealing] revoke; annul 
What would the effect on our society be if we decriminalized drug use by repealing the laws against the possession and sale of narcotics? 

repellent  [ri5pelEnt]
adj.  [more repellent; most repellent] driving away; unattractive 
Mosquitoes find the odor so repellent that they leave any spot where this liquid has been sprayed. 

repercussion  [ri:pE5kQFEn]
n.  rebound; reverberation; reaction 
I am afraid that this event will have serious repercussions. 

repertoire  [5repEtwB:]
n.  list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present 
The opera company decided to include Madame Butterfly in its repertoire for the following season. 

repine  [ri5pain]
v.  [repined; repined; repining] fret; complain 
There is no sense repining over the work you have left undone. 

replenish  [ri5pleniF]
v.  [replenished; replenished; replenishing] fill up again 
Before she could take another backpacking trip, Carla had to replenish her stock of freeze-dried foods. 

replete  [ri5pli:t]
adj.  [more replete; most replete] filled to capacity; abundantly supplied 
The book is replete with humorous situations. 

replica  [5replikE]
n.  [replicas] copy 
Are you going to hang this replica of the Declaration of Independence in the classroom or in the auditorium? 

replicate  [5replikeit]
v.  [replicated; replicated; replicating] reproduce; duplicate 
To the chagrin of the scientists, they were unable to replicate the results of their controversial experiment. 

repository  [ri5pRzitEri]
n.  [repositories] storehouse 
Libraries are repositories of the world's best thoughts. 

reprehensible  [repri5hensEbl]
adj.  deserving blame 
Your vicious conduct in this situation is reprehensible. 

repress  [ri5pres]
v.  [repressed; repressed; repressing] restrain; crush; oppress 
Anne's parents tried to curb her impetuosity without repressing her boundless high spirits. 

reprieve  [ri5pri:v]
n.  temporary stay 
During the twenty-four-hour reprieve, the lawyers sought to make the stay of execution permanent. 

reprimand  [5reprima:nd]
v.  [reprimanded; reprimanded; reprimanding] reprove severely 
I am afraid that my parents will reprimand me when I show them my report card. 

reprisal  [ri5praizEl]
n.  retaliation 
I am confident that we are ready for any reprisals the enemy may undertake. 

reprise  [ri5praiz]
n.  [reprises] recurrent action; musical repetition; repeat performance 
At Waterloo, it was not the effect of any one skirmish that exhausted Colonel Audly; rather it was the cumulative effect of the constant reprises that left him spent. 

reproach  [ri5prEutF]
n.  [reproaches] blame; censure 
I want my work to be above reproach and without error 

reprobate  [5reprEubeit]
n.  person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency 
I cannot understand why he has so many admirers if he is the reprobate you say he is. 

reprobation  [reprE5beiFEn]
n.  severe disapproval 
The students showed their reprobation of his act by refusing to talk with him. 

reprove  [ri5pru:v]
v.  [reproved; reproved; reproving] censure; rebuke 
The principal reproved the students when they became unruly in the auditorium. 

repudiate  [ri5pjudieit]
v.  [repudiated; repudiated; repudiating] disown; disavow 
He announced that he would repudiate all debts incurred by his wife. 

repugnance  [ri5pQgnEns]
n.  loathing 
She looked at the snake with repugnance. 

repulsion  [ri5pQlFEn]
n.  act of driving back; distaste 
The repulsion of the enemy forces was not accomplished bloodlessly; many of the defenders were wounded in driving the enemy back. 

reputable  [5repjutEbl]
adj.  [more reputable; most reputable] respectable 
If you want to buy antiques, look for a reputable dealer; far too many dealers today pass off fakes as genuine antiques. 

reputed  [ri5pju:tid]
adj.  supposed 
He is the reputed father of the child. 

requiem  [5ri:kwiem]
n.  mass for the dead; dirge 
They played Mozart's Requiem at the funeral. 

requisite  [5rekwizit]
n.  [requisites] necessary requirement 
Many colleges state that a student must offer three years of a language as a requisite for admission. 

requite  [ri5kwait]
v.  [requited; requited; requiting] repay; revenge 
The wretch requited his benefactors by betraying them. 

rescind  [ri5sind]
v.  [rescinded; rescinded; rescinding] cancel 
Because of public resentment, the king had to rescind his order. 

reserve  [ri5zE:v]
n.  [reserves] self-control; formal but distant manner 
Although some girls were attracted by Mark's reserve, Judy was put off by it, for she felt his aloofness indicated a lack of openness. 

residue  [5rezidju]
n.  [residues] remainder; balance 
In his will, he requested that after payment of debts, taxes, and funeral expenses, the residue be given to his wife. 

resignation  [5rezig5neiFEn]
n.  [resignations] patient submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job 
If Bob Cratchit had not accepted Scrooge's bullying with timid resignation, he might have gotten up the nerve to hand in his resignation. 

resilient  [ri5ziliEnt]
adj.  elastic; having the power of springing back 
Highly resilient, steel makes excellent bedsprings. 

resolution  [rezE5lju:FEn]
n.  [resolutions] determination 
Nothing could shake his resolution to succeed despite all difficulties. 

resolve  [ri5zRlv]
n.  [resolves] determination 
Nothing could shake his resolve that his children would get the best education that money could buy. 

resolve  [ri5zRlv]
v.  [resolved; resolved; resolving] decide; settle; solve 
Homes resolved to travel to Bohemia to resolve the dispute between Irene Adler and the King. 

resonant  [5rezEnEnt]
adj.  echoing; resounding; deep and full in sound 
The deep, resonant voice of the actor James Earl Jones makes him particularly effective when he appears on stage. 

respiration  [5respE5reiFEn]
n.  [respirations] breathing; exhalation 
The doctor found that the patient's years of smoking had adversely affected both his lung capacity and his rate of respiration. 

respite  [5respait]
n.  delay in punishment; interval of relief; rest 
The judge granted the condemned man a respite to enable his attorneys to file an appeal. 

resplendent  [ris5plendEnt]
adj.  brilliant; lustrous 
The toreador wore a resplendent costume called a suit of lights. 

responsiveness  []
n.  state of reacting readily to appeals, order, etc. 
The audience cheered and applauded, delighting the performers by its responsiveness. 

restitution  [resti5tju:FEn]
n.  reparation; indemnification 
He offered to make restitution for the window broken by his son. 

restive  [5restiv]
adj.  restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control 
Waiting impatiently in the line to see Santa Claus, even the best-behaved children grow restive and start to fidget. 

restraint  [ris5treint]
n.  [restraints] controlling force 
She dreamt of living an independent life, free of all restraints. 

resumption  [ri5zQmpFEn]
n.  taking up again; recommencement 
During the summer break, Don had not realized how much he missed university life: at the resumption of classes, however, he felt marked excitement and pleasure. 

resurgent  [ri5sE:dVEnt]
adj.  rising again after defeat, etc. 
The resurgent nation surprised everyone by its quick recovery after total defeat. 

resuscitate  [ri5sQsiteit]
v.  [resuscitated; resuscitated; resuscitating] revive 
The lifeguard tried to resuscitate the drowned child by applying artificial respiration. 

retain  [ri5tein]
v.  [retained; retained; retaining] keep; employ 
Fighting to retain his seat in Congress, Senator Foghorn retained a new manager to head his reelection campaign. 

retaliate  [ri5tAlieit]
v.  [retaliated; retaliated; retaliating] repay in kind (usually for bad treatment) 
Fear that we will retaliate immediately deters our foe from attacking us. 

retentive  [ri5tentiv]
adj.  holding; having a good memory 
The pupil did not need to spend much time in study as he had a retentive mind. 

reticent  [5retisnt]
adj.  reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence 
Hughes preferred reticent employees to loquacious ones, noting that the formers' dislike of idle chatter might ensure their discretion about his affairs. 

retinue  [5retinju]
n.  [retinues] following; attendants 
The queen's retinue followed her down the aisle. 

retiring  [ri5tairiN]
adj.  modest; shy 
Given Susan's retiring personality, no one expected her to take up public speaking; surprisingly enough, she became a star of the school debate team. 

retort  [ri5tR:t]
n.  [retorts] quick, sharp reply 
Even when it was advisable for her to keep her mouth shut, she was always ready with a retort. 

retraction  [ri5trAkFEn]
n.  withdrawal 
He dropped his libel suit after the newspaper published a retraction of its statement. 

retrench  [ri5trentF]
v.  [retrenched; retrenched; retrenching] cut down; economize 
If they were to be able to send their children to college, they would have to retrench. 

retribution  [retri5bju:FEn]
n.  vengeance; compensation; punishment for offenses 
The evangelist maintained that an angry deity would exact retribution from the sinners. 

retrieve  [ri5tri:v]
v.  [retrieved; retrieved; retrieving] recover; find and bring in 
The dog was intelligent and quickly learned to retrieve the game killed by the hunter. 

retroactive  [retrEu5Aktiv]
adj.  taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax) 
Because the new pension law was retroactive to the first of the year, even though Martha had retired in February she was eligible for the pension. 

retrograde  [5retrEugreid]
v.  [retrograded; retrograded; retrograding] go backwards; degenerate 
Instead of advancing, our civilization seems to have retrograded in ethics and culture. 

retrospective  [retrE5spektiv]
adj.  looking back on the past 
It is only when we become retrospective that we can appreciate the tremendous advances made during this century. 

revelry  [5revlri]
n.  [revelries] boisterous merrymaking 
New Year's Eve is a night of revelry. 

reverberate  [re5vE:bEreit]
v.  [reverberated; reverberated; reverberating] echo; resound 
The entire valley reverberated with the sound of the church bells. 

reverent  [5revErEnt]
adj.  [more reverent; most reverent] respectful 
His reverent attitude was appropriate in a house of worship. 

reverie  [5revEri]
n.  daydream; musing 
He was awakened from his reverie by the teacher's question. 

revile  [ri5vail]
n.  slander; vilify 
He was avoided by all who feared that he would revile and abuse them if they displeased him. 

revoke  [ri5vEuk]
v.  [revoked; revoked; revoking] cancel; retract 
Repeat offenders who continue to drive under the influence of alcohol face having their driver's licenses permanently revoked. 

revulsion  [ri5vQlFEn]
n.  sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction 
Many people in this country who admired dictatorships underwent a revulsion when they realized what Hitler and Mussolini were trying to do. 

rhapsodize  [5rApsEdaiz]
v.  [rhapsodized; rhapsodized; rhapsodizing] to speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner 
She greatly enjoyed her Hawaiian vacation and rhapsodized about it for weeks. 

rhetoric  [5retErik]
n.  art of effective communication; insincere or grandiloquent language 
All writers, by necessity, must be skilled in rhetoric. 

ribald  [5ribEld]
adj.  wanton; profane 
He sang a ribald song that offended many of the more prudish listeners. 

rider  [5raidE]
n.  [riders] amendment or clause added to a legislative bill 
Senator Foghorn said he would support Senator Filibuster's tax reform bill only if Filibuster agreed to add an antipollution rider to the bill. 

rife  [raif]
adj.  [rifer; rifest] abundant; current 
In the face of the many rumors of scandal, which are rife at the moment, it is best to remain silent. 

rift  [rift]
n.  [rifts] opening; break 
The plane was lost in the stormy sky until the pilot saw the city through a rift in the clouds. 

rig  [rig]
v.  [rigged; rigged; rigging] fix or manipulate 
The ward boss was able to rig the election by bribing people to stuff the ballot boxes with ballots marked in his candidate's favor. 

rigid  [5ridVid]
adj.  [more rigid; most rigid] stiff and unyielding; strict; hard and unbending 
By living with a man to whom she was not married, George Eliot broke Victorian society's most rigid rule of respectable behavior. 

rigor  [5rigE]
n.  [rigors] severity 
Many settlers could not stand the rigors of the New England winters. 

rile  [rail]
v.  [riled; riled; riling] vex; irritate; muddy 
Red had a hair-trigger temper: he was an easy man to rile. 

riveting  [5rivitiN]
adj.  absorbing; engrossing 
The reviewer described Byatt's novel Possession as a riveting tale: absorbed in the story, he had finished it in a single evening. 

rivulet  [5rivjulit]
n.  [rivulets] small stream 
As the rains continued, the trickle of water running down the hillside grew into a rivulet that threatened to wash away a portion of the slope. 

robust  [rEu5bQst]
adj.  [more robust; most robust] vigorous; strong 
The candidate for the football team had a robust physique. 

rococo  [rE5kEukEu]
adj.  ornate; highly decorated 
The rococo style in furniture and architecture, marked by scrollwork and excessive decoration, flourished during the middle of the eighteenth century. 

roil  [rRil]
v.  [roiled; roiled; roiling] to make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; to disturb 
Be careful when you pour not to roil the wine; if you stir up the sediment you'll destroy the flavor. 

roseate  [5rEuziit]
adj.  rosy; optimistic 
I am afraid you will have to alter your roseate views in the light of the distressing news that has just arrived. 

roster  [5rRstE]
n.  list 
They print the roster of players in the season's program. 

rostrum  [5rRstrEm]
n.  [rostrums, rostra] platform for speech-making; pulpit 
The crowd murmured angrily and indicated that they did not care to listen to the speaker who was approaching the rostrum. 

rote  [rEut]
n.  repetition 
He recited the passage by rote and gave no indication he understood what he was saying. 

rotunda  [rEu5tQndE]
n.  [rotundas] circular building or hall covered with a dome 
His body lay in state in the rotunda of the Capitol. 

rotundity  [rEu5tQnditi]
n.  roundness; sonorousness of speech 
Washington Irving emphasized the rotundity of the governor by describing his height and circumference. 

rousing  [5rauziN]
adj.  lively; stirring 
"And now, let's have a rousing welcome for TV's own Roseanne Arnold, who'll lead us in a rousing rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'" 

rout  [raut]
v.  [routed; routed; routing] stampede; drive out 
The reinforcements were able to rout the enemy 

rubble  [5rQbl]
n.  fragments 
Ten years after World War II, some of the rubble left by enemy bombings could still be seen. 

rubric  [5ru:brik]
n.  title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol 
In ordaining the new priests, the bishop carefully observed all the rubrics for the ordination service. 

ruddy  [5rQdi]
adj.  [ruddier; ruddiest] reddish; healthy-looking 
His ruddy features indicated that he had spent much time in the open. 

rudimentary  [5ru:di5mentEri]
adj.  [more rudimentary; most rudimentary] not developed; elementary 
His dancing was limited to a few rudimentary steps. 

rueful  [5ru:ful]
adj.  regretful; sorrowful; dejected 
The artist has captured the sadness of childhood in his portrait of the boy with the rueful countenance. 

ruffian  [5rQfjEn]
n.  [ruffians] bully; scoundrel 
The ruffians threw stones at the police. 

ruminate  [5r:mineit]
v.  [ruminated; ruminated; ruminating] chew the cud; ponder 
We cannot afford to wait while you ruminate upon these plans. 

rummage  [5rQmidV]
v.  [rummaged; rummaged; rummaging] ransack; thoroughly search 
When we rummaged through the trunks in the attic, we found many souvenirs of our childhood days. 

runic  [5ru:nik]
adj.  mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet 
Tolkien's use of Old English words and inscriptions in the runic alphabet give The Lord of the Rings its atmosphere of antiquity. 

ruse  [ru:z]
n.  trick; stratagem 
You will not be able to fool your friends with such an obvious ruse. 

rustic  [5rQstik]
adj.  [more rustic; most rustic] pertaining to country people; uncouth 
The backwoodsman looked out place in his rustic attire. 

rusticate  [5rQstikeit]
v.  [rusticated; rusticated; rusticating] banish to the country; dwell in the country 
I like city life so much that I can never understand how people can rusticate in the suburbs. 

ruthless  [5ru:Wlis]
adj.  [more ruthless; most ruthless] pitiless 
The escaped convict was a dangerous and ruthless murderer. 

saboteur  [,sAbE5tE:]
n.  one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property 
Members of the Resistance acted as saboteurs, blowing up train lines to prevent supplies from reaching the Nazi army. 

saccharine  [5sAkErain]
adj.  cloyingly sweet 
She tried to ingratiate herself, speaking sweetly and smiling a saccharine smile. 

sacrilegious  [sAkri5lidVEs]
adj.  desecrating; profane 
His stealing of the altar cloth was a very sacrilegious act. 

sacrosanct  [5sAkrEusANkt]
adj.  most sacred; inviolable 
The brash insurance salesman invaded the sacrosanct privacy of the office of the president of the company. 

sadistic  [sA5distik]
adj.  inclined to cruelty 
If we are to improve conditions in this prison, we must first get rid of the sadistic warden. 

saga  [5sa:gE]
n.  [sagas] Scandinavian myth; any legend 
This is a saga of the sea and the men who risk their lives on it. 

sagacious  [sE5geFEs]
adj.  [more sagacious; most sagacious] keen; shrewd; having insight 
He is much too sagacious to be fooled by a trick like that. 

sage  [seidV]
n.  [sages] person celebrated for wisdom 
Hearing tales of a mysterious Master of All Knowledge who lived in the hills of Tibet, Sandy was possessed with a burning desire to consult the legendary sage. 

salacious  [sE5leiFEs]
adj.  lascivious; lustful 
Chaucer's monk is not pious but salacious, a teller of lewd tales and ribald jests. 

salient  [5seiljEnt]
adj.  [more salient; most salient] prominent 
One of the salient features of that newspaper is its excellent editorial page. 

saline  [5seilain]
adj.  salty 
The slightly saline taste of this mineral water is pleasant. 

sallow  [5sAlEu]
adj.  [sallower; sallowest] yellowish; sickly in color 
We were disturbed by his sallow complexion, which was due to jaundice. 

salubrious  [sE5lu:briEs]
adj.  healthful 
Many people with hay fever move to more salubrious sections of the country during the months of August and September. 

salutary  [5sAljEtZri]
adj.  [more salutary; most salutary] tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome 
The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy, as he became a model student. 

salvage  [5sAlvidV]
v.  [salvaged; salvaged; salvaging] rescue from loss 
All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed. 

sanctimonious  [sANkti5mEuniEs]
adj.  displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness 
You do not have to be so sanctimonious to prove that you are devout. 

sanction  [5sANkFEn]
v.  [sanctioned; sanctioned; sanctioning] approve; ratify 
Nothing will convince me to sanction the engagement of my daughter to such a worthless young man. 

sanguinary  [5sANgwinEri]
adj.  bloody 
The battlewas unexpectedly sanguinary with many casualties. 

sanguine  [5sANgwin]
adj.  [more sanguine; most sanguine] cheerful; hopeful 
Let us not be too sanguine about the outcome; something could go wrong. 

sap  [sAp]
v.  [sapped; sapped; sapping] diminish; undermine 
Ten years of war had sapped the country's strength. 

sarcasm  [5sa:kAzEm]
n.  [sarcasms] scornful remarks, stinging rebuke 
His feelings were hurt by the sarcasm of his supposed friends. 

sardonic  [sa:5dRnik]
adj.  [more sardonic; most sardonic] disdainful; sarcastic; cynical 
The sardonic humor of nightclub comedians who satirize or ridicule patrons in the audience strikes some people as amusing and others as rude. 

sartorial  [sB:5tR:riEl]
adj.  pertaining to tailors 
He was as famous for the sartorial splendor of his attire as he was for his acting. 

sate  [seit]
v.  [sated; sated; sating] satisfy to the full; cloy 
Its hunger sated, the lion dozed. 

satellite  [5sAtElait]
n.  [satellites] small body revolving around a larger one 
During the first few years of the Space Age, hundreds of satellites were launched by Russia and the United States. 

satiate  [5seiFieit]
v.  [satiated; satiated; satiating] surfeit; satisfy fully 
The guests, having eaten until they were satiated, now listened inattentively to the speakers. 

satire  [5sAtaiE]
n.  [satires] form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack vice and folly 
Gulliver's Travels, which is regarded by many as a tale for children, is actually a bitter satire attacking human folly. 

satirical  [sE5tirEkl]
adj.  mocking 
The humor of cartoonists Gary Trudeau often is satirical; though the comments of the Doonesbury characters, Trudeau ridicules political corruption and folly. 

saturate  [5sAtFEreit]
v.  [saturated; saturated; saturating] soak 
Their clothes were saturated by the rain. 

saturnine  [5sAtEnain]
adj.  gloomy 
Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance; he is not as gloomy as he looks. 

satyr  [5sAtE]
n.  [satyrs] half-human, half-bestial being in the court of Dionysus, portrayed as wanton and cunning 
He was like a satyr in his lustful conduct. 

saunter  [5sR:ntE]
v.  [sauntered; sauntered; sauntering] stroll slowly 
As we sauntered through the park, we stopped frequently to admire the spring flowers. 

savant  [5sAvEnt]
n.  [savants] scholar 
Our faculty includes many world famous savants. 

savor  [5sevE]
v.  [savored; savored; savoring] enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality 
Relishing his triumph, Costner especially savored the chagrin of the critics who had predicted his failure. 

savory  [5seivEri]
adj.  [savorier; savoriest] tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable 
Julia Child's recipes enable amateur chefs to create savory delicacies for their guests. 

scabbard  [5skAbEd]
n.  [scabbards] case for a sword blade; sheath 
The drill master told the recruit to wipe the blood from his sword before slipping it back into the scabbard. 

scad  [skAd]
n.  a great quantity 
Refusing Dave's offer to lend him a shirt, Phil replied, "No, thanks: I've got scads of clothes." 

scaffold  [5skAfEld]
n.  [scaffolds] temporary platform for workers; bracing framework; platform for execution 
Before painting the house, the workers put up a scaffold to allow them to work on the second story. 

scale  [skeil]
v.  [scaled; scaled; scaling] climb up; ascend 
To locate a book on the top shelf of the stacks, Lee had to scale an exceptionally rickety ladder. 

scanty  [5skAnti]
adj.  [scantier; scantiest] meager; insufficient 
Thinking his helping of food was scanty, Oliver Twist asked for more. 

scapegoat  [5skeipgEut]
n.  someone who bears the blame for others 
After the Challenger disaster, NASA searched for scapegoats on whom they could cast the blame. 

scavenge  [5skAvindV]
v.  [scavenged; scavenged; scavenging] hunt through discarded materials for usable items; search, especially for food 
If you need car parts that the dealers no longer stock, try scavenging for odd bits and pieces at the auto wreckers' yards. 

scenario  [si5nB:riEu]
n.  [scenarios] plot outline; screenplay; opera libretto 
Scaramouche startled the other actors in the commedia troupe when he suddenly departed from their customary scenario and began to improvise. 

schematic  [ski:5mAtik]
adj.  relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols 
In working out the solution to an analytical logic question, you may find it helpful to construct a simple schematic diagram illustrating the relationships between the items of information given in the question. 

schism  [5sizEm]
n.  division; split 
Let us not widen the schism by further bickering. 

scintilla  [sin5tilE]
n.  [scintillas] shred; least bit 
You have not produced a scintilla of evidence to support your argument. 

scintillate  [5sintileit]
v.  [scintillated; scintillated; scintillating] sparkle; flash 
I enjoy her dinner parties because the food is excellent and the conversation scintillates. 

scoff  [5skRf]
v.  [scoffed; scoffed; scoffing] mock; ridicule 
He scoffed at dentists until he had his first toothache. 

scotch  [skRtF]
v.  [scotched; scotched; scotching] stamp out; thwart; hinder 
Heather tried to scotch the rumor that she had stolen her best friend's fiance. 

scourge  [skE:dV]
n.  [scourges] lash; whip; severe punishment 
They feared the plague and regarded it as a deadly scourge. 

scruple  [5skru:pl]
v.  [scrupled; scrupled; scrupling] fret about; hesitate, for ethical reasons 
Fearing that her husband had become involved in an affair, she did not scruple to read his diary. 

scrupulous  [5skru:pjulEs]
adj.  conscientious; extremely thorough 
I can recommend him for a position of responsibility for I have found him a very scrupulous young man. 

scrutinize  [5skru:tinaiz]
v.  [scrutinized; scrutinized; scrutinizing] examine closely and critically 
Searching for flaws, the sergeant scrutinized every detail of the private's uniform. 

scuffle  [5skQfl]
v.  [scuffled; scuffled; scuffling] struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry. 
The twins briefly scuffled, wrestling to see which of them would get the toy. When their big brother yelled, "Let go of my Gameboy!" they scuffled off down the hall. 

scurrilous  [5skQrilEs]
adj.  obscene; indecent 
Your scurrilous remarks are especially offensive because they are untrue. 

scurry  [5skQri]
v.  [scurried; scurried; scurrying] move briskly 
The White Rabbit had to scurry to get to his appointment on time. 

scurvy  [5skE:vi]
adj.  [scurvier; scurviest] despicable; contemptible 
Peter Pan sneered at Captain Hook and his scurvy crew. 

scuttle  [5skQtl]
v.  sink 
The sailors decided to scuttle their vessel rather than surrender it to the enemy. 

seamy  [5si:mi]
adj.  [seamier; seamiest] sordid; unwholesome 
In the Godfather, Michael Corleone is unwilling to expose his wife and children to the seamy side of his life as the son of a Mafia don. 

sear  [siE]
v.  [seared; seared; searing] char or burn; brand 
Accidentally brushing against the hot grill, she seared her hand badly. 

seasoned  [5si:znd]
adj.  experienced 
Though pleased with her new batch of rookies, the basketball coach wished she had a few more seasoned players on the team. 

secession  [si5seFEn]
n.  withdrawal 
The secession of the Southern states provided Lincoln with his first major problem after his inauguration. 

seclusion  [si5kluVEn]
n.  [seclusions] isolation; solitude 
One moment she loved crowds; the next, she sought seclusion. 

secrete  [si5kri:t]
v.  [secreted; secreted; secreting] hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism. 
The pack rat secretes odds and ends in its nest; the pancreas secretes insulin in the islets of Langerhans. 

sectarian  [sek5tZEriEn]
adj.  narrow-minded; limited in scope 
As university chaplain, she sought to address universal religious issues and not limit herself to mere sectarian concerns. 

secular  [5sekjulE]
adj.  worldly; not pertaining to church matters; temporal 
The church leaders decided not interfere in secular matters. 

sedate  [si5deit]
adj.  [sedater; sedatest] composed; grave 
The parents were worried because they felt their son was too quiet and sedate. 

sedative  [5sedEtiv]
n.  calming drug or influence 
It is dangerous to drive after taking the sedative; it brings drowsiness. 

sedentary  [5sedntEri]
adj.  requiring sitting 
Because he had a sedentary occupation, he decided to visit a gymnasium weekly. 

sedition  [si5diFEn]
n.  resistance to authority; insubordination 
His words, though not treasonous in themselves, were calculated to arouse thoughts of sedition. 

sedulous  [5sedjulEs]
adj.  diligent 
The young woman was so sedulous that she received a commendation for her hard work. 

seedy  [5si:di]
adj.  [seedier; seediest] run-down; decrepit; disreputable 
I would rather stay in dormitory lodgings in a decent youth hostel than have a room of my own in a seedy downtown hotel. 

seemly  [5si:mli]
adj.  [seemlier; seemliest] proper; appropriate 
Lady Bracknell did not think it was seemly for Ernest to lack a proper family; no baby abandoned on a doorstep could grow up to marry her daughter. 

seep  [si:p]
v.  [seeped; seeped; seeping] ooze; trickle 
During the rainstorm, water seeped through the crack in the basement wall and damaged the floor boards. 

seethe  [si:T]
v.  [seethed; seethed; seething] be disturbed; boil 
The nation was seething with discontent as the nobleman continued their arrogant ways. 

seine  [sein]
n.  net for catching fish 
When the shad run during the spring, you may see fishermen with seines along the banks of our coastal rivers. 

seismic  [5saizmik]
adj.  pertaining to earthquakes 
The Richter scale is a measurement of seismic disturbances. 

semblance  [5semblEns]
n.  outward appearance; guise 
Although this book has a semblance of wisdom and scholarship, a careful examination will reveal many errors and omissions. 

seminal  [5seminl]
adj.  germinal; influencing future developments; related to seed or semen 
Although Freud has generally been regarded as a seminal thinker who shaped the course of psychology, his psychoanalytic methods have come under attack recently. 

seminary  [5seminEri]
n.  [seminaries] school for training future ministers; secondary school, especially for young women 
Sure of his priestly vocation, Terrence planned to pursue his theological training at the local Roman Catholic seminary. 

senility  [si5niliti]
n.  old age; feeble mindedness of old age 
Most of the decisions are being made by the junior members of the company because of the senility of the president. 

sensual  [5sensjuEl]
adj.  [more sensual; most sensual] devoted to the pleasures of the senses; carnal; voluptuous 
I cannot understand what caused him to drop his sensual way of life and become so ascetic. 

sensuous  [5sZnFuEs]
adj.  pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses 
He was stimulated by the sights, sounds and smells about him; he was enjoying his sensuous experience. 

sententious  [sen5tenFEs]
adj.  terse; concise; aphoristic 
After reading so many redundant speeches, I find his sententious style particularly pleasing. 

sentinel  [5sentinl]
n.  [sentinels] sentry; lookout 
Though camped in enemy territory, Bledsoe ignored the elementary precaution of posting sentinels around the encampment. 

septic  [5septik]
adj.  putrid; producing putrefaction 
The hospital was in such a filthy state that we were afraid that many of the patients would suffer from septic poisoning. 

sepulcher  [5sepElkE]
n.  [sepulchers] tomb 
Annabel Lee was buried in a sepulcher by the sea. 

sequester  [si5kwestE]
v.  [sequestered; sequestered; sequestering] retire from public life; segregate; seclude 
Although he had hoped for a long time to sequester himself in a small community, he never was able to drop his busy round of activities in the city. 

sere  [siE]
adj.  parched; dry 
After the unseasonably dry winter the Berkeley hills looked dusty and sere. 

serendipity  [5serEn5dipEti]
n.  gift for finding valuable or desirable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck 
Many scientific discoveries are a matter of serendipity: Newton was not sitting there thinking about gravity when the apple dropped on his head. 

serenity  [si5reniti]
n.  calmness; placidity 
The serenity of the sleepy town was shattered by a tremendous explosion. 

serpentine  [5sE:pEntin]
adj.  winding; twisting 
The car swerved at every curve in the serpentine road. 

serrated  [se5reitid]
adj.  having a sawtoothed edge 
The beech tree is one of many plants that have serrated leaves. 

servile  [5sE:vl]
adj.  slavish; cringing 
Constantly fawning on his employer, humble Uriah Heap was a servile creature. 

servitude  [5sE:vitju:d]
n.  slavery; compulsory labor 
Born a slave, Douglass resented his wife of servitude and plotted to escape to the North. 

severance  [5sevErEns]
n.  division; partition; separation 
The severance of church and state is a basic principle of our government. 

severity  [si5veriti]
n.  [severities] harshness; plainness 
The newspapers disapproved of the severity of the sentence. 

sextant  [5sekstEnt]
n.  navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude 
Given a clear night, with the aid of his sextant and compass, he could keep the ship safely on course. 

shackle  [5FAkl]
v.  [shackled; shackled; shackling] chain; fetter 
The criminal's ankles were shackled to prevent his escape. 

sham  [FAm]
v.  [shammed; shammed; shamming] pretend 
He shammed sickness to get out of going to school. 

shambles  [5FAmblz]
n.  slaughterhouse; scene of carnage 
By the time the police arrived, the room was a shambles. 

shard  [Fa:d]
n.  fragment, generally of pottery 
The archaeologist assigned several students the task of reassembling earthenware vessels from the shards he had brought back from the expedition. 

sheaf  [Fi:f]
n.  [sheaves] bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together 
The lawyer picked up a sheaf of papers as he rose to question the witness. 

sheathe  [FiT]
v.  [sheathed; sheathed; sheathing] place into a case 
As soon as he recognized the approaching men, he sheathed his dagger and hailed them as friends. 

sherbet  [5FE:bEt]
n.  flavored dessert ice 
I prefer raspberry sherbet to ice cream since it is less fattening. 

shimmer  [5FimE]
v.  [shimmered; shimmered; shimmering] glimmer intermittently 
The moonlight shimmered on the water as the moon broke through the clouds for a moment. 

shirk  [FE:k]
v.  [shirked; shirked; shirking] avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger 
Brian has a strong sense of duty; he would never shirk any responsibility. 

shoddy  [5FRdi]
adj.  [shoddier; shoddiest] sham; not genuine; inferior 
You will never get the public to buy such shoddy material. 

shrew  [Fru:]
n.  [shrews] scolding woman 
No one wanted to marry Shakespeare's Kate because she was a shrew. 

shrewd  [Fru:d]
adj.  [shrewder; shrewdest] clever; astute 
A shrewd investor, he took clever advantage of the fluctuations of the stock market. 

shun  [FQn]
v.  [shunned; shunned; shunning] keep away from 
Cherishing his solitude, the recluse shunned the company of other human beings. 

shunt  [FQnt]
v.  [shunted; shunted; shunting] turn aside; divert; sidetrack 
If the switchman failed to shunt the Silver Streak onto a side track, the train would plow right into Union Station. 

shyster  [5FaistE]
n.  lawyer using questionable methods. 
On L.A. Law, respectable attorney Brackman was horrified to learn that his newly discovered half brother was a cheap shyster. 

sibling  [5sibliN]
n.  brother or sister 
We may not enjoy being siblings, but we cannot forget that we still belong to the same family. 

sibylline  [5sibli:n]
adj.  prophetic; oracular 
Until their destruction by fire in 83 B.C., the sibylline books were often consulted by the Romans. 

sidereal  [sai5diriEl]
adj.  relating to the stars 
Although hampered by optical and mechanical flaws, the orbiting Hubble space telescope has relayed extraordinary images of distant sidereal bodies. 

silt  [silt]
n.  sediment deposited by running water 
The harbor channel must be dredged annually to remove the silt. 

simian  [5simiEn]
adj.  monkeylike 
Lemurs are nocturnal mammals and have many simian characteristics, although they are less intelligent than monkeys. 

simile  [5simili]
n.  comparison of one thing with another, using the word like or as 
"My love is like a red, red rose" is a simile. 

simper  [5simpE]
v.  [simpered; simpered; simpering] smirk; smile affectedly 
Complimented on her appearance, Stella self-consciously simpered. 

simplistic  [sim5plistik]
adj.  oversimplified 
Though Jack's solution dealt adequately with one aspect of the problem, it was simplistic in failing to consider various complicating factors that might arise. 

simulate  [5simjuleit]
v.  [simulated; simulated; simulating] feign 
He simulated insanity in order to avoid punishment for his crime. 

sinecure  [5sainikjuE]
n.  well-paid position with little responsibility 
My job is no sinecure; I work long hours and have much responsibility. 

sinewy  [5sinju:i]
adj.  tough; strong and firm 
The steak was too sinewy to chew 

singular  [5siNgjulE]
adj.  unique; extraordinary; odd 
Though the young man tried to understand Father William's singular behavior, he still found it odd that the old man incessantly stood on his head. 

sinister  [5sinistE]
adj.  [more sinister; most sinister] evil 
We must defeat the sinister forces that seek our downfall. 

sinuous  [5sinjuEs]
adj.  winding; bending in and out; not morally honest 
The snake moved in a sinuous manner. 

skeptic  [5skeptik]
n.  doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view. 
In this matter, I am a skeptic; I want proof. 

skiff  [skif]
n.  small, light sailboat or rowboat 
Tom dreamed of owning an ocean-going yacht but had to settle for a skiff he could sail in the bay. 

skimp  [skimp]
v.  [skimped; skimped; skimping] provide scantily; live very economically 
They were forced to skimp on necessities in order to make their limited supplies last the winter. 

skinflint  [5skinflint]
n.  miser 
The old skinflint refused to give her a raise. 

skirmish  [5skE:miF]
n.  [skirmishes] minor fight 
Custer's troops expected they might run into a skirmish or two on maneuvers; they did not expect to face a major battle. 

skittish  [5skitiF]
adj.  lively; frisky 
She is as skittish as a kitten playing with a piece of string. 

skulduggery  [skQl5dQgEri]
n.  [skulduggeries] dishonest behavior 
The investigation into municipal corruption turned up new instances of skulduggery daily. 

skulk  [skQlk]
v.  [skulked; skulked; skulking] move furtively and secretly 
He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city in order to avoid meeting any of his former friends. 

slacken  [5slAkEn]
v.  [slackened; slackened; slackening] slow up; loosen 
As they passed the finish line, the runners slackened their pace. 

slag  [slAg]
n.  residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter 
The blast furnace had a special opening at the bottom to allow the workers to remove the worthless slag. 

slake  [sleik]
v.  [slaked; slaked; slaking] quench; sate 
When we reached the oasis, we were able to slake our thirst. 

slander  [5sla:ndE]
n.  defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements 
Unless you can prove your allegations, your remarks constitute slander. 

slapdash  [5slApdAF]
adj.  haphazard; careless; sloppy 
From the number of typos and misspellings I've found on it, it's clear that Mario proofread the report in a remarkably slapdash fashion. 

sleazy  [5sleizi]
adj.  [sleazier; sleaziest] flimsy; unsubstantial 
This is a sleazy fabric; it will not wear well. 

sleeper  [5sli:pE]
n.  [sleepers] something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable 
Unnoticed by the critics at its publication, the eventual Pulitzer Prize winner was a classic sleeper. 

sleight  [slait]
n.  dexterity 
The magician amazed the audience with his sleight of hand. 

slight  [slait]
n.  [slights] insult to one's dignity; snub 
Hypersensitive and ready to take offense at any discourtesy, Bertha was always on the lookout for real or imaginary slights. 

slither  [5sliTE]
v.  [slithered; slithered; slithering] slip or slide 
During the recent ice storm, many people slithered down this hill as they walked to the station. 

sloth  [slEuW]
n.  [sloths] laziness 
Such sloth in a young person is deplorable; go to work! 

sloth  [slEuW]
n.  [sloths] slow-moving tree-dwelling mammal 
Note how well the somewhat greenish coat of the sloth enables it to blend in with its arboreal surroundings. 

slough  [slau]
v.  cast off 
Each spring, the snake sloughs off its skin. 

slovenly  [5slQvEnli]
adj.  [slovenlier; slovenliest] untidy; slipshod 
Such slovenly work habits will never produce good products. 

sluggard  [5slQgEd]
n.  lazy person 
"You are a sluggard, a drone, a parasite," the angry father shouted at his lazy son. 

sluggish  [5slQgiF]
adj.  [more sluggish; most sluggish] slow; lazy; lethargic 
After two nights without sleep, she felt sluggish and incapable of exertion. 

sluice  [slu:s]
n.  [sluices] artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water 
In times of drought, this sluice enables farmers to obtain water for irrigation. 

slur  [slE:]
n.  [slurs] insult to one's character or reputation; slander 
olls revealed that the front-runner's standing had been damaged by the slurs and innuendoes circulated by his opponent's staff. 

smattering  [5smAtEriN]
n.  slight knowledge 
I don't know whether it is better to be ignorant of a subject or to have a mere smattering of information about it. 

smirk  [smE:k]
n.  conceited smile 
Wipe that smirk off your face! 

smolder  [5smEuldE]
v.  [smoldered; smoldered; smoldering] burn without flame; be liable to break out at any moment 
The rags smoldered for hours before they burst into flame. 

snicker  [5snikE]
n.  half-stifled laugh 
The boy could not suppress a snicker when the teacher sat on the tack. 

snivel  [5snivl]
v.  [sniveled, snivelled; sniveled, snivelled; sniveling, snivelling] run at the nose; snuffle; whine 
Don't you come sniveling to me complaining about your big brother. 

sobriety  [sE5braiiti]
n.  moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness 
Neither drunkards nor comics are noted for sobriety. 

sodden  [5sRdn]
adj.  soaked; dull, as if from drink 
He set his sodden overcoat near the radiator to dry. 

sojourn  [5sRdVE:n]
n.  [sojourns] temporary stay 
After his sojourn in Florida, he began to long for the colder climate of his native New England home. 

solace  [5sRlEs]
n.  [solaces] comfort in trouble 
I hope you will find solace in the thought that all of us share your loss. 

solder  [5sRdE]
v.  [soldered; soldered; soldering] repair or make whole by using a metal alloy 
The plumber fixed the leak in the pipes by soldering a couple of joints from which water had been oozing. 

solecism  [5sRlisizm]
n.  construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically 
I must give this paper a failing mark because it contains many solecisms. 

solemnity  [sE5lemniti]
n.  [solemnities] seriousness; gravity 
The minister was concerned that nothing should disturb the solemnity of the marriage service. 

solicit  [sE5lisit]
v.  [solicited; solicited; soliciting] request earnestly; seek 
Knowing she needed to have a solid majority for the budget to pass, the mayor telephoned all the members of the city council to solicit their votes. 

solicitous  [sE5lisitEs]
adj.  worried, concerned 
The employer was very solicitous about the health of her employees as replacements were difficult to get. 

soliloquy  [sE5lilEkwi]
n.  [soliloquies] talking to oneself 
The soliloquy is a device used by the dramatist to reveal a character's innermost thoughts and emotions. 

solstice  [5sRlstis]
n.  point at which the sun is farthest from the equator 
The winter solstice usually occurs on December 21. 

solvent  [5sRlvEnt]
adj.  able to pay all debts 
By dint of very frugal living, he was finally able to become solvent and avoid bankruptcy proceedings. 

somatic  [sEu5mAtik]
adj.  pertaining to the body; physical 
Why do you ignore the spiritual aspects and emphasize only the corporeal and the somatic ones? 

somber  [5sRmbE]
adj.  gloomy; depressing 
From the doctor's grim expression, I could tell he had somber news. 

somnambulist  [sRm`nAmbjulist]
n.  sleepwalker 
The most famous somnambulist in literature is Lady Macbeth; her monologue in the sleepwalking scene is one of the highlights of Shakespeare's play. 

somnolent  [5sRmnElEnt]
adj.  half asleep 
The heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the speaker. 

sonorous  [sE5nR:rEs]
adj.  resonant 
His sonorous voice resounded through the hall. 

sophist  [5sRfist]
n.  teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning 
You are using all the devices of a sophist in trying to prove your case; your argument is specious. 

sophistication  [sEfisti5keiFEn]
n.  artificiality; unnaturalness; act of employing sophistry in reasoning 
Sophistication is an acquired characteristic, found more frequently among city dwellers than among residents of rural areas. 

sophistry  [5sRfistri]
n.  [sophistries] seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning 
Instead of advancing valid arguments, he tried to overwhelm his audience with a flood of sophistries. 

sophomoric  [5sRfE5mR:rik]
adj.  immature; shallow 
Your sophomoric remarks are a sign of your youth and indicate that you have not given much thought to the problem. 

soporific  [sEupE5rifik]
adj.  sleep producing 
I do not need a sedative when I listen to one of his soporific speeches. 

sordid  [5sR:did]
adj.  filthy; base; vile 
The social worker was angered by the sordid housing provided for the homeless. 

spangle  [5spAngl]
n.  [spangles] small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation 
The thousands of spangles on her dress sparkled in the glare of the stage lights. 

spartan  [5spa:tn]
adj.  lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined 
Looking over the bare, unheated room with its hard cot, he wondered what he was doing in such spartan quarters. Only his spartan sense of duty kept him at his post. 

spasmodic  [spAz5mRdik]
adj.  fitful; periodic 
The spasmodic coughing in the auditorium annoyed the performers. 

spat  [spAt]
n.  squabble; minor dispute 
What had started out as a mere spat escalated into a full-blown argument. 

spate  [speit]
n.  sudden flood 
I am worried about the possibility of a spate if the rains do not diminish soon. 

spatial  [5speiFEl]
adj.  relating to space 
It is difficult to visualize the spatial extent of our universe. 

spatula  [5spAtFElE]
n.  [spatulas] broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing 
The manufacturers of this frying pan recommended the use of a rubber spatula to avoid scratching the specially treated surface. 

spawn  [spR:n]
v.  [spawned; spawned; spawning] lay eggs 
Fish ladders had to be built in the dams to assist the salmon returning to spawn in their native streams. 

specious  [5spi:FEs]
adj.  seemingly reasonable but incorrect 
Let us not be misled by such specious arguments. 

spectral  [5spektrEl]
adj.  ghostly 
We were frightened by the spectral glow that filled the room. 

spectrum  [5spektrEm]
n.  [spectra, spectrums] colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism 
The visible portion of the spectrum includes red at one end and violet at the other. 

spendthrift  [5spendWrift]
n.  someone who wastes money 
Easy access to credit encourages people to turn into spendthrifts who shop till they drop. 

sphinx-like  []
adj.  enigmatic; mysterious 
The Mona Lisa's sphinx-like expression has puzzled art lovers for centuries. 

splice  [splais]
v.  [spliced; spliced; splicing] fasten together; unite 
Before you splice two strips of tape together, be sure to line them up evenly. 

spontaneity  [spRntE5ni:iti]
n.  [spontaneities] impulsiveness; absence of premeditation 
What I liked best about Dale's parties was their spontaneity: a couple of friends would drop by, someone would pull out a fiddle or guitar, and before you knew it the party would be in full swing. 

spoonerism  [5spu:nErizm]
n.  accidental transposition of sounds in successive words 
When the radio announcer introduced the President as Hoobert Herver, he was guilty of spoonerism. 

sporadic  [spE5rAdik]
adj.  occurring irregularly 
Although there are still sporadic outbursts of shooting in the streets, the rebellion is essentially over. 

sportive  [5spR:tiv]
adj.  playful 
Such a sportive attitude is surprising in a person as serious as you usually are. 

spruce  [spru:s]
adj.  neat and trim 
Every button buttoned, tie firmly in place, young Alex Keaton looked spruce and tidy for his job interview at the bank. 

spry  [sprai]
adj.  [sprier, spryer; spriest, spryest] vigorously active; nimble 
She was eighty years old, yet still spry and alert. 

spurious  [5spjuEriEs]
adj.  false; counterfeit; forged; illogical 
The hero of Jonathan Gash's mystery novels is an antique dealer who gives the reader advice on how to tell spurious antiques from the real things. 

spurn  [spE:n]
v.  [spurned; spurned; spurning] reject; scorn 
The heroine spurned the villain's advances. 

squabble  [5skwRbl]
n.  [squabbles] minor quarrel; bickering 
Children invariably get involved in petty squabbles; wise parents know when to interfere and when to let the children work things out on their own. 

squalid  [5skwRlid]
adj.  dirty; neglected; poor 
It is easy to see how crime can breed in such a squalid neighborhood. 

squander  [5skwRndE]
v.  [squandered; squandered; squandering] waste 
The prodigal son squandered the family estate. 

squat  [skwRt]
adj.  [squatter; squattest] stocky; short and thick 
Tolkien's hobbits are somewhat squat, sturdy little creatures, fond of good ale, good music, and good food. 

staccato  [stE5ka:tEu]
adj.  played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt, sharp sound 
His staccato speech reminded one of the sound of a machine gun. 

stagnant  [5stAgnEnt]
adj.  motionless; stale; dull 
The stagnant water was a breeding ground for disease. 

staid  [steid]
adj.  [staider; staidest] sober; sedate 
Her conduct during the funeral ceremony was staid and solemn. 

stalemate  [5steil5meit]
n.  deadlock 
Negotiations between the union and the employers have reached a stalemate; neither side is willing to budge from previously stated positions. 

stalwart  [5stR:lwEt]
adj.  [more stalwart; most stalwart] strong, brawny; steadfast 
His consistent support of the party has proved that he is a stalwart and loyal member. 

stamina  [5stAmEnE]
n.  strength; staying power 
I doubt that she has the stamina to run the full distance of the marathon race. 

stanch  [stAnF]
v.  [stanched; stanched; stanching] check flow of blood 
It is imperative that we stanch the gushing wound before we attend to the other injuries. 

stanza  [5stAnzE]
n.  [stanzas] division of a poem 
Do you know the last stanza of "The Star-Spangled Banner"? 

static  [5stAtikl]
adj.  unchanging; lacking development 
Nothing had changed at home; things were static there 

statute  [5stAtju:t]
n.  [statutes] law 
We have many statutes in our law books which should be repealed. 

statutory  [5stAtjutEri]
adj.  created by statute or legislative action 
The judicial courts review and try statutory crimes. 

steadfast  [5stedfEst]
adj.  [more steadfast; most steadfast] loyal; unswerving 
Penelope was steadfast in her affections, faithfully waiting for Ulysses to return from his wanderings. 

stealth  [stelW]
n.  slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness 
Fearing detection by the sentries on duty, the scout inched his way toward the enemy camp with great stealth. 

steep  [sti:p]
v.  soak; saturate 
Be sure to steep the fabric in the dye bath for the full time prescribed. 

stellar  [5stelE]
adj.  pertaining to the stars 
He was the stellar attraction of the entire performance. 

stem  [stem]
v.  [stemmed; stemmed; stemming] check the flow 
The paramedic used a tourniquet to stem the bleeding from the slashed artery. 

stem from  []
v.  arise from 
Milton's problems in school stemmed from his poor study habits. 

stentorian  [sten5tR:riEn]
adj.  extremely loud 
The town crier had stentorian voice. 

stereotyped  [5stiEriEtaipt]
adj.  oversimplified; lacking individuality; seen as a type 
My chief objection to the book is that the characters are stereotyped; they come across as ethnic caricatures, not as real people with individual quirks, fears, and dreams. 

stickler  [5stiklE]
n.  perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right 
The Internal Revenue Service agent was a stickler for accuracy; no approximations or rough estimates would satisfy him. 

stifle  [5sfaifl]
v.  [stifled; stifled; stifling] suppress; extinguish; inhibit 
Halfway through the boring lecture, Laura gave up trying to stifle her yawns. 

stigma  [5stigmE]
n.  [stigmata, stigmas] token of disgrace; brand 
I do not attach any stigma to the fact that you were accused of this crime; the fact that you were acquitted clears you completely. 

stilted  [5stiltid]
adj.  bombastic; stiffly pompous 
His stilted rhetoric did not impress the college audience; they were immune to bombastic utterances. 

stint  [stint]
v.  [stinted; stinted; stinting] be thrifty; set limits 
"Spare no expense," the bride's father said, refusing to stint on the wedding arrangements. 

stint  [stint]
n.  [stints] supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of work 
He performed his daily stint cheerfully and willingly. 

stipend  [5staipend]
n.  pay for services 
There is a nominal stipend for this position. 

stipple  [5stipl]
v.  [stippled; stippled; stippling] paint or draw with dots 
Seurat carefully stippled dabs of pure color on the canvas, juxtaposing dots of blue and yellow that the viewer's eye would interpret as green. 

stipulate  [5stipjuleit]
v.  [stipulated; stipulated; stipulating] make express conditions, specify 
Before agreeing to reduce American military forces in Europe, the president stipulated that NATO teams be allowed to inspect Soviet bases. 

stodgy  [5stRdVi]
adj.  [stodgier; stodgiest] stuffy; boringly conservative 
For a young person, Winston seems remarkably stodgy: you'd expect someone of his age to have a little more life. 

stoic  [5stEuik]
n.  person who is indifferent to pleasure or pain 
The doctor called her patient a stoic because he had borne the pain of the examination without whimpering. 

stoke  [stEuk]
v.  [stoked; stoked; stoking] stir up a fire; feed plentifully 
As a Scout, Marisa learned how to light a fire, how to stoke it if it started to die down, and how to extinguish it completely. 

stolidity  [,stR5liditi]
n.  dullness; impassiveness 
The earthquake shattered his usual stolidity; trembling, he crouched on the no longer stable ground. 

stratified  [5strAtifaid]
adj.  divided into classes; arranged into strata 
As the economic gap between the rich and the poor increased, Roman society grew increasingly stratified. 

stratum  [5streitEm]
n.  [strata, stratums] layer of earth's surface; layer of society 
Unless we alleviate conditions in the lowest stratum of our society, we may expect grumbling and revolt. 

strew  [stru:]
v.  [strewed; strewn, strewed; strewing] spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter 
Preceding the bride to the altar, the flower girl will strew rose petals along the aisle. 

striated  [5straieitid]
adj.  marked with parallel bands; grooved 
The glacier left many striated rocks. 

stricture  [5striktFE]
n.  critical comments; severe and adverse criticism 
His strictures on the author's style are prejudiced and unwarranted. 

strident  [5straidEnt]
adj.  loud and harsh 
She scolded him in a strident voice 

stringent  [5strindVEnt]
adj.  binding; rigid 
I think these regulations are too stringent. 

strut  [strQt]
n.  [struts] pompous walk 
His strut as he marched about the parade ground revealed him for what he was: a pompous buffoon. 

strut  [strQt]
n.  [struts] supporting bar 
The engineer calculated that the strut supporting the rafter needed to be reinforced. 

studied  [5stQdid]
adj.  unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful 
Given Jill's previous slights, Jack felt that the omission of his name from the guest list was a studied insult. 

stultify  [5stQltifai]
v.  [stultified; stultified; stultifying] cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; frustrate or hinder 
His long hours in the blacking factory left young Dickens numb and incurious, as if the menial labor had stultified his mind. 

stupefy  [5stju:pifai]
v.  [stupefied; stupefied; stupefying] make numb; stun; amaze 
Disapproving of drugs in general, Laura refused to take sleeping pills or any other medicine that might stupefy her. 

stupor  [5stju:pE]
n.  [stupors] state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness 
In his stupor, the addict was unaware of the events taking place around him. 

stygian  [5stidViEn]
adj.  literary dark 
The stygian room reminded him of an empty space. 

stymie  [?????�衧��]
v.  [stymied; stymied; stymieing] present an obstacle; stump 
The detective was stymied by the contradictory evidence in the robbery investigation. 

suavity  [5swAviti]
n.  urbanity; polish 
He is particularly good in roles that require suavity and sophistication. 

subaltern  [sEb5R:ltEn]
n.  subordinate 
The captain treated his subalterns as though they were children rather than commissioned officers. 

subjective  [sQb5dVektiv]
adj.  occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal 
Your analysis is highly subjective; you have permitted your emotions and your opinions to color your thinking. 

subjugate  [5sQbdVugeit]
v.  [subjugated; subjugated; subjugating] conquer; bring under control 
It is not our aim to subjugate our foe; we are interested only in establishing peaceful relations. 

sublimate  [5sQblimeit]
v.  [sublimated; sublimated; sublimating] refine; purify 
We must strive to sublimate these desires and emotions into worthwhile activities. 

sublime  [sE5blaim]
adj.  [sublimer; sublimest] exalted; noble; uplifting 
Mother Teresa has been honored for her sublime deeds. 

subliminal  [sQb5liminl]
adj.  below the threshold 
We may not be aware of the subliminal influences that affect our thinking. 

submissive  [sQb5misiv]
adj.  yielding; timid 
Crushed by his authoritarian father, Will had no defiance left in him; he was totally submissive in the face of authority. 

suborn  [sE5bR:n]
v.  [suborned; suborned; suborning] persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury) 
In the Godfather, the mobsters used bribery and threats to suborn the witnesses against Don Michael Corleone. 

subpoena  [sE5pinE]
n.  [subpoenas] writ summoning a witness to appear 
The prosecutor's office was ready to serve a subpoena on the reluctant witness. 

subsequent  [5sQbsikwEnt]
adj.  following; later 
In subsequent lessons, we shall take up more difficult problems. 

subservient  [sEb5sE:vjEnt]
adj.  behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious 
He was proud and dignified; he refused to be subservient to anyone. 

subside  [sEb5said]
v.  [subsided; subsided; subsiding] settle down; descend; grow quiet 
The doctor assured us that the fever would eventually subside. 

subsidiary  [sEb5sidjEri]
adj.  subordinate; secondary 
This information may be used as subsidiary evidence but is not sufficient by itself to prove your argument. 

subsidy  [5sQbsidi]
n.  [subsidies] direct financial aid by government, etc. 
Without this subsidy, American ship operators would not be able to compete in world markets. 

subsistence  [sEb5sistEns]
n.  existence; means of support; livelihood 
In those days of inflated prices, my salary provided mere subsistence. 

substantiate  [sEb5stAnFieit]
v.  [substantiated; substantiated; substantiating] verify; support 
I intend to substantiate my statement by producing witnesses. 

substantive  [5sQbstEntiv]
adj.  essential; pertaining to the substance 
Although the delegates were aware of the importance of the problem, they could not agree on the substantive issues. 

subsume  [sEb5sju:m]
v.  [subsumed; subsumed; subsuming] include; encompass 
Does the general theory of relativity contradict Newtonian physics, or is Newton's law of gravity subsumed into Einstein's larger scheme? 

subterfuge  [5sQbtEfju:dV]
n.  pretense; evasion 
As soon as we realized that you had won our support by a subterfuge we withdrew our endorsement of your candidacy. 

subtlety  [5sQtlti]
n.  [subtleties] nicety; cunning; guile; delicacy 
The subtlety of his remarks was unnoticed by most of his audience. 

subversive  [sEb5vE:siv]
adj.  tending to overthrow; destructive 
At first glance, the notion that Styrofoam cups may actually be more ecologically sound than paper cups strikes most environmentalists as subversive. 

succinct  [sEk5siNkt]
adj.  brief; terse; compact 
His remarks are always succinct and pointed. 

succor  [5sQkE]
n.  [succors] aid; assistance; relief 
We shall be ever grateful for the succor our country gave us when we were in need. 

succulent  [5sQkjulEnt]
adj.  juicy; full of richness 
To some people, Florida citrus fruits are more succulent than those from California. 

succumb  [sE5kQm]
v.  [succumbed; succumbed; succumbing] yield; give in; die 
I succumb to temptation whenever it comes my way. 

suffragist  [5sQfrEdVist]
n.  advocate of voting rights (for women) 
In recognition of her efforts to win the vote for women, Congress authorized coining a silver dollar honoring the suffragist Susan B. Anthony. 

suffuse  [sE5fjuz]
v.  [suffused; suffused; suffusing] spread over 
A blush suffused her cheeks when we teased her about her love affair. 

sully  [5sQli]
v.  [sullied; sullied; sullying] tarnish; soil 
He felt that it was beneath his dignity to sully his hands in such menial labor. 

sultry  [5sQltri]
adj.  [sultrier; sultriest] sweltering 
He could not adjust himself to the sultry climate of the tropics. 

summation  [sQm5eiFEn]
n.  act of finding the total, summary 
In his summation, the lawyer emphasized the testimony given by the two witnesses. 

sumptuous  [5sQmptjuEs]
adj.  [more sumptuous; most sumptuous] lavish; rich 
I cannot recall when I have had such a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast. 

sunder  [5sQndE]
v.  [sundered; sundered; sundering] separate; part 
Northern and southern Ireland are politically and religiously sundered. 

sundry  [5sQndri]
adj.  various; several 
My suspicions were aroused when I read sundry items in the newspapers about your behavior. 

superannuated  [sju:pE5rAnjueitid]
adj.  retired or disqualified because of age 
The superannuated man was indignant because he felt that he could still perform a good day's work. 

supercilious  [sju:pE5siliEs]
adj.  contemptuous; haughty 
I prefer Jill's modesty to Jack's supercilious and arrogant attitude. 

supererogatory  [,sju:pEre5rRgEtEri]
adj.  superfluous; more than needed or demanded 
We have more than enough witnesses to corroborate your statement; to present any more would be supererogatory. 

superficial  [5sju:pE5fiFEl]
adj.  [more superficial; most superficial] trivial; shallow 
Since your report gave only a superficial analysis of the problem, I cannot give you more than a passing grade. 

superfluous  [sju(:)5pE:fluEs]
adj.  excessive; overabundant, unnecessary 
Please try not to include so many superfluous details in your report; just give me the bare facts. 

superimpose  [5sju:pErim5pEuz]
v.  [superimposed; superimposed; superimposing] place over something else 
Your attempt to superimpose another agency in this field will merely increase the bureaucratic nature of our government. 

supernumerary  [5su:pE5nju:mErEri]
n.  [supernumeraries] person or thing in excess of what is necessary; extra 
His first appearance on the stage was as a supernumerary in a Shakespearean tragedy. 

supersede  [sjupE5si:d]
v.  [superseded; superseded; superseding] cause to be set aside; replace 
This regulation will supersede all previous rules. 

supine  [sju:5pain]
adj.  lying on back 
The defeated pugilist lay supine on the canvas. 

supplant  [sE5pla:nt]
v.  [supplanted; supplanted; supplanting] replace; usurp 
Corazon Aquino supplanted Ferdinand Marcos as president of the Philippines. 

supple  [5sQpl]
adj.  [suppler; supplest] flexible; pliant 
The angler found a supple limb and used it as a fishing rod. 

suppliant  [5sQpliEnt]
adj.  entreating; beseeching 
He could not resist the dog's suppliant whimpering, and he gave it some food. 

supplicate  [5sQplikeit]
v.  [supplicated; supplicated; supplicating] petition humbly; pray to grant a favor 
We supplicate Your Majesty to grant him amnesty. 

supposition  [sQpE5ziFEn]
n.  hypothesis; surmise 
I based my decision to confide in him on the supposition that he would be discreet. 

supposititious  [sEpRzi5tiFEs]
adj.  assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical 
I find no similarity between your supposititious illustration and the problem we are facing. 

surfeit  [5sE:fit]
v.  [surfeited; surfeited; surfeiting] satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anything 
Every Thanksgiving we are surfeited with an overabundance of holiday treats. 

surly  [5sE:li]
adj.  [surlier; surliest] rude; cross 
Because of his surly attitude, many people avoided his company. 

surmise  [sE:maiz]
v.  [surmised; surmised; surmising] guess 
I surmise that he will be late for this meeting. 

surmount  [sE:5maunt]
v.  [surmounted; surmounted; surmounting] overcome 
He had to surmount many obstacles in order to succeed. 

surpass  [sE:5pa:s]
v.  [surpassed; surpassed; surpassing] exceed 
Her SAT scores surpassed out expectations. 

surreptitious  [sQrEp5tiFEs]
adj.  secret 
News of their surreptitious meeting gradually leaked out. 

surrogate  [5sQrEgit]
n.  substitute 
For a fatherless child, a male teacher may become a father surrogate. 

surveillance  [sE:5veilEns]
n.  watching; guarding 
The FBI kept the house under constant surveillance in the hope of capturing all the criminals at one time. 

susceptible  [sE5septEbl]
adj.  [more susceptible; most susceptible] impressionable; easily influenced; having little resistance, as to a disease 
He was a very susceptible young man, and so his parents worried that he might fall into bad company. 

sustain  [sEs5tein]
v.  [sustained; sustained; sustaining] experience; support; nourish 
He sustained such a severe injury that the doctors feared he would be unable to work to sustain his growing family. 

sustenance  [5sQstEnEns]
n.  means of support, food, nourishment 
In the tropics, the natives find sustenance easy to obtain because of all the fruit trees. 

suture  [5sjutFE]
n.  stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing 
We will remove the sutures as soon as the wound heals. 

swarthy  [5swR:Ti]
adj.  [swarthier; swarthiest] dark; dusky 
Despite the stereotype, not all Italians are swarthy; many are fair and blond. 

swathe  [sweiW]
v.  [swathed; swathed; swathing] wrap around; bandage 
When I visited him in the hospital, I found him swathed in bandages. 

swelter  [5swAltE]
v.  [sweltered; sweltered; sweltering] be oppressed by heat 
I am going to buy an air conditioning unit for my apartment as I do not intend to swelter through another hot and humid summer. 

swerve  [swE:v]
v.  [swerved; swerved; swerving] deviate; turn aside sharply 
The car swerved wildly as the driver struggled to regain control of the wheel. 

swill  [swil]
v.  [swilled; swilled; swilling] drink greedily 
Singing, "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum," Long John Silver and his fellow pirates swilled their grog. 

swindler  [5swindlE]
n.  cheat 
She was gullible and trusting, an easy victim for the first swindler who came along. 

sybarite  [5sibErait]
n.  lover of luxury 
Rich people are not always sybarites; some of them have little taste for a life of luxury. 

sycophant  [5sikEfEnt]
n.  servile flatterer 
The king enjoyed the servile compliments and attentions of the sycophants in his retinue. 

syllogism  [5silEdVizm]
n.  logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument 
There must be a fallacy in this syllogism; I cannot accept its conclusion. 

sylvan  [5silvEn]
adj.  pertaining to the woods; rustic 
His paintings of nymphs in sylvan backgrounds were criticized as oversentimental. 

symbiosis  [simbai5Eusis]
n.  [symbioses] interdependent relationship (between groups, species), often mutually beneficial 
Both the crocodile bird and the crocodile derive benefit from their symbiosis; pecking away at food particles embedded in the crocodile's teeth, the bird derives nourishment; the crocodile, meanwhile, derives proper dental hygiene. 

symmetry  [5simitri]
n.  [symmetries] arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity 
The addition of a second tower will give this edifice the symmetry that it now lacks. 

synchronous  [5siNkrEnEs]
adj.  similarly timed; simultaneous with 
We have many examples of scientists in different parts of the world who have made synchronous discoveries. 

synoptic  [si5nRptik]
adj.  providing a general overview; summary 
The professor turned to the latest issue of Dissertation Abstracts for a synoptic account of what was new in the field. 

synthesis  [5sinWisis]
n.  [syntheses] combining parts into a whole 
Now that we have succeeded in isolating this drug, our next problem is to plan its synthesis in the laboratory. 

synthetic  [sin5Wetik]
adj.  artificial; resulting from synthesis 
During the twentieth century, many synthetic products have replaced the natural products. 

tacit  [5tAsit]
adj.  understood; not put into words 
We have a tacit agreement based on only a handshake. 

taciturn  [5tAsitE:n]
adj.  habitually silent; talking a little 
New Englanders are reputedly taciturn people. 

tactile  [5tAktail]
adj.  pertaining to the organs or sense of touch 
His callused hands had lost their tactile sensitivity. 

tainted  [5teintid]
adj.  contaminated; corrupt 
Health authorities are always trying to prevent the sale and use of tainted food. 

talisman  [5tAlizmEn]
n.  [talismans] charm 
She wore the talisman to ward off evil. 

talon  [5tAlEn]
n.  [talons] claw of bird 
The falconer wore a leather gauntlet to avoid being clawed by the hawk's talons. 

tangential  [tAn5dVenFEl]
adj.  peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing 
Despite Clark's attempts to distract her with tangential remarks, Lois kept on coming back to her main question: why couldn't he come out to dinner with Superman and her? 

tangible  [tAndVEbl]
adj.  [more tangible; most tangible] able to be touched; real; palpable 
Although Tom did not own a house, he had several tangible assets--a car, a television, a PC--that he could sell if he needed cash. 

tanner  [5tAnE]
n.  [tanners] person who turns animal hides into leather 
Using a solution of tanbark, the tanner treated the cowhide, transforming it into supple leather. 

tantalize  [5tAntlaiz]
v.  [tantalized; tantalized; tantalizing] tease; torture with disappointment 
Tom loved to tantalize his younger brother with candy; he knew the boy was forbidden to have it. 

tantamount  [5tAntEmaunt]
adj.  equal 
Your ignoring their pathetic condition is tantamount to the murder. 

tantrum  [5tAntrEm]
n.  fit of petulance; caprice 
The child learned that he could have almost anything if he went into tantrums. 

taper  [5teipE]
n.  [tapers] candle 
He lit the taper on the windowsill. 

tarantula  [tE5rAntjulE]
n.  [tarantulas, tarantulae] venomous spider 
We need an antitoxin to counteract the bite of the tarantula. 

tarry  [5tAri]
v.  [tarried; tarried; tarrying] delay; dawdle 
We can't tarry if we want to get to the airport on time. 

taut  [tR:t]
adj.  [tauter; tautest] tight; ready 
The captain maintained that he ran a taut ship. 

tautological  [5tR:tE5lRdVikl]
adj.  needlessly repetitious 
In the sentence "It was visible to the eye," the phrase "to the eye" is tautological. 

tawdry  [5tR:dri]
adj.  [tawdrier; tawdriest] cheap and gaudy 
He won a few tawdry trinkets in Coney Island. 

taxonomist  [-mist]
n.  specialist in classifying (animals, etc.) 
Dental patterns often enable the taxonomist to distinguish members of one rodent species from those of another. 

tedium  [5ti:diEm]
n.  boredom; weariness 
We hope this radio will help overcome the tedium of your stay in the hospital. 

temerity  [ti5meriti]
n.  [temerities] boldness; rashness 
Do you have the temerity to argue with me? 

temper  [5tempE]
v.  [tempered; tempered; tempering] moderate; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) 
Not even her supervisor's grumpiness could temper Nancy's enthusiasm for her new job. 

temperament  [5tempErEmEnt]
n.  [temperaments] characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess 
Although the twins look alike, they differ markedly in temperament: Tod is calm, but Rod is excitable. 

temperate  [5tempErit]
adj.  [more temperate; most temperate] restrained; self-controlled 
Noted for his temperate appetite, he seldom gained weight. 

tempo  [5tempEu]
n.  [tempos, tempi] speed of music 
I find the conductor's tempo too slow for such a brilliant piece of music. 

temporal  [5tempErEl]
adj.  not lasting forever; limited by time; secular 
At one time in our history, temporal rulers assumed that they had been given their thrones by divine right. 

temporize  [5tempEraiz]
v.  [temporized; temporized; temporizing] avoid committing oneself; gain time 
I cannot permit you to temporize any longer; I must have a definite answer today. 

tenacious  [ti5neiFEs]
adj.  [more tenacious; most tenacious] holding fast 
I had to struggle to break his tenacious hold on my arm. 

tenacity  [ti5nAsiti]
n.  firmness; persistency; adhesiveness 
It is extremely difficult to overcome the tenacity of a habit such as smoking. 

tendentious  [ten5denFEs]
adj.  having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause 
The editorials in this periodical are tendentious rather than truth-seeking. 

tender  [5tendE]
v.  [tendered; tendered; tendering] offer; extend 
Although no formal changes had been made against him, in the wake of the recent scandal the mayor felt he should tender his resignation. 

tenet  [5tenit]
n.  doctrine; dogma 
The agnostic did not accept the tenets of their faith. 

tensile  [5tensail]
adj.  capable of being stretched 
Mountain climbers must know the tensile strength of their ropes. 

tentative  [5tentEtiv]
adj.  provisional; experimental 
Your tentative plans sound plausible; let me know when the final details are worked out. 

tenuous  [5tenjuEs]
adj.  thin; rare; slim 
The allegiance of our allies is held by rather tenuous ties; let us hope they will remain loyal. 

tenure  [5tenjuE]
n.  holding of an office; time during which such an office is held 
He was permanent tenure in this position and cannot be fired. 

tepid  [5tepid]
adj.  lukewarm 
During the summer, I like to take a tepid bath, not a hot one. 

terminate  [5tE:mineit]
v.  [terminated; terminated; terminating] to bring to an end 
When his contract was terminated unexpectedly, he desperately needed a new job. 

terminology  [tE:mi5nRlEdVi]
n.  [terminologies] terms used in a science or art 
The special terminology developed by some authorities in the field has done more to confuse laypersons than to enlighten them. 

terminus  [5tE:minEs]
n.  [termini, terminuses] last stop of railroad 
After we reached the railroad terminus, we continued our journey into the wilderness on saddle horses. 

terrestrial  [ti5restriEl]
adj.  on or relating to the earth 
We have been able to explore the terrestrial regions much more thoroughly than the aquatic or celestial regions. 

terse  [tE:s]
adj.  [terser; tersest] concise; abrupt; pithy 
I admire his terse style of writing; he comes directly to the point. 

tertiary  [5tE:FEri]
adj.  third 
He is so thorough that he analyzes tertiary causes where other writers are content with primary and secondary reasons. 

tessellated  [5tesEleitid]
adj.  inlaid; mosaic 
I recall seeing a table with a tessellated top of bits of stone and glass in a very interesting pattern. 

testator  [tes5teitE]
n.  maker of a will 
The attorney called in his secretary and his partner to witness the signature of the testator. 

testy  [5testi]
adj.  [testier; testiest] irritable; short-tempered 
My advice is to avoid discussing this problem with him today as he is rather testy and may shout at you. 

tether  [5teTE]
v.  [tethered; tethered; tethering] tie with a rope 
Before we went to sleep, we tethered the horses to prevent their wandering off during the night. 

thematic  [Wi:5mAtik]
adj.  relating to a unifying motif or idea 
Those who think of Moby Dick as a simple adventure story about whaling miss is underlying thematic import. 

theocracy  [Wi:5RkrEsi]
n.  [theocracies] government of a community by religious leaders 
Some Pilgrims favored the establishment of a theocracy in New England. 

theoretical  [WiE5retikEl]
adj.  not practical or applied; hypothetical 
Bob was better at applied engineering and computer programming than he was at theoretical physics and math. While I can still think of some theoretical objections to your plan, you've convinced me of its basic soundness. 

therapeutic  [WZrE5pjutik]
adj.  curative 
Now better known for its racetrack, Saratoga Springs first gained attention for the therapeutic qualities of its famous "healing waters." 

thermal  [5TE:mEl]
adj.  pertaining to heat 
The natives discovered that the host springs gave excellent thermal baths and began to develop their community as a health resort. 

thespian  [5WespiEn]
adj.  pertaining to drama 
Her success in the school play convinced her she was destined for a thespian career. 

thrall  [WrR:l]
n.  [thralls] slave; bondage 
The captured soldier was held in thrall by the conquering army. 

thrifty  [5Wrifti]
adj.  [thriftier; thriftiest] careful about money; economical 
A thrifty shopper compares prices before making major purchases. 

thrive  [Wraiv]
v.  [thrived, throve; thrived, thriven; thriving] prosper; flourish 
Despite the impact of recession on the restaurant trade, Philip's cafe thrived. 

throes  []
n.  violent anguish 
The throes of despair can be as devastating as the spasms accompanying physical pain. 

throng  [WrRN]
n.  [throngs] crowd 
Throngs of shoppers jammed the aisles. 

throttle  [5WrRtl]
v.  [throttled; throttled; throttling] strangle 
The criminal tried to throttle the old man with his bare hands. 

thwart  [WwR:t]
v.  [thwarted; thwarted; thwarting] baffle; frustrate 
He felt that everyone was trying to thwart his plans and prevent his success. 

tightwad  [5taitwRd]
n.  excessively frugal person; miser 
Jill called Jack a tightwad because he never picked up the check. 

tilter  [5tiltE]
n.  handle used to move the boat's rudder (to steer) 
Fearing the wind might shift suddenly and capsize the skiff, Tom kept one hand on the tilter at all times. 

timbre  [5timbE]
n.  quality of a musical tone produced by a musical instrument 
We identify the instrument producing a musical sound by its timbre. 

timid  [5timid]
adj.  [timider; timidest] easily frightened; apprehensive 
When will this timid nation have the courage to dispense with British royalty? 

timidity  [ti5miditi]
n.  lack of self-confidence or courage 
If you are to succeed as a salesperson, you must first lose your timidity and fear of failure. 

timorous  [5timErEs]
adj.  fearful; demonstrating fear 
His timorous manner betrayed the fear he felt at the moment. 

tipple  [5tipl]
v.  [tippled; tippled; tippling] drink (alcoholic beverages) frequently 
He found that his most enjoyable evenings occurred when he tippled with his friends at the local pub. 

tirade  [tai5reid]
n.  extended scolding; denunciation 
Long before he had finished his tirade, we were sufficiently aware of the seriousness of our misconduct. 

titanic  [tai5tAnik]
adj.  gigantic 
titanic waves beat against the shore during the hurricane. 

tithe  [taiT]
n.  [tithes] tax of one-tenth 
Because he was an agnostic, he refused to pay his tithes to the clergy. 

titillate  [5titileit]
v.  [titillated; titillated; titillating] tickle 
I am here not to titillate my audience but to enlighten it. 

title  [5taitl]
n.  [titles] right or claim to possession; mark of rank; name (of a book, film, etc.) 
Though the penniless Duke of Ragwort no longer held title to the family estate, he still retained his title as head of one of England's oldest families. 

titter  [5titE]
n.  nervous laugh 
Her aunt's constant titter nearly drove her mad. 

titular  [5titjulE]
adj.  having the title of an office without the obligations 
Although he was the titular head of the company, the real decisions were made by his general manager. 

toady  [tEudi]
n.  [toadies] servile flatterer; yesman 
Never tell the boss anything he doesn't wish to hear: he doesn't want an independent adviser, he just wants a toady. 

toga  [5tEugE]
n.  [togas, togae] Roman outer robe 
Marc Antony pointed to the slashes in Caesar's toga. 

toil  [tRil]
v.  [toiled; toiled; toiling] work laboriously; make slow painful progress 
You must toil through 3500 words list in order to achieve a high score on GRE. 

tome  [tEum]
n.  large volume 
He spent much time in the libraries poring over ancient tomes. 

tonic  [5tRnik]
n.  invigorating medicine 
The tonic water invigorated her, contrary to the enervating effect of the alcohol. 

tonsure  [5tRnFE]
n.  shaving of the head, especially by person entering religious orders 
His tonsure, even more than his monastic garb, indicated that he was a member of the religious order. 

topography  [tE5pRgrEfi]
n.  [topographies] physical features of a region 
Before the generals gave the order to attack, they ordered a complete study of the topography of the region. 

torpor  [5tR:pE]
n.  lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy 
Nothing seemed to arouse him from his torpor; he had wholly surrendered himself to lethargy. 

torque  [tR:k]
n.  twisting force; force producing rotation 
With her wrench she applied sufficient torque to the nut the loosen it. 

torrent  [5tRrEnt]
n.  [torrents] rushing stream; flood 
Day after day of heavy rain saturated the hillside until the water ran downhill in torrents. 

torso  [5tR:sEu]
n.  [torsos, torsi] trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk 
This torso, found in the ruins of Pompeii, is now on exhibition in the museum in Naples. 

tortuous  [5tR:tjuEs]
adj.  winding; full of curves 
Because this road is so tortuous, it is unwise to go faster than twenty miles an hour on it. 

touchstone  [5tQtFstEun]
n.  stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion 
What touchstone can be used to measure the character of a person? 

touchy  [5tQtFi]
adj.  [touchier; touchiest] sensitive; irascible 
Do not discuss this phase of the problem as he is very touchy about it. 

tout  [taut]
v.  [touted; touted; touting] publicize; praise excessively 
I lost confidence in my broker after he touted some junk bonds that turned out to be a bad investment. 

toxic  [5tRksik]
adj.  poisonous 
We must seek an antidote for whatever toxic substance he has eaten. 

tract  [5trAkt]
n.  [tracts] pamphlet; a region of indefinite size 
The King granted William Penn a tract of land in the New World. 

tractable  [5trAktEbl]
adj.  docile 
You will find the children in this school very tractable and willing to learn. 

traduce  [trE5djus]
v.  [traduced; traduced; traducing] expose to slander 
His opponents tried to traduce the candidate's reputation by spreading rumors about his past. 

trajectory  [trE5dVektri]
n.  [trajectories] path taken by a projectile 
The police tried to locate the spot from which the assassin had fired the fatal shot by tracing the trajectory of the bullet. 

tranquillity  [trAN`kwilitiait]
n.  calmness; peace 
After the commotion and excitement of the city, I appreciate the tranquillity of these fields and forests. 

transcend  [trAn5send]
v.  [transcended; transcended; transcending] exceed; surpass 
This accomplishment transcends all our previous efforts. 

transcribe  [trAns5kraib]
v.  [transcribed; transcribed; transcribing] copy 
When you transcribe your notes, please send a copy to Mr. Smith and keep the original for our files. 

transgression  [trAns5greFEn]
n.  [transgressions] violation of a law; sin 
Forgive us our transgressions; we know not what we do. 

transient  [5trAnziEnt]
adj.  momentary; temporary; staying for a short time 
Lexy's joy at finding the perfect Christmas gift for Phil was transient; she still had to find presents for the cousins and Uncle Bob. Located near the airport, this hotel caters to the largely transient trade. 

transition  [trAn5siFEn]
n.  [transitions] going from one state of action to another 
During the period of transition from oil heat to gas heat, the furnace will have to be shut off. 

transitoriness  [5trAnsitErinis]
n.  impermanence 
Conscious that all things pass, the psalmist relates the transitoriness of happiness and fame. 

translucent  [trAns5lu:snt]
adj.  partly transparent 
We could not recognize the people in the next room because of the translucent curtains that separated us. 

transmute  [trAns5mjut]
v.  [transmuted; transmuted; transmuting] change; convert to something different 
He was unable to transmute his dreams into actualities. 

transparent  [trAns5pZErEnt]
adj.  [more transparent; most transparent] permitting to light to pass through freely; easily detected 
Your scheme is so transparent that it will fool no one. 

transpire  [trAns5paiE]
v.  [transpired; transpired; transpiring] be revealed; happen 
When Austen writes the sentence "It had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him," her meaning is not that the debts had just been incurred, but the the shocking news had just leaked out. 

transport  [trAns5pR:t]
n.  strong emotion 
Margo was a creature of extremes, at one moment in transports of joy over a vivid sunset, at another moment in transports of grief over a dying bird. 

trappings  [5trApiNz]
n.  outward decorations; ornaments 
He loved the trappings of success: the limousines, the stock options, the company jet. 

traumatic  [trR:5mAtik]
adj.  pertaining to an injury caused by violence 
In his nightmares, he kept on recalling the traumatic experience of being wounded in battle. 

travail  [5trAveil]
n.  [travails] painful labor 
How long do you think a man can endure such travail and degradation without rebelling? 

traverse  [5trAvE:s]
v.  [traversed; traversed; traversing] go through or across 
When you traverse this field, be careful of the bull. 

travesty  [5trAvisti]
n.  [travesties] comical parody; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous 
The ridiculous decision the jury has arrived at is a travesty of justice. 

treatise  [5tri:tiz]
n.  [treatises] article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly 
He is preparing a treatise on the Elizabethan playwrights for his graduate degree. 

trek  [trek]
n.  travel; journey 
The tribe made their trek further north that summer in search of game. 

tremor  [5tremE]
n.  [tremors] trembling; slight quiver 
She had a nervous tremor in her right hand. 

tremulous  [5tremjulEs]
adj.  trembling; wavering 
She was tremulous more from excitement than from fear. 

trenchant  [5trentFEnt]
adj.  cutting; keen 
I am afraid of his trenchant wit for it is so often sarcastic. 

trepidation  [trepi5deiFEn]
n.  fear; trembling agitation 
We must face the enemy without trepidation if we are to win this battle. 

tribulation  [tribjE5leFEn]
n.  [tribulations] distress; suffering 
After all the trials and tribulations we have gone through, we need this rest. 

tribunal  [trai5bju:nl]
n.  [tribunals] court of justice 
The decision of the tribunal was final and the prisoner was sentenced to death. 

tribute  [5tribju:t]
n.  [tributes] tax levied by a ruler; mark of respect 
The colonists refused to pay tribute to a foreign despot. 

trident  [5traidnt]
n.  three-pronged spear 
Neptune is usually depicted as rising from the sea, carrying his trident on his shoulder. 

trigger  [5trigE]
v.  [triggered; triggered; triggering] set off 
John is touchy today; say one word wrong and you'll trigger an explosion. 

trilogy  [5trilEdVi]
n.  [trilogies] group of three works 
Romain Rolland's novel Jean Christophe was first published as a trilogy. 

trinket  [5triNkit]
n.  [trinkets] knickknack; bauble 
Whenever she traveled abroad, Ethel would pick up costume jewelry and other trinkets as souvenirs. 

trite  [trait]
adj.  [triter; tritest] hackneyed; commonplace 
The trite and predictable situations in many television programs alienate many viewers. 

trivia  [5trivjE]
n.  trifles; unimportant matters 
Too many magazines ignore newsworthy subjects and feature trivia. 

troth  [trEuW]
n.  pledge of good faith especially in betrothal 
He gave her his troth and vowed to cherish her always. 

trough  [trR:f]
n.  [troughs] container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.) 
The hungry pigs struggled to get at the fresh swill in the trough. The surfer rode her board, coasting along in the trough between two waves. 

truculence  [5trQkjulEns]
n.  aggressiveness; ferocity 
Tynan's reviews were noted for their caustic attacks and general tone of truculence. 

truism  [5tru:izm]
n.  self-evident truth 
Many a truism is well expressed in a proverb. 

truncate  [5trQNkeit]
v.  [truncated; truncated; truncating] cut the top off 
The top of the cone that has been truncated in a plane parallel to its base is a circle. 

tryst  [traist]
n.  meeting 
The lovers kept their tryst even though they realized their danger. 

tumid  [5tjumid]
adj.  swollen; pompous; bombastic 
I especially dislike his tumid style; I prefer writing which is less swollen and bombastic. 

tumult  [5tju:mQlt]
n.  [tumults] commotion; riot; noise 
She could not make herself heard over the tumult of the mob. 

tundra  [5tQndrE]
n.  [tundras] rolling, treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America 
Despite the cold, many geologists are trying to discover valuable mineral deposits in the tundra. 

turbid  [5tE:bid]
adj.  muddy; having the sediment disturbed 
The water was turbid after the children had waded through it. 

turbulence  [5tE:bjulEns]
n.  state of violent agitation 
We were frightened by the turbulence of the ocean during the storm. 

tureen  [tju5ri:n]
n.  deep dish for serving soup 
The waiters brought the soup to the tables in silver tureens. 

turgid  [5tE:dVid]
adj.  swollen; distended 
The turgid river threatened to overflow the levees and flood the countryside. 

turmoil  [5tE:mRil]
n.  confusion; strife 
Conscious he had sinned, he was in a state of spiritual turmoil. 

turncoat  [5tE:nkEut]
n.  [turncoats] traitor 
The British considered Benedict Arnold a loyalist; the Americans considered him a turncoat. 

turpitude  [5tE:pitju:d]
n.  depravity 
A visitor may be denied admittance to this country if she has been guilty of moral turpitude. 

tutelage  [5tjutilidV]
n.  guardianship; training 
Under the tutelage of such masters of the instrument, she made rapid progress as a virtuoso. 

tutelary  [5tju:tilEri]
adj.  protective; pertaining to a guardianship 
I am acting in my tutelary capacity when I refuse to grant you permission to leave the campus. 

tycoon  [tai5ku:n]
n.  wealthy leader 
John D. Rockefeller was a prominent tycoon. 

tyranny  [5tirEni]
n.  [tyrannies] oppression; cruel government 
Frederick Douglass fought against the tyranny of slavery throughout his entire life. 

tyro  [5tairEu]
n.  [tyros] beginner; novice 
For a mere tyro, you have produced some marvelous results. 

ubiquitous  [ju5bikwitEs]
adj.  being everywhere; omnipresent 
That Christmas "The Little Drummer Boy" seemed ubiquitous: Justin heard the tune everywhere he went. 

ulterior  [Ql5tiEriE]
adj.  situated beyond; unstated and often questionable 
You must have an ulterior motive for your behavior, since there is no obvious reason for it. 

ultimate  [5Qltimit]
adj.  final; not susceptible to further analysis 
Scientists are searching for the ultimate truths. 

ultimatum  [Qlti5meitEm]
n.  [ultimatums, ultimata] last demand; warning 
Since they have ignored our ultimatum, our only recourse is to declare war. 

umbrage  [5QmbridV]
n.  resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult 
She took umbrage at his remarks and stormed away in a huff. 

unanimity  [junE5nimEti]
n.  complete agreement 
We were surprised by the unanimity with which our proposals were accepted by the different groups. 

unassuaged  [9QnE`sweidVd]
adj.  unsatisfied; not soothed 
Her anger is unassuaged by your apology. 

unassuming  [5QnE5sju:miN]
adj.  modest 
He is so unassuming that some people fail to realize how great a man he really is. 

unbridled  [Qn5braidld]
adj.  violent 
She had a sudden fit of unbridled rage. 

uncanny  [Qn5kAni]
adj.  [uncannier; uncanniest] strange; mysterious 
You have the uncanny knack of reading my innermost thoughts. 

unconscionable  [Qn5kRnFEnEbl]
adj.  unscrupulous; excessive 
She found the load shark's demands unconscionable and impossible to meet. 

uncouth  [Qn5ku:W]
adj.  outlandish; clumsy; boorish 
Most biographers portray Lincoln as an uncouth and ungainly young man. 

unction  [5QNkFEn]
n.  the act of anointing with oil 
The anointing with oil of a person near death is called extreme unction. 

unctuous  [5QNktjuEs]
adj.  oily; bland; insincerely suave 
Uriah Heep disguised his nefarious actions by unctuous protestations of his "humility". 

undergird  [5QndE5gE:d]
v.  [undergirded, undergirt; undergurded, undergirt; undergirding] strengthen the base of 
Whereas relativity theory undermined the Newtonian mechanics, cosmology was undergirded by it. 

undermine  [QndE5main]
v.  [undermined; undermined; undermining] weaken; sap 
The recent corruption scandals have undermined many people's faith in the city government. 

underscore  [QndE5skR:]
v.  [underscored; underscored; underscoring] emphasize 
Addressing the jogging class, Kim underscored the importance to runners of good nutrition. 

undulate  [5Qndjuleit]
v.  [undulated; undulated; undulating] move with a wavelike motion 
The flag undulated in the breeze. 

unearth  [Qn5E:W]
v.  [unearthed; unearthed; unearthing] dig up 
When they unearthed the city, the archeologists found many relics of an ancient civilization. 

unearthly  [Qn5E:Wli]
adj.  not earthly; weird 
There is an unearthly atmosphere in her work that amazes the casual observer. 

unequivocal  [Qni5kwivEkl]
adj.  plain; obvious 
My answer to your proposal is an unequivocal and absolute "No." 

unerringly  []
adv.  infallibly 
My teacher unerringly pounced on the one typographical error in my essay. 

unfaltering  [Qn5fR:ltEriN]
adj.  steadfast 
She approached the guillotine with unfaltering steps. 

unfeigned  [Qn5feind]
adj.  genuine; real 
She turned so pale that I am sure her surprise was unfeigned. 

unfettered  [5Qn5fetEd]
adj.  liberated; freed from chains 
Chained to the wall for months on end, the hostage despaired that he would ever be unfettered. 

unfledged  [5Qn5fledVd]
adj.  immature 
It is hard for an unfledged writer to find a sympathetic publisher. 

unfrock  [5Qn5frRk]
v.  [unfrocked; unfrocked; unfrocking] to strip a priest or minister of church authority 
To disbar a lawyer, to unfrock a priest, to suspend a doctor's license to practice--these are extreme steps that the authorities should take only after careful consideration. 

ungainly  [Qn5geinli]
adj.  [ungainlier; ungainliest] awkward 
He is an ungainly young man; he trips over everything. 

unguent  [5QNgwEnt]
n.  ointment 
Apply this unguent to the sore muscles before retiring. 

uniformity  [ju:ni5fR:miti]
n.  [uniformities] sameness; consistency; monotony 
After a while, the uniformity of TV situation comedies becomes boring. 

unilateral  [ju:ni5lArErEl]
adj.  one-sided 
This legislation is unilateral since it binds only one party in the controversy. 

unimpeachable  [Qnim5pi:tFEbl]
adj.  blameless and exemplary 
Her conduct in office was unimpeachable and her record is spotless. 

uninhibited  [5Qnin5hibitid]
adj.  unrepressed 
The congregation was shocked by her uninhibited laughter during the sermon. 

unintimidating  []
adj.  unfrightening 
Though Phil had expected to feel overawed when he met Joe Montana, he found the experience unintimidating and relaxing. 

unique  [ju:5ni:k]
adj.  without an equal; single in kind 
You have the unique distinction of being the first student whom I have had to fail in this course. 

unison  [5ju:nizn]
n.  unity of pitch; complete accord 
The choir sang in unison. 

universal  [ju:ni5vE:sEl]
adj.  characterizing or affecting all; present everywhere 
At first, no one shared Christopher's opinions; his theory that the world was round was met with universal disdain. 

unkempt  [5Qnkempt]
adj.  disheveled; with uncared-for appearance 
The beggar was dirty and unkempt. 

unobtrusive  [QnEb5tru:siv]
adj.  inconspicuous; not blatant 
The secret service agents in charge of protecting the President tried to be as unobtrusive as possible. 

unprecedented  [Qn5presidEntid]
adj.  novel; unparalleled 
Margaret Mitchell's book Gone with the Wind was an unprecedented success. 

unprepossessing  [5Qn5pri:pE5zesiN]
adj.  unattractive 
During adolescence many attractive young people somehow acquire the false notion that their appearance is unprepossessing. 

unravel  [Qn5rAvl]
v.  [unraveled; unraveled; unraveling] disentangle; solve 
With equal ease Miss Marple unraveled tangled balls of yarn and baffling murder mysteries. 

unrequited  [Qn5rikwaitid]
adj.  not reciprocated 
Suffering the pangs of unrequited love, Olivia rebukes Cesario for his hard-heartedness. 

unruly  [Qn5ru:li]
adj.  [unrulier, more unruly; unruliest, most unruly] disobedient; lawless 
The only way to curb this unruly mob is to use tear gas. 

unsavory  [Qn5seivEri]
adj.  distasteful; morally offensive 
People with unsavory reputations should not be allowed to work with young children. 

unscathed  [Qn5skeiTd]
adj.  unharmed 
They prayed he would come back from the war unscathed. 

unseemly  [Qn5si:mli]
adj.  [unseemlier; unseemliest] unbecoming; indecent 
Your levity is unseemly at this time of mourning. 

unsightly  [Qn5saitli]
adj.  [unsightlier; unsightliest] ugly 
Although James was an experienced emergency room nurse, he occasionally became queasy when faced with a particularly unsightly injury. 

unsullied  [Qn5sQlid]
adj.  untarnished 
I am happy that my reputation is unsullied. 

untenable  [Qn5tenEbl]
adj.  unsupportable 
I find your theory untenable and must reject it. 

untoward  [Qn5tEuEd]
adj.  unfortunate; annoying 
Untoward circumstances prevent me from being with you on this festive occasion. 

unwarranted  [Qn5wB:Entid]
adj.  unjustified; groundless; undeserved 
We could not understand Martin's unwarranted rudeness to his mother's guests. 

unwieldy  [Qn5wi:ldi]
adj.  [unwieldier; unwieldiest] awkward; cumbersome; unmanageable 
The large carton was so unwieldy that the movers had trouble getting it up the stairs. 

unwitting  [Qn5witiN]
adj.  unintentional; not knowing 
She was the unwitting tool of the swindlers 

unwonted  [Qn5wQntid]
adj.  unaccustomed 
He hesitated to assume the unwonted role of master of ceremonies at the dinner. 

upbraid  [Qp5breid]
v.  [upbraided; upbraided; upbraiding] scold; reproach 
I must upbraid him for his unruly behavior. 

uproarious  [Qp5rR:riEs]
adj.  marked by commotion; extremely funny; very noisy 
The uproarious comedy hit Home Alone featured Macaulay Culkin, whose mugging and comic antics provoked gales of uproarious laughter from audiences coast to coast. 

upshot  [5QpFRt]
n.  outcome 
The upshot of the rematch was that the former champion proved that he still possessed all the skills of his youth. 

urbane  [E:5bein]
adj.  suave; refined; elegant 
The courtier was urbane and sophisticated 

urchin  [5E:tFin]
n.  [urchins] mischievous child (usually a boy) 
Get out! This store is no place for grubby urchins! 

ursine  [5E:sain]
adj.  bearlike; pertaining to a bear 
Because of its ursine appearance, the great panda has been identified with the bears; actually, it is closely related to the raccoon. 

usurp  [ju:5zE:p]
v.  [usurped; usurped; usurping] seize power; supplant 
The revolution ended when the victorious rebel leader usurped the throne. 

usury  [5ju:Vuri]
n.  [usuries] lending money at illegal rates of interest 
The loan shark was found guilty of usury. 

utopia  [ju:5tEupiE]
n.  [utopias] imaginary land with perfect social and political system 
Shangri-la was the name of James Hilton's Tibetan utopia. 

uxorious  [Qk5sR:riEs]
adj.  excessively devoted to one's wife 
His friends laughed at him because he was so uxorious and submissive to his wife's desires. 

vacillate  [5vAsileit]
v.  [vacillated; vacillated; vacillating] waver; fluctuate 
Uncertain which suitor she ought to marry, the princess vacillated, saying now one, now the other. 

vacuous  [5vAkjuEs]
adj.  empty; lacking in ideas; stupid 
The candidate's vacuous remarks annoyed the audience, who had hoped to hear more than empty platitudes 

vagabond  [5vAgEbEnd]
n.  [vagabonds] wanderer; tramp 
In summer, college students wander the roads of Europe like carefree vagabonds. 

vagary  [5veigEri]
n.  [vagaries] caprice; whim 
She followed every vagary of fashion. 

vagrant  [5vAgrEnt]
adj.  stray; random 
He tried to study, but could not collect his vagrant thoughts. 

vagrant  [5vAgrEnt]
n.  [vagrants] homeless wanderer 
Because he was a stranger in town with no visible means of support, Martin feared he would be jailed as a vagrant. 

vainglorious  [vein5glR:riEs]
adj.  boastful; excessively conceited 
She was a vainglorious and arrogant individual. 

valedictory  [vAli5diktEri]
adj.  pertaining to farewell 
I found the valedictory address too long; leave-taking should be brief. 

valid  [5vAlid]
adj.  logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable 
You're going to have to come up with a better argument if you want to convince me that your reasoning is valid. 

validate  [5vAlideit]
v.  [validated; validated; validating] confirm; ratify 
I will not publish my findings until I validate my results. 

valor  [5vAlE]
n.  bravery 
He received the Medal of Honor for his valor in battle. 

vampire  [5vAmpaiE]
adj.  ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living 
Children were afraid to go to sleep at night because of the many legends of vampires. 

vanguard  [5vAnga:d]
n.  forerunners; advance forces 
We are the vanguard of a tremendous army that is following us. 

vantage  [5va:ntidV]
n.  position giving an advantage 
They fired upon the enemy from behind trees, walls and any other point of vantage they could find. 

vapid  [5vApid]
adj.  insipid; inane 
She delivered an uninspired and vapid address. 

variegated  [5vZErigeitid]
adj.  many-colored 
Without her glasses, Gretchen saw the fields of tulips as a variegated blur. 

vassal  [5vAsEl]
n.  [vassals] in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord 
The lord demanded that his vassals contribute more to his military campaign. 

vaunted  [`vR:ntful]
adj.  boasted; bragged; highly publicized 
This much vaunted project proved a disappointment when it collapsed. 

veer  [viE]
v.  [veered; veered; veering] change in direction 
After what seemed an eternity, the wind veered to the east and the storm abated. 

vegetate  [5vedViteit]
v.  [vegetated; vegetated; vegetating] live in a monotonous way 
I do not understand how you can vegetate in this quiet village after the adventurous life you have led. 

vehement  [5vi:imEnt]
adj.  impetuous; with marked vigor 
He spoke with vehement eloquence in defense of his client. 

velocity  [vi5lRsiti]
n.  [velocities] speed 
The train went by at considerable velocity. 

venal  [5vi:nl]
adj.  capable of being bribed 
The venal policeman accepted the bribe offered him by the speeding motorist whom he had stopped. 

vendetta  [ven5detE]
n.  [vendettas] blood feud 
The rival mobs engaged in a bitter vendetta. 

vendor  [5vendE]
n.  [vendors] seller 
The fruit vendor sold her wares from a stall on the sidewalk. 

veneer  [vi5niE]
n.  thin layer; cover 
Casual acquaintances were deceived by his veneer of sophistication and failed to recognize his fundamental shallowness. 

venerable  [5venErEbl]
adj.  deserving high respect 
We do not mean to be disrespectful when we refuse to follow the advice of our venerable leader. 

venerate  [5venEreit]
v.  [venerated; venerated; venerating] revere 
In China, the people venerate their ancestors. 

venial  [5vi:njEl]
adj.  forgivable; trivial 
We may regard a hungry man's stealing as a venial crime. 

venison  [5venizn]
n.  the meat of a deer 
The hunters dined on venison. 

vent  [vent]
n.  [vents] small opening; outlet 
The wine did not flow because the air vent in the barrel was clogged. 

vent  [vent]
v.  [vented; vented; venting] express; utter 
He vented his wrath on his class. 

ventral  [5ventrEl]
adj.  abdominal 
We shall now examine the ventral plates of this serpent, not the dorsal side. 

ventriloquist  [ven5trilEkwist]
n.  someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing 
This ventriloquist does an act in which she has a conversation with a wooden dummy. 

venturesome  [5ventFEsEm]
adj.  bold 
A group of venturesome women were the first to scale Mt. Annapurna. 

venue  [5venju:]
n.  location 
The attorney asked for a change of venue; he thought his client would do better if the trial were held in a less conservative county. 

veracious  [vE5reiFEs]
adj.  truthful 
I can recommend him for this position because I have always found him veracious and reliable. 

veracity  [vE5rAsEti]
n.  [veracities] truthfulness 
Trying to prove Hill a liar, Senator Spector repeatedly questioned her veracity. 

verbalize  [5vE:bElaiz]
v.  [verbalized; verbalized; verbalizing] put into words 
I know you don't like to talk about these things, but please try to verbalize your feelings. 

verbatim  [vE:5beitim]
adj.  word for word 
He repeated the message verbatim. 

verbiage  [5vE:biidV]
n.  pompous array of words 
After we had waded through all the verbiage, we discovered that the writer had said very little. 

verbose  [vE:5bEus]
adj.  wordy 
This article is too verbose; we must edit it. 

verdant  [5vE:dnt]
adj.  green; lush in vegetation 
Monet's paintings of the verdant meadows were symphonies in green. 

verdigris  [5vE:digri:s]
n.  green coating on copper which has been exposed to the weather 
Despite all attempts to protect the statue from the elements, it became coated with verdigris. 

verge  [vE:dV]
n.  [verges] border; edge 
Madame Curie knew she was on the verge of discovering the secrets of radioactive elements. 

verisimilitude  [verisi5militju:d]
n.  appearance of truth; likelihood 
Critics praised her for the verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth. She was completely believable. 

verity  [5veriti]
n.  [verities] truth; reality 
The four verities were revealed to Buddha during his long meditation. 

vernacular  [vE5nAkjulE]
n.  [vernaculars] living language; natural style 
Cut out those old-fashioned "thee's" and "thou's" and write in the vernacular. 

vernal  [5vE:nl]
adj.  pertaining to spring 
We may expect vernal showers all during the month of April. 

versatile  [5vE:sEtail]
adj.  having many talents; capable of working in many fields 
He was a versatile athlete; at college he had earned varsity letters in baseball, football, and track. 

vertex  [5vE:teks]
n.  [vertexes, vertices] summit 
Let us drop a perpendicular line from the vertex of the triangle to the base. 

vertigo  [5vE:tigEu]
n.  [vertigoes, vertigines] dizziness 
We test potential plane pilots for susceptibility to spells of vertigo. 

verve  [vE:v]
n.  enthusiasm; liveliness 
She approached her studies with such verve that it was impossible for her to do poorly. 

vestige  [5vestidV]
n.  [vestiges] trace; remains 
We discovered vestiges of early Indian life in the cave. 

vex  [veks]
v.  [vexed; vexed; vexing] annoy; distress 
Please try not to vex your mother; she is doing the best she can. 

viable  [5vaiEbl]
adj.  capable of maintaining life; practicable; workable 
The infant, though prematurely born, is viable and has a good chance to survive. 

viand  [5vaiEnd]
n.  food 
There was a variety of viands at the feast. 

vicarious  [vai5kZEriEs]
adj.  acting as a substitute; done by a deputy 
Many people get a vicarious thrill at the movies by imagining they are the characters on the screen. 

vicissitude  [vi5sisitju:d]
n.  [vicissitudes] change of fortune 
Humbled by life's vicissitudes, the last emperor of China worked as a lowly gardener in the palace over which he had once ruled. 

victuals  []
n.  food 
I am very happy to be able to provide you with these victuals; I know you are hungry. 

vie  [vai]
v.  [vied; vied; vying] contend; compete 
Politicians vie with one another, competing for donations and votes. 

vigilance  [5vidVilEns]
n.  watchfulness 
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. 

vignette  [vi5njet]
n.  picture; short literary sketch 
The New Yorker published her latest vignette. 

vigor  [5vigE]
n.  active strength 
Although he was over seventy years old, Jack had the vigor of a man in his prime. 

vilify  [5vilifai]
v.  [vilified; vilified; vilifying] slander 
She is a liar and is always trying to vilify my reputation. 

vindicate  [5vindikeit]
v.  [vindicated; vindicated; vindicating] clear of charges 
I hope to vindicate my client and return him to society as a free man. 

vindictive  [vin5diktiv]
adj.  revengeful 
She was very vindictive and never forgave an injury. 

vintner  [5vintnE]
n.  winemaker; seller of wine 
The poet wondered what the vintners could buy that would be half as precious as the wine they sold. 

viper  [5vaipE]
n.  [vipers] poisonous snake 
The habitat of the horned viper, a particularly venomous snake, is in sandy regions like the Sahara or the Sinai peninsula. 

virile  [5vi:rail]
adj.  manly 
I do not accept the premise that a man is virile only when he is belligerent. 

virtual  [5vE:tjuEl]
adj.  in essence; for practical purposes 
She is a virtual financial wizard when it comes to money matters. 

virtue  [5vE:tju:]
n.  [virtues] goodness; moral excellence; good quality 
A virtue carried to extremes can turn into something resembling vice; humility, for example, can degenerate into servility and spinelessness. 

virtuoso  [vE:tju5EusEu]
n.  [virtuosos, virtuosi] highly skilled artist 
The child prodigy Yehudi Menuhin grew into a virtuoso whose virtuosity on the violin thrilled millions. 

virulent  [5virjulEnt]
adj.  extremely poisonous 
The virus is highly virulent and has made many of us ill for days. 

virus  [5vaiErEs]
n.  [viruses] disease communicator 
The doctors are looking for a specific medicine to control this virus. 

visage  [5vizidV]
n.  face; appearance 
The stern visage of the judge indicated that she had decided to impose a severe penalty. 

visceral  [5visErEl]
adj.  felt in one's inner organs 
She disliked the visceral sensations she had whenever she rode the roller coaster. 

viscid  [5visid]
adj.  adhesive; gluey 
The trunk of the maple tree was viscid with sap. 

viscous  [5viskEs]
adj.  sticky, gluey 
Melted tar is a viscous substance. 

vise  [vais]
n.  [vises] tool for holding work in place 
Before filling its edges, the keysmith took the blank key and fixed it firmly between the jaws of a vise. 

visionary  [5viVEnEri]
adj.  produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical 
She was given to visionary schemes that never materialized. 

vital  [5vaitl]
adj.  [more vital; most vital] vibrant and lively; critical; living, breathing 
The vital, highly energetic first aid instructor stressed that it was vital in examining accident victims to note their vital signs. 

vitiate  [5viFieit]
v.  [vitiated; vitiated; vitiating] spoil the effect of; make inoperative 
Fraud will vitiate the contract. 

vitreous  [5vitriEs]
adj.  pertaining to or resembling glass 
Although this plastic has many vitreous qualities such as transparency, it is unbreakable. 

vitriolic  [vitri5Rlik]
adj.  corrosive; sarcastic 
Such vitriolic criticism is uncalled for. 

vituperative  [vi5tju:pEreitiv]
adj.  abusive; scolding 
He became more vituperative as he realized that we were not going to grant him his wish. 

vivacious  [vi5veiFEs]
adj.  lively or animated; sprightly 
She had always been vivacious and sparkling. 

vivisection  [vivi5sekFEn]
n.  act of dissecting living animals 
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opposed vivisection and deplored the practice of using animals in scientific experiments. 

vixen  [5viksn]
n.  female fox; ill-tempered woman 
Aware that she was right once again, he lost his temper and called her a shrew and a vixen. 

vociferous  [vEu5sifErEs]
adj.  clamorous; noisy 
The crowd grew vociferous in its anger and threatened to take the law into its own hands. 

vogue  [vEug]
n.  [vogues] popular fashion 
Jeans became the vogue on many college campuses. 

volatile  [5vRlEtail]
adj.  changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly 
The political climate today is extremely volatile: no one can predict what the electorate will do next. 

volition  [vEu5liFEn]
n.  act of making a conscious choice 
She selected this dress of her own volition. 

voluble  [5vRljubl]
adj.  fluent; glib 
She was a voluble speaker, always ready to talk. 

voluminous  [vE5lju:minEs]
adj.  bulky; large 
Despite her family burdens, she kept up a voluminous correspondence with her friends. 

voluptuous  [vE5lQptFuEs]
adj.  gratifying the senses 
The nobility during the Renaissance led voluptuous lives. 

voracious  [vE5reiFEs]
adj.  ravenous 
The wolf is a voracious animal, its hunger never satisfied. 

vortex  [5vR:teks]
n.  [vortexes, vortices] whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged 
Sucked into the vortex of the tornado, Dorothy and Toto were carried from Kansas to Oz. 

vouchsafe  [vautF5seif]
v.  [vouchsafed; vouchsafed; vouchsafing] grant condescendingly; guarantee 
I can safely vouchsafe you fair return on your investment. 

voyeur  [vwa:5jE:]
n.  peeping 
Jill called Jack a voyeur when she caught him aiming his binoculars at a bedroom window of the house next door. 

vulnerable  [5vQlnErEbl]
adj.  susceptible to wounds 
Achilles was vulnerable only in his heel. 

vulpine  [5vQlpain]
adj.  like a fox; crafty 
She disliked his sly ways, but granted him a certain vulpine intelligence. 

waffle  [5wRfl]
v.  speak equivocally about an issue 
When asked directly about the governor's involvement in the savings and loan scandal, the press secretary waffled, talking all around the issue. 

waft  [wa:ft]
v.  [wafted; wafted; wafting] moved gently by wind or waves 
Daydreaming, he gazed at the leaves that wafted past his window. 

waggish  [5wAgiF]
adj.  mischievous; humorous; tricky 
He was a prankster who, unfortunately, often overlooked the damage he could cause with his waggish tricks. 

waif  [weif]
n.  homeless child or animal 
Although he already had eight cats, he could not resist adopting yet another feline waif. 

waive  [weiv]
v.  [waived; waived; waiving] give up temporarily; yield 
I will waive my rights in this matter in order to expedite our reaching a proper decision. 

wallow  [5wRlEu]
v.  [wallowed; wallowed; wallowing] roll in; indulge in; become helpless 
The hippopotamus loves to wallow in the mud. 

wan  [wRn]
adj.  [wanner; wannest] having a pale or sickly color; pallid 
Suckling asked, "Why so pale and wan, fond lover?" 

wane  [wein]
v.  [waned; waned; waning] grow gradually smaller 
From now until December 21, the winter solstice, the hours of daylight will wane. 

wangle  [5wANgl]
v.  [wangled; wangled; wangling] wiggle out; fake 
She tried to wangle an invitation to the party. 

wanton  [5wRntEn]
adj.  unrestrained; willfully malicious; unchaste 
Pointing to the stack of bills, Sheldon criticized Sarah for her wanton expenditures. In response, Sara accused Sheldon of making an unfounded, wanton attack. 

warble  [5wR:bl]
v.  [warbled; warbled; warbling] sing; babble 
Every morning the birds warbled outside her window. 

warrant  [5wRrEnt]
v.  [warranted; warranted; warranting] justify; authorize 
Before the judge issues the injunction, you must convince her this action is warranted. 

warranty  [5wB:Enti]
n.  [warranties] guarantee; assurance by seller 
The purchaser of this automobile is protected by the manufacturer's warranty that he will replace any defective part for five years or 50,000 miles. 

warren  [5wRrin]
n.  [warrens] tunnels in which rabbits live; crowded conditions in which people live 
The tenement was a veritable warren, packed with people too poor to live elsewhere. 

wary  [5wZEri]
adj.  [warier; wariest] very cautious 
The spies grew wary as they approached the sentry. 

wastrel  [5weistrEl]
n.  profligate 
He was denounced as a wastrel who had dissipated his inheritance. 

wax  [wAks]
v.  [waxed; waxed; waxing] increase; grow 
With proper handling, his fortunes waxed and he became rich. 

waylay  [wei5lei]
v.  [waylaid; waylaid; waylaying] ambush; lie in wait 
They agreed to waylay their victim as he passed through the dark alley going home. 

wean  [wi:n]
v.  [weaned; weaned; weaning] accustom a baby not to nurse; give up a cherished activity 
He decided he would wean himself away from eating junk food and stick to fruits and vegetables. 

weather  [5weTE]
v.  [weathered; weathered; weathering] endure the effects of weather or other forces 
He weathered the changes in his personal life with difficulty, as he had no one in whom to confide. 

welt  [welt]
n.  mark from beating or whipping 
The evidence of child abuse was very clear; Jennifer's small body was covered with welts and bruises. 

welter  [5weltE]
n.  turmoil; bewildering jumble 
The existing welter of overlapping federal and state proclaims cries out for immediate reform. 

welter  [5weltE]
v.  [weltered; weltered; weltering] wallow 
At the height of the battle, the casualties were so numerous that the victims weltered in their blood while waiting for medical attention. 

wheedle  [5hwi:dl]
v.  [wheedled; wheedled; wheedling] cajole; coax; deceive by flattery 
She knows she can wheedle almost anything she wants from her father. 

whelp  [hwelp]
n.  [whelps] young wolf, dog, tiger, etc. 
This collie whelp won't do for breeding, but he'd make a fine pet. 

whet  [wet]
v.  [whetted; whetted; whetting] sharpen; stimulate 
The odors from the kitchen are whetting my appetite; I will be ravenous by the time the meal is served. 

whiff  [hwif]
n.  [whiffs] puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); hint 
The slightest whiff of Old Spice cologne brought memories of George to her mind. 

whimsical  [5wimzikl]
adj.  capricious; fanciful 
He dismissed his generous gift to his college as a sentimental fancy, an old man's whimsical gesture. 

whinny  [5hwini]
v.  [whinnied; whinnied; whinnying] neigh like a horse 
When he laughed through his nose, it sounded as if he whinnied. 

whit  [wit]
n.  smallest speck 
There is not a whit of intelligence or understanding in your observations. 

whittle  [5hwitl]
v.  [whittled; whittled; whittling] pare; cut off bits 
As a present for Aunt Polly, Tom whittled some clothespins out of a chunk of wood. 

whorl  [hwE:l]
n.  ring of leaves around stem; ring 
Identification by fingerprints is based on the difference in shape and number of whorls on the fingers. 

willful  [5wilfEl]
adj.  intentional; headstrong 
Donald had planned to kill his wife for months; clearly, her death was a case of deliberate, willful murder, not a crime of passion committed by a hasty, willful youth unable to foresee the consequences of his deeds. 

wily  [5waili]
adj.  [wilier; wiliest] cunning; artful 
She is as wily as a fox in avoiding trouble. 

wince  [wins]
v.  [winced; winced; wincing] shrink back; flinch 
The screech of the chalk on the blackboard made her wince. 

windfall  [5windfR:l]
n.  [windfalls] fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event 
This huge tax refund is quite a windfall. 

winnow  [5winEu]
v.  [winnowed; winnowed; winnowing] sift; separate good parts from bad 
This test will winnow out the students who study from those who don't bother. 

winsome  [5winsEm]
adj.  agreeable; gracious; engaging 
By her winsome manner, she made herself liked by everyone who met her. 

wispy  [`wispi]
adj.  [wispier; wispiest] thin; slight; barely discernible 
Worried about preserving his few wispy tufts of hair, Walter carefully massaged his scalp and applied hair restorer every night. 

wistful  [5wistful]
adj.  vaguely longing; sadly pensive 
With a last wistful glance at the happy couples dancing in the hall, Sue headed back to her room to study for her exam. 

withdrawn  [wiT5drR:n]
adj.  introverted; remote 
Rebuffed by his colleagues, the initially outgoing young researcher became increasingly withdrawn. 

wither  [5wiTE]
v.  [withered; withered; withering] shrivel; decay 
Cut flowers are beautiful for a day, but all too soon they wither. 

witless  [5witlis]
adj.  foolish; idiotic 
Such witless and fatuous statements will create the impression that you are an ignorant individual. 

witticism  [5witisizm]
n.  witty saying; facetious remark 
What you regard as witticisms are often offensive to sensitive people. 

wizardry  [5wizEdri]
n.  sorcery; magic 
Merlin amazed the knights with his wizardry. 

wizened  [5wiznd]
adj.  withered; shriveled 
The wizened old man in the home for the aged was still active and energetic. 

wont  [wRnt]
n.  custom; habitual procedure 
As was his wont, he jogged two miles every morning before going to work. 

worldly  [5wE:ldli]
adj.  [worldlier; worldliest] engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual 
You must leave your worldly goods behind you when you go to meet your Maker. 

wrangle  [5rANgl]
v.  [wrangled; wrangled; wrangling] quarrel; obtain through arguing; herd cattle 
They wrangled over their inheritance. 

wrath  [rR:W]
n.  anger; fury 
She turned to him, full of wrath, and said, "What makes you think I'll accept lower pay for this job than you get?" 

wreak  [ri:k]
v.  [wreaked; wreaked; wreaking] inflict 
I am afraid he will wreak his vengeance on the innocent as well as the guilty. 

wrench  [rentF]
v.  [wrenched; wrenched; wrenching] pull; strain; twist 
She wrenched free of her attacker and landed a powerful kick to his kneecap. 

wrest  [rest]
v.  [wrested; wrested; wresting] pull away; take by violence 
With only ten seconds left to play, our team wrested victory from their grasp. 

writ  [rit]
n.  written command issued by a court 
The hero of Leonard's novel is a process server who invents unorthodox ways of serving writs on reluctant parties. 

writhe  [raiT]
v.  [writhed; writhed; writhing] squirm, twist 
He was writhing in pain, desperate for the drug his body required. 

wry  [rai]
adj.  [wrier, wryer; wriest, wryest] twisted; with a humorous twist 
We enjoy Dorothy Parker's verse for its wry wit. 

xenophobia  [5zenE5fEubiE]
n.  fear or hatred of foreigners 
When the refugee arrived in America, he was unprepared for the xenophobia he found there. 

yen  [jen]
n.  [yen] longing; urge 
She had a yen to get away and live on her own for a while. 

yeoman  [5jEumEn]
n.  [yeomen] man owing small estate; middle-class farmer 
It was not the aristocrat but the yeoman who determined the nation's policies. 

yield  [ji:ld]
n.  [yields] amount produced; crop; income on investment 
An experienced farmer can estimate the annual yield of his acres with surprising accuracy. 

yield  [ji:ld]
v.  [yielded; yielded; yielding] give in; surrender 
The wounded knight refused to yield to his foe. 

yoke  [jEuk]
v.  [yoked; yoked; yoking] join together, unite 
I don't wish to be yoked to him in marriage, as if we were cattle pulling a plow. 

yokel  [5jEukl]
n.  country bumpkin 
At school, his classmates regarded him as a yokel and laughed at his rustic mannerisms. 

yore  [jR:]
n.  time past 
He dreamed of the elegant homes of yore, but gave no thought to their inelegant plumbing. 

zany  [5zeini]
adj.  crazy; comic 
I can watch the Marx brothers' zany antics for hours. 

zeal  [zi:l]
n.  eager enthusiasm 
Wang's zeal was contagious; soon all his fellow students were busily making posters, inspired by his ardent enthusiasm for the cause. 

zealot  [5zZlEt]
n.  fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal 
It is good to have a few zealots in our group for their enthusiasm is contagious. 

zenith  [5ziniW]
n.  [zeniths] point directly overhead in the sky; summit 
When the sun was at its zenith, the glare was not as strong as at sunrise and sunset. 

zephyr  [5zefE]
n.  [zephyrs] gentle breeze; west wind 
When these zephyrs blow, it is good to be in an open boat under a full sail.