vocab

1 abridged (jan 08) shortened, condensed

2 abate (may 08) to reduce in amount; to lessen;

3 abstemious (june 08) eating and drinking in moderation

4 acclimated (jan 08) to become accustomed to; to get used to

5 acerbic (nov 08) sour or bitter tasting; sharp or biting in character or expression;

6 acquiescent/acquiesce (jan 08) to agree to; to give in; to consent passively

7 adequate (jan 08) sufficient

8 adhere (nov 08) to stick to; to remain devoted to

9 ad-lib (jan 08) to improvise

10 allegory (june 08) a story in which abstract principles (good, bad, etc) are represented by characters

11 aloof (oct 08) distant physically or emotionally

12 altruism (jan 08) unselfish concern for the welfare of others

13 ambiguous (mar 08) doubtful; uncertain; open to more than one interpretation

14 ambiguous (oct 08) "unclear, uncertain"

15 ambivalence (may 08) the coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings (such as love and hate); uncertainty or indecisiveness as to which course to follow

16 ameliorate (june 08) to make better; to improve

17 ameliorate (nov 08) to make better; to improve

18 anachronistic (oct 08) something or someone that is out of its proper time.

19 anecdotal (jan 08) pertaining to a story; based on casual observation

20 anecdotal (dec 08) pertaining to a story; based on guess or assumption rather than evidence

21 antecedent (may 08) going before; preceding

22 antediluvian (nov 08) ancient; extremely old

23 antithetical (nov 08) being in diametrical opposition

24 apathetic (jan 08) indifferent; a lack of concern

25 aplomb (dec 08) self confident assurance; poise

26 apparition (oct 08) a ghost; a specter

27 arbitrary (oct 08) random; determined by chance; not uniform

28 archetype (nov 08) prototype; the original model

29 arduous (june 08) difficult; demanding

30 arrest (jan 08) to stop; to check; to contain

31 artifice (oct 08) an artful or crafty expedient; cleverness or skill; trickery

32 audacious (jan 08) bold; daring;

33 audacious (oct 08) recklessly daring; bold; unrestrained by convention or propriety; irreverent

34 augment (jan 08) to make bigger; to increase

35 authentic (jan 08) real; natural

36 avid (mar 08) marked by keen interest and enthusiasm

37 banal (jan 08) commonplace, trite, obvious

38 banquet (mar 08) an elaborate dinner, often to honor a guest

39 bellicose (mar 08) warlike; hostile

40 bellicose (may 08) warlike or hostile

41 belligerent (oct 08) inclined or eager to fight; hostile

42 benign (jan 08) of a kind or gentle disposition

43 benign (oct 08) not life threatening or severe

44 bewilderment (dec 08) state of confusion

45 bewilderment (may 08) the condition of being confused or disoriented

46 blatant (mar 08) "completely obvious, often in an offensive way"

47 blueprint (mar 08) "a detailed plan of action, especially for the design and construction of buildings"

48 bombastic (jan 08) "grandiloquent, pompous speech or writing"

49 botanist (mar 08) one who studies plants

50 callous (mar 08) tough; insensitve; unfeeling

51 candor (oct 08) frankness or sincerity of expression; openness

52 capricious (oct 08) impulsive and unpredictable

53 carp (oct 08) to find fault; complain

54 cataclysmic (oct 08) a violent upheaval; a violent and sudden change

55 catastrophic (may 08) causing of intense misfortune or failure; having intensely negative consquences

56 caustic (mar 08) corrosive; bitingly trenchant; cutting

57 cavalier (mar 08) showing arrogance or disregard; carefree and nonchalant

58 cerebral (oct 08) intellectual (as opposed to emotional); very thoughtful or brainy

59 chicanery (nov 08) deception by trickery or sophistry

60 circumspect (may 08) careful; cautious; looking and checking in all directions

61 clandestine (may 08) "done in secret, often to conceal illicit purpose"

62 coherent (june 08) logical; orderly

63 collaborate (mar 08) to work together

64 colloquial (mar 08) "conversational; informal, especially in regards to speech"

65 commiseration (may 08) sympathy; to experience dismay or suffering with another

66 complacent (oct 08) contented to a fault; self-satisfied and unconcerned; eager to please

67 comprehensive (oct 08) exhaustive; so large in scope as to include much or everything

68 conciliatory (jan 08) to overcome the distrust of someone; to attempt to regain friendship; appease

69 concur (may 08) to agree; to be of the same opinion;

70 condone (oct 08) to overlook or forgive without protest or censure

71 confined (may 08) to restrict or circumscribe; to keep within bounds;

72 confounded (may 08) confused or perplexed

73 conjectural (jan 08) based on guess or assumption rather than evidence

74 conjecture (may 08) an inference based on inconclusive or incomplete evidence; a guess

75 connotation (mar 08) a suggested but not spelled out meaning

76 consternation (may 08) a state of paralyzing dismay; intense worry/frustration

77 contemporary (may 08) belonging to the same time period

78 contentious (jan 08) quarrelsome; given to argument

79 contentious (mar 08) quarrelsome; given to argument

80 contentious (oct 08) quarrelsome; given to argument

81 contentious (nov 08) quarrelsome; given to argument

82 controversial (june 08) disputatious; not clear-cut; open to debate

83 conundrum (mar 08) a riddle; a parodoxical or difficult problem; a dilemma

84 convoluted (jan 08) "complicated, complex"

85 convoluted (may 08) "complicated, complex"

86 convoluted (oct 08) confused

87 copious (nov 08) large in quantity; abundant;

88 corroboration (may 08) to strengthen or support with other evidence; make more certain

89 cosmopolitan (oct 08) sophisticated; worldly

90 covert (dec 08) secretive or hidden;

91 covert (may 08) hidden or covered; not open

92 craven (dec 08) "cowarldy, fearful"

93 cryptic (jan 08) mysterious; having hidden meaning

94 culpable (jan 08) deserving of blame or guilt

95 cursory (mar 08) performed with haste with little attention to detail

96 debilitate (may 08) to weaken; to sap the energy of; to enervate

97 deceit (june 08) deception; falsness

98 decomposition (mar 08) disintegration; decay

99 deliberation (oct 08) slow discussion and consideration;

100 demographic (jan 08) a portion of the population

101 denizens (may 08) inhabitants or residents; one that frequents a particular place

102 denote (oct 08) to mark or indicate; to signify

103 denounce (jan 08) to condemn openly; to speak ill of

104 derivative (may 08) copied or adapted from others

105 desolate (may 08) "devoid of inhabitants; lifeless, barren or deserted"

106 diffident (mar 08) shy; lack of self confidence

107 diffuse (mar 08) to spread; to make less strong; verbose or witty

108 digression (june 08) the act of going off topic

109 dilemma (oct 08) a situation that requires a choice between options that seem equally unfavorable

110 diplomatic (may 08) having tact; skilled in dealing with sensitive issues or people

111 disaffected (mar 08) to cause to lose affection or loyalty

112 discern (nov 08) to detect; to differentiate or distinguish

113 discern (oct 08) to perceive with the eyes or intellect; to distinguish; to recognize or comprehend mentally

114 discrete (june 08) constituting a separate thing

115 discriminating (nov 08) to make a clear distinction; distinguish;

116 disdain (jan 08) to resent or despise

117 disillusioned (jan 08) to free or deprive of illusion

118 disingenuous (oct 08) not straightforward or candid; not honest; crafty.

119 disjointed (jan 08) "dislocated, taken apart at the joints, separated"

120 disparage (mar 08) to speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; to belittle

121 disputatious (may 08) inclined to argue;

122 dissolute (jan 08) lacking moral restraint; indulging in sensual pleasures or vices

123 dissolute (dec 08) lacking morals; indulging in sensual pleasures and vices

124 duplicitous (mar 08) given to deliberation deception; deceptive

125 eclipse (dec 08) to go past; to obscure; to darken

126 economical (jan 08) prudent or thrifty; not wasteful

127 edifying (june 08) "to instruct, especially in regards to intellectual, moral or spiritual improvement"

128 edifying (oct 08) "to instruct, especially in regards to intellectual, moral or spiritual improvement"

129 egalitarian (mar 08) promoting of equality

130 elite (nov 08) the best of most skilled members of a group

131 eloquent (oct 08) characterized by persuasive or intelligent language; vividly expressive

132 elusive (mar 08) difficult to grasp; tending to elude capture

133 endow (dec 08) to equip; to provide with income

134 enigma (june 08) a mystery; a puzzle

135 enthralling (jan 08) captivating; fascinating

136 eradicate (jan 08) to destroy; to tear up by the roots

137 escalate (may 08) "to increase, enlarge, or intensify"

138 ethical (jan 08) pertaining to morals; pertaining to right and wrong

139 euphonious (may 08) pleasing or agreeable to the ear

140 exacerbate (june 08) to aggravate; to make worse

141 exacerbate (may 08) to aggravate; to make worse

142 exasperation (may 08) frustrated or overwhelming annoyance;

143 exhaustive (oct 08) comprehensive; treating all parts without omission;

144 expansive (oct 08) capable of expanding; broad in size or scale; open and communicative

145 expedient (may 08) appropriate to a purpose; efficient; serving to promote one's interest

146 expedient (oct 08) appropriate to a purpose; efficient; serving to promote one's interest

147 extant (mar 08) not extinct; still living

148 extemporize (jan 08) to improvise

149 facetious (oct 08) playfully jocular; humorous

150 facilitate (may 08) to make easy or easier

151 facsimile (mar 08) an exact copy or reproduction

152 fauna (june 08) "animals, especially of a particular region"

153 felicitous (jan 08) apt; suitable

154 fertile (jan 08) capable of supporting growth or reproduction

155 flora (june 08) "plantlife, especially of a particular region"

156 florid (mar 08) very ornate; flowerly; not direct

157 flourish (mar 08) to prosper; to grow; to thrive

158 flourish (dec 08) to prosper; to grow; to thrive

159 foibles (jan 08) minor weakness or failing

160 foibles (may 08) a minor weakness or failing of character

161 forestall (may 08) "to delay, hinder or prevent by talking precautionary measures beforehand; to anticipate"

162 forgo (jan 08) to abstain from; to relinquish

163 fortitude (dec 08) strength of mind;

164 fortuitous (june 08) lucky; fortunate; happening by chance

165 fortuitous (may 08) lucky; fortunate; happening by chance

166 garish (jan 08) gaudy; loud and flashy

167 garner (oct 08) to gather or store

168 gullible (jan 08) easily deceived or duped

169 haphazard (jan 08) "random, dependent on chance"

170 harbinger (may 08) one that indicites or foreshadows what is to come; a forerunner or a sign; an omen that isn't necessarily bad

171 heinous (may 08) grossly wicked or reprehensible; abominable

172 hue (jan 08) shade or tint of a color

173 humble (oct 08) marked by meekness or modesty in behavior or attitude; showing deference

174 hypothesis (june 08) a tentative explanation; a conjecture

175 iconoclast (june 08) a rebel; one who attacks the orthodoxy

176 idiosyncratic (oct 08) quirky; having a characteristic peculiar to a paricular individual or group

177 illicit (may 08) unlawful; illegal; not sanctioned by custom or law

178 illuminating (jan 08) enlightening; to enable understanding

179 illusory (mar 08) deceptive; not real

180 impasse (dec 08) a road or passage with no exit; a situation that is so difficult that no progress can be made; a deadlock

181 impugn (oct 08) to attack as false or questionable; challenge in argument

182 inane (oct 08) silly; lacking sense or substance

183 inapt (oct 08) inappropriate or inept

184 incantatory (jan 08) ritual recitation of a spell

185 incongruous (oct 08) lacking in harmony; incompatible; not in agreement

186 inconsequential (oct 08) lacking importance; a triviality

187 incorporate (dec 08) to unite; to blend

188 indulgent/indulge (jan 08) lenient; not strict

189 ineffable (mar 08) incapable of being expressed or described

190 inimical (mar 08) injurious; hostile; unfriendly

191 inimitable (oct 08) incapable of being imitated; matchless

192 innovative (oct 08) creative; marked by improvements

193 inquisition (mar 08) an investigation; an inquiry

194 inscrutable (oct 08) difficult to fathom or understand; impenetrable

195 integrated (dec 08) combined; united

196 interweave (june 08) to blend together; to intermix

197 intractable (mar 08) difficult to manage or control

198 intrepid (oct 08) fearless

199 intuition (may 08) the act of knowing or sensing without using rational thought; going by instinct or feeling

200 irrational (jan 08) not reasonable; incoherent

201 itinerant (jan 08) traveling from place to place

202 jocular (oct 08) given to joking

203 kinetic (jan 08) pertaining to motion or movement

204 lark (mar 08) a carefree adventure; a harmless prank

205 lavish (jan 08) extravagant

206 levy (jan 08) tax; to place a tax

207 licentious (dec 08) lacking morals; having no regard for accepted rules

208 litigious (jan 08) relating to lawsuits

209 longevity (june 08) long life; great duration of life

210 loquacious (jan 08) talkative; garrulous

211 loquacious (nov 08) very talkative; garrulous

212 lucid (oct 08) easily understood; clear

213 ludicrous (oct 08) laughable or hilarious because of obvious absurdity or incongruity

214 luminescence (jan 08) brightness; radiance

215 magnanimous (june 08) generous; noble in mind and heart; selfish

216 magnanimous (oct 08) generous; noble in mind and heart; selfish

217 malfeasance (jan 08) misconduct or wrongdoing

218 malicious (june 08) deliberately harmful

219 mandate (jan 08) an authoritative command or instruction

220 marginal (oct 08) minor; not significant; on the side (margin); not direct

221 mediate (may 08) to intervene between disputants in order to bring about a solution

222 menace (jan 08) a possilbe danger; a threat

223 methodology (may 08) a method; a system of procedures or rules

224 meticulous (mar 08) extremely careful and precise; attentive to detail

225 mock (june 08) to treat with ridicule; to deride

226 modicum (may 08) a small or moderate amount; paucity

227 munificence (may 08) very liberal in giving; generous

228 munificence (oct 08) very liberal in giving; generous

229 naïve (mar 08) lacking wordly experience; unsophisticated; gullible

230 nonchalant (jan 08) seeming to be coolly unconcerned or indifferent

231 nonchalant (may 08) seeming to be coolly unconcerned or indifferent

232 nonchalant (oct 08) seeming to be coolly unconcerned or indifferent

233 nostalgia (jan 08) a bittersweet longing for the past

234 notorious (nov 08) famous in a bad way; known widely for something unfavorable

235 nuance (june 08) a subtle or slight degree of difference

236 nuance (nov 08) a subtle or slight degree of difference

237 nuance (oct 08) a subtle or slight degree of difference

238 nuanced (mar 08) having subtleties; detailed

239 nullify (oct 08) to make null; invalidate

240 obfuscate (may 08) to confuse; to make difficult to understand; to darken

241 obstinate (june 08) "stubborn, obdurate"

242 obstreperous (june 08) "noisy, rowdy"

243 olfactory (june 08) pertaining to smell

244 ostentatious (jan 08) gaudy; showy; flashy

245 overt (dec 08) open and observable

246 overwrought (jan 08) excessively nervour or excited; agitated; extremely elaborate or ornate

247 overwrought (mar 08) excessively nervour or excited; agitated; extremely elaborate or ornate

248 painstaking (june 08) very careful and diligent; requiring great effort or great pains

249 panoply (may 08) a splendid or striking array; something that covers or protects.

250 parable (mar 08) a simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson

251 paradox (june 08) a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless by true

252 paradox (oct 08) a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless by true

253 parity (june 08) "equality, as in amount, status, or value"

254 parochial (may 08) narrowly restricted in scope or outlook; provincial; unsophisticated or unrefined

255 parsimonious (mar 08) excessively sparing or frugal; cheap

256 paucity (may 08) small in number; scarcity; dearth

257 pedestrian (oct 08) ordinary; undistinguished; person traveling on foot.

258 perennial (nov 08) lasting or active throughout the year or through many years; appearing every year; recurrent

259 perfidious (may 08) treacherous; marked by disloyalty

260 perfunctory (jan 08) done routinely and with little interest or care

261 peripheral (mar 08) not central or direct; pertaining to the periphery (the side)

262 peripheral (oct 08) indirect; pertaining to the sides

263 perpetuate (jan 08) to spread; to cause to continue indefinetely

264 persevering (june 08) to persist in the face of obstacles

265 pervasive (may 08) widespread; prevalent

266 petulant (mar 08) unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered; peevish

267 philanthropic (jan 08) providing of charitable assistance

268 phlegmatic (june 08) "having a calm, sluggish, unemotional temperament"

269 pitfalls (may 08) an unapparent source of trouble or danger; hidden hazard

270 plethora (may 08) an excess; a superabundance

271 polemical (jan 08) controversial

272 pragmatic (jan 08) practical; dealing with facts or actual occurrences

273 pragmatic (june 08) practical; dealing with facts or actual occurrences

274 pragmatic (oct 08) practical; dealing with facts or actual occurrences

275 precede (may 08) "to come, exist, or occur before in time; to come before"

276 precipitate (oct 08) to hasten the occurrence of; to rush into something without sufficient thought

277 preclude (nov 08) to make impossible; to prevent

278 predisposed (jan 08) to be inclined towards something in advance

279 prestigious (may 08) having esteem; greatly respected

280 pretentious (mar 08) "claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit, especially when undeserved"

281 preternatural (may 08) surpassing the normal; beyond the normal or natural course

282 prevaricate (dec 08) to lie; to not be truthful

283 pristine (mar 08) pure; uncorrupted

284 prodigious (jan 08) "vast, great in size"

285 prolific (oct 08) producing a lot; fertile

286 provisional (nov 08) tentative; for the time being

287 pulverize (mar 08) "to pound, or crush into powder"

288 quarantine (may 08) "forced isolation or detention, especially as to isolate a person or place with a contagious disease"

289 quixotic (mar 08) "romantic, excessively idealistic. Impractical"

290 quizzical (jan 08) confused; questioning

291 rancorous/rancor (mar 08) "bitter, long lasting resentment"

292 recant (jan 08) "to take back, retract"

293 recant (oct 08) "to take back, retract"

294 reconciliation (may 08) to win over with friendliness; to be on good terms again

295 regressive (jan 08) tending to return or revert to the past (especially in a bad way)

296 reluctant (oct 08) unwilling; disinclined

297 remonstrance (dec 08) protest

298 remorse (jan 08) moral anguish resulting from past misdeeds; regret

299 remorse (oct 08) moral anguish resulting from past misdeeds; regret

300 remuneration (june 08) the act of paying back

301 repast (mar 08) a meal or food

302 repercussion (jan 08) consequence; negative result of something

303 replicate (jan 08) to duplicate or copy

304 rescind (oct 08) to make void; repeal or annul

305 resolute (jan 08) "bold, determined"

306 restitution (jan 08) the act of making good or compensating for a loss

307 reticent (oct 08) "reserved, using few words; inclined to keep one's thoughts and feelings to oneself"

308 revelation (may 08) the act of revealing or disclosing

309 revelatory (june 08) pertaining to a revelation (a discovery of truth)

310 robust (jan 08) strong; healthy; vigorous

311 sagacious (mar 08) "wise, keen, sharp"

312 salutary (june 08) favorable to health; designed to improve

313 satirize (jan 08) to ridicule or mock by means of satire

314 satirizes (may 08) to ridicule or mock by means of satire

315 savor (june 08) "to taste or smell something, especially with pleasure"

316 scathing (jan 08) "to harm or injure, especially by fire; to criticize severely"

317 scrupulous (oct 08) conscientious and exact; painstaking; having morals or principles

318 seclude (oct 08) "to separate, isolate, withrdraw into solitude"

319 sedentary (jan 08) characterized by sitting

320 self-deprecating (june 08) to express disapproval of yourself

321 servility (jan 08) submissive; servant-like

322 skeptical (mar 08) given to doubt; questioning

323 skeptical (june 08) doubtful; uncertain

324 skewered (june 08) to pierce (literally or figuratively)

325 solicitous (nov 08) anxious or concerned

326 soliloquy (mar 08) a speech that a character says out loud to himself

327 somber (jan 08) dark; gloomy

328 sophistry (nov 08) plausible but fallacious or misleading argument

329 spate (may 08) a sudden flood or rush; a sudden increase

330 stoic (jan 08) unemotional; indifferent; staid

331 strident (jan 08) harsh sounding; discordant

332 studious (june 08) given to diligent study

333 subordinate (mar 08) "secondary, belonging to a lower or inferior class or rank"

334 subordination (oct 08) "secondary, belonging to a lower or inferior class or rank"

335 subtlety (jan 08) characterized by mental acuteness or penetration

336 subversive (oct 08) "intended to subvert, especially to overthrow or undermine an established authority"

337 succinct (jan 08) concise; terse

338 suffrage (jan 08) the right or privilege of voting; franchise

339 sullen (june 08) gloomy or somber in tone; morose

340 superfluous (mar 08) "unnecessary, beyond what is sufficient"

341 superfluous (may 08) extraneous; being beyond what is required or sufficient

342 suspended (june 08) to hang in the air; to cause to stop for a period

343 synthesize (june 08) "to combine so as to form a new, complex product"

344 systematic (may 08) methodical; following a system or procedure rigidly; not random

345 tact (dec 08) awareness of what is proper in dealing with others; saying the right thing at the right time

346 tangible (mar 08) palpable; discernable by touch

347 tedious (jan 08) "tiresome due to length, slowness, or dullness"

348 temperance (jan 08) moderation; self restraint

349 tenable (mar 08) defendable; capable of being defended in an argument

350 tenacity (may 08) relentlessness; quality of being persistent

351 tentative (mar 08) not fully worked out; provisional; uncertain

352 tentative (dec 08) not fully worked out; provisional; uncertain

353 terse (jan 08) brief and to the point

354 testimonial (mar 08) a statement in support of a particular truth; a recommendation

355 theoretical (mar 08) pertaining to a theory; not practical; speculative

356 thrive (nov 08) to prosper; to grow vigorously

357 transgressions (jan 08) a violation of a law

358 treacherous (jan 08) marked by betrayl of fidelity; perfidious; disloyal

359 trivial (dec 08) of little significance; ordinary;

360 truncate (oct 08) to shorten as if by cutting off

361 turmoil (dec 08) extreme confusion or agitation

362 unaffected (mar 08) not changed or affected

363 undaunted (june 08) not discouraged or disheartened

364 underscore (jan 08) to emphasize

365 unobstructed (dec 08) clear; free from hindrance

366 unruly (mar 08) difficult or impossible to control or discipline

367 unstinting (jan 08) bestowed liberally; not conserved

368 utter (jan 08) to pronounce (verb); complete or absolute (adjective)

369 vacuous (oct 08) devoid of matter or substance; empty; lacking intelligence;

370 vast (may 08) very great in size or number;

371 vehement (mar 08) forceful; intense

372 veneration (may 08) profound respect or reverence

373 verbose (oct 08) wordy

374 versatile (mar 08) capable of doing many things competently

375 vestigial (jan 08) a remnant or rudimentary scructure left over from evolution

376 vindictive (mar 08) disposed to seek revenge; revengeful

377 virtuosity (nov 08) technical skill

378 vitriolic (june 08) bitterly scathing; caustic

379 vituperative (mar 08) harshly abusive censure

380 zealous (nov 08) fervent; intensely enthusiastic