Word List of Rizvi
Part-1
Abhor (v.) [ aj ]
= to regard with extreme repugnance
or aversion.
I abhor all forms of racism.
Abhorrent (adj.) [, n]
Abhorrence (n.)
Absolve (v.) [k (/pr )] = a loud argument or disagreement.
= to free someone from guilt, blame or
responsibility for something.
The report absolved her from all blame
for the accident.
Absolution (n.) []
= formal redemption as pronounced by
a priest in the sacrament of penance.
She was granted/given absolution.
Abstruse (v.) [d]
= difficult to understand.
An abstruse philosophical essay.
Abstruseness (n.)
Alacrity (n.) []
= liveliness and eagerness.
She accepted the money with alacrity.
Allay (v.) [ (nt/ut/)] = having two opposing feelings at the
= (1) to make someone feel less
worried or frightened (2) satisfy
(thirst).
The government is desperately trying
to allay public fears/concern about the
spread of the disease.
She allayed my fears by saying that she
also had heard nothing.
Alleviate (v.)
The ointment soon alleviated the
discomfort.
Alleviation (n.)
Allege (v.) [a , ]
= to state sth as a fact but without
giving proof.
An alleged thief [ k] better.
Alleged (adj.)
Allegedly (adv.)
Medical Question paper allegedly
leaked out.
Allegation (n.) = a public statement
that is made without giving proof.
Aloof (adj.)
= remote in manner.
She kept herself aloof from her
husband's business.
Aloofness (n.)
Altercation (v.) [, ]
According to witnesses, the altercation
between the two men started inside the
restaurant.
Ambiguous (adj.) [d]
= open to two or more interpretations.
She gave an ambiguous smile.
Ambiguously (adv.)
Some questions were badly or
ambiguously worded.
Ambiguity (n.) [d]
= an expression whose meaning cannot
be determined from its context.
There are some ambiguities in the
legislation.
Ambivalent (adj.)
same time.
I felt very ambivalent about leaving
home.
Ambivalently (adv.)
Ambivalence (n.)
Her ambivalence towards men
Amble (v.) [sn ]
= to walk in a slow and relaxed way.
He was ambling along the beach.
Amble (n.)
There's nothing I enjoy more than a
leisurely amble across the moor.
Ameliorate (v.) [ak un o ]
= to make a bad or unpleasant situation
Foreign aid is badly needed to
ameliorate the effects of the drought.
Amelioration (n.)
1
Amenable (adj.) [p, , , Antagonize (v.) [trn , ]
t ()] I didnt want to antagonize him.
= something that you can control or Antagonist (n.) [pk, pdnd]
treat in a particular way. Antagonistic (adj.) [trn]
We are all amenable to the law. Antagonistically (adv.)
Amenable to reason [k e] Antagonism (n.) [k ]

Amicable (adj.) [n] Aphorism (v.) [p]

Ronaldo seeks an amicable end to his = a short pithy instructive saying.
5-year career at Old Trafford. Oscar Wilde was famous for such
Amicably (adv.) aphorisms as 'Experience is the name
Live together amicably. everyone gives to their mistakes'.
Amicability (n.) Aphoristic (adj.)

Amity (n.) [n m] Apt (adj.) [k, k, ]

= friendship. = mentally quick and resourceful,
The two groups had lived in perfect quick to learn, likely.
amity for many years before the recent He is one of our aptest politicians.
troubles. An apt remark.
The kitchen roof is apt to leak when it
Anachronism (n.) [ a]
rains.
= something located at a time when it
Apt to do sth. [ pmn]
could not have existed or occurred.
He is apt to make fun of his elders.
For some people, marriage is an
anachronism from the days when Aptly (adv.) []
women needed to be protected. Aptly said.
Anachronistic (adj.) The branch of zoology dealing with
He described the law as anachronistic insects is aptly named entomology.
(= more suitable for an earlier time) Aptness (n.)
and ridiculous. Aptitude (n.) [s a k,
Anachronistically (adv.) p]
His mathematical aptitude freed him
Anecdote (v.) [s k/ m from cultivation with his brothers.
] She shows great aptitude for music.
= a short often amusing story, He has a remarkable aptitude for
especially about something someone language teaching.
has done. Aptitude test [k r k]
He told one or two amusing anecdotes Inapt (adj.) [a]
about his years as a policeman. = Not elegant or graceful in
Anecdotal (adj.) expression.
Anecdotal evidence. Inaptitude (n.)

Annals (n.) [t ] Arcane (adj.) [, s]

= a chronological account of events in = mysterious and known only by a few
successive years. people.
Annalist (n.) He was the only person who
= a historian who writes annals. understood all the arcane details of the
agreement.
Anomaly (n.) [as k st] This argument may seem arcane to
A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly. those not closely involved in the world
Anomalous (adj.) [, k] of finance.
Anomalously (adv.)

2
Ardor (n.) [k, u] Attenuate (v.) [ ]
= A feeling of strong eagerness. = to make something smaller, thinner
Arduous (adj.) [d, ] or weaker.
Arduously (adv.) Radiation from the sun is attenuated by
Ardent (adj.)[a u] the Earth's atmosphere.
An ardent follower of Orthodox Attenuation (n.)
Marxism.
Ardently (adv.) Augment (v.) [d o]
= enlarge or increase.
Ascetic (adj.) [t] He would have to find work to
= avoiding physical pleasures and augment his income.
living a simple life, often for religious Augmentation (n.)
reasons.
They live a very ascetic life. Austere (adj.) [ ]
Ascetic (n.) = severely simple.
He lived as an ascetic. An austere childhood during the war.
Ascetically (adv.) Austerely (adv.)
Asceticism (n.) Austerity (n.)
The austerities of life in a small rural
Asinine (adj.) [] community were not what I was used
= complacently or inanely foolish. to.
An asinine comment.
Averse (adj.) []
Assiduous (adj.) [a] = strongly disliking or opposed to.
= marked by care and persistent effort. A labor is by nature averse to work.
The Government has been assiduous in Aversion (n.)
the fight against inflation. = a feeling of strong dislike or a lack
Assiduously (adv.) of willingness to do something.
Assiduousness (n.) She has a deep aversion to getting up
in the morning.
Assuage (v.) [p (d, , an,
)] Banal (adj.) [, n]
= to make unpleasant feelings less = obvious and dull.
strong. He just sat there making banal remarks
I tried to assuage the old man's terror. all evening.
The government has tried to assuage Banality (n.)
the public's fears.
Banter (v.) [T/ ]
Astute (adj.) [k] = be silly or tease one another.
= clever and quick to see how to take He stood around bantering with his
advantage of a situation. colleagues.
An astute investor/businessman. Banter (n.) [T, ]
Astutely (adv.) He considered himself a master of
Astuteness (n.) witty banter.

Atrophy (v.) [k ] Belie (v.) [ n o]

= to become weaker. = contradict, give a false impression.
After several months in a hospital bed, His coarse, hard-bitten exterior belied
my leg muscles had atrophied. his innate sensitivity.
Atrophy (n.) Her calm face belied the terror she was
feeling.

3
Belligerent (adj.) [d]
= quarrelsome.
When her husband had too much to
drink, he became belligerent.
Belligerently (adv.)
Belligerence (n.)
I can't stand his belligerence (= his
wish to argue with people all the time).
Blatant (adj.)
= extremely obvious.
The complain upon which you all
convicted me was a blatant lie.
Blemish (v.)
= mar or impair with a flaw.
This latest revelation has seriously
blemished (= spoilt) the governor's
reputation.
Blemish (n.) [, tr, ]
= a mark on something that spoils its
appearance.
Bolster (v.) [k/ud/tt p p
o u ]
= to support or improve something or
make it stronger.
She tried to bolster my
confidence/morale by telling me that I
had a special talent.
Bolster (n.) [ ]
Burgeon (v.) [dr o, l o]
= to develop or grow quickly.
Love burgeoned between them.
Burgeoning (adj.)
The company hoped to profit from the
burgeoning communications industry.
Buttress (v.) [ ]
= support, prop up.
This pillar should be buttressed by
widening the bottom surface.
Buttress (n.)
= usually or stone or brick; supports
the wall of a building.
Capitulate (v.) [t ]
= surrender, give up all resistance.
Their forces capitulated five hours
after the Allied bombardment of the
city began.
Caprice (n.) [, strd]
= a sudden and usually foolish desire
to have or do something.
The $300 million palace was built to
satisfy the caprice of one man.
Capricious (adj.)
He was a cruel and capricious tyrant.
Capriciously (adv.)
Capriciousness (n.)
Capsize (v.) [ul o/ ( )]
= to (cause a boat or ship to) turn
upside down accidentally while on
water.
When the boat capsized we were
trapped underneath it.
Carp (v.) [ , dn , (n )
]
= complain continually.
A carping tongue, Carping criticism.
I can't stand the way he's always
carping.
Cataclysm (n.) [s e p ]
= deluge, upheaval.
A cataclysm such as a French
Revolution affects all countries.
Celerity (n.) [dr, ]
= speed, rapidity, a rate that is rapid.
Hamlet resented his mother's celerity
in remarrying within a month after his
father's death.
Cerebral (adj.) [d]
= pertaining to the brain or intellect.
Writing is a cerebral artistic work.
She makes cerebral films that deal with
important social issues.
Charlatan (n.) [ s t ak k
]
= quack [ k], pretender to
knowledge.
At last Zakir realized that he had been
duped [dupe = p ] by a
charlatan.
4
Choleric (adj.) [, ] Condescend (v.) [ , t
= hot-tempered, bad-tempered, m an p pn ]
irritable. = do something that one considers to
be below one's dignity.
Circuitous (adj.) [k, , t] He often condescended to take bribes.
= not straight or direct. Our boss often condescends to chat
A circuitous route/explanation. with us.
Condescension (n.)
Cogent (adj.) [ e p]
= (of an argument) clear, logical and Condone (v.) [k , ]
convincing. = overlook, forgive, give tacit []
Cogently (adv.) approval.
She argued most cogently for a Shajib's honesty condones his many
relaxation of the sanctions. shortcomings.
Cogency (n.) If the government is seen to condone
violence, the bloodshed will never
Colloquial (adj.) [] stop.
= characteristic of informal spoken
language or conversation. Confide (v.) [ u ]
Colloquially (adv.) = reveal in private; tell confidentially.
Colloquialism (n.) He confided (to her) that his hair was
not his own.
Commandeer (v.) [ p Confiding (adj.)
] Confidingly (adv.)
= a draft for military purposes, to take
for public use. Confluence (n.) [ p/ s]
The policeman commandeered the first = a place where two things come
car that approached and ordered the together.
driver to go to the hospital. Coincidence of peak flow of major
rivers causing congestions at
Concede (v.) [ , s , an ] confluences.
= to admit that sth is true.
He was forced to concede (that) there Congenial (adj.) [, u, rm, ank]
might be difficulties. = suitable to your needs or similar to
After losing this decisive [ ] your nature.
battle, the general was forced to He found nobody congenial to him in
concede (acknowledge defeat). the village.
We worked in a congenial atmosphere.
Conciliate (v.) [ a ]
= to make sb less angry or more Sanguine (adj.) [, k]
friendly, especially by being kind and = positive and hopeful.
pleasant or by giving them sth. Sanguine of success.
Conciliation (n.) Sanguinary (adj.) [kk, kk,
A conciliation service helps to settle k]
disputes between employers and A sanguinary battle.
workers. A sanguinary ruler.
Conciliatory (adj.) Consanguine (adj.) [k mk
,
Reconciliation (n.) [, ] t]
= an end to a disagreement and the Consanguinity (n.) [(k) m,
start of a good relationship again. t]
The reconciliation of rights and duties Consanguineous (adj.)
within a democracy. = related by blood.

5
 Exsanguination (n.)
= depriving the body of blood.
Conscience (n.) []
= a feeling of shame when you do
something immoral.
You didn't do anything wrong, - you
should have a clear conscience (= not
feel guilty).
Conscience-stricken (adj.) []
Conscienceless (adj.) []
Conscientious (adj.) [dmn]
A conscientious student.
Conscientiousness (adj.)
Conscientiously (adv.)
Console (v.) [nt ]
= give moral or emotional strength to.
He tried to console her, but she kept
saying it was all her own fault.
Console (n.)
Consolation (n.)
I didn't know what to say - I just
offered a few words of consolation.
Consolatory (adj.)
A consolatory remark.
Contempt (n.) []
= a strong feeling of combined dislike
and lack of respect.
I felt contempt for the criminal.
She is beneath contempt [o a].
He rushed [rush = ] forward in
contempt of danger [ aj ]. The convicts contrive a means of
Contemptible (adj.)
= deserving contempt.
Her behavior was contemptible.
Contemptibly (adv.)
Contemptuous (adj.)
= expressing contempt.
A contemptuous manner/laugh.
Contemptuously (adv.)
The waiter smiled contemptuously at
anyone who didn't know which wine to
order.
Content (adj.) [p]
= satisfied.
I am content with my present salary.
Content (v.)
You're quite easily contented, aren't
you?
Contented (adj.)
She smiled a contented smile.
Contentedly (adv.)
Contentment (n.)
His face wore a look of pure
contentment.
Discontent (n.) [an]
Discontent among junior ranks was
rapidly spreading.
Discontented (adj.) [ant ]
Discontentedly (adv.)
Contention (n.) [, , kp]
= a dispute where there is strong
disagreement.
The matter has been settled - it's no
longer in contention.
Bone of contention [/ ]
Contentious (adj.) [, p]
A contentious
decision/policy/issue/subject.
Contrite (adj.) [ d ]
= feeling regret for a fault or offence.
A contrite apology/expression.
Contritely (adv.)
Contrition (n.) [an]
Contrive (v.)
= to manage to do sth despite
difficulties, devise, make or work out a
plan for.
She contrived to spend a couple of
hours with him every Sunday evening.
escape from the prison.
Contrivance (n.) [, n, ud st]
= any improvised arrangement for
temporary use.
Contumacious (adj.) [a, eg, d o
]
= stubborn and disobedient.
Contumaciously (adv.)
Contumacy (n.) [a]
Contumely (n.) [d, a]
Convolute (v.)
= curl, wind, or twist together.
Convoluted (adj.) [, k,
, e dr]
A convoluted argument.
Convolution (n.)
6
 The convolutions of a snake.
Convolvulus (convolvuli) (n.) [
e ] vision, esp. from intense light.
Cornerstone (n.)
= (1) the fundamental assumptions
underlying an explanation (2)
something of great importance which
everything else depends on.
In most countries, the family unit is
still the cornerstone of society.
Corpulent (adj.) [s e ]
= excessively fat.
He weighs 350 lbs; he is so corpulent
that he can hardly walk.
Corpulence (n.)
Countermand (v.) [ p , getting enough good food.
]
= annul by recalling or rescinding.
Covert (adj.)
= secret or hidden.
The government was accused of covert
military operations against the regime.
Covertly (adv.)
Terrorists have been operating covertly
in England for several years.
Curmudgeon (n.) [ a k] = convert ordinary language into code.
= a crusty irascible cantankerous old
person full of stubborn ideas.
Cursory (adj.) [ (), = to discover the meaning of
()]
= hasty and without attention to detail.
She gave the newspaper a cursory
look, and then put it down.
Cursorily (adv.)
Dazzle (v.) [ ]
= to cause someone to lose clear
I was dazzled by the sunlight.
Dazzling (adj.)
= extremely attractive or exciting.
A dazzling performance/display.
Dazzlingly (adv.)
Dearth (n.) [a, a, ]
= an amount or supply which is not
large enough.
A dearth of daily necessities.
Debilitate (v.) [ ]
= make weak.
A debilitating climate.
His health is debilitated from not
Decimate (v.) [ / ]
= to kill a large number of something,
or to reduce something severely.
A population decimated by famine.
Decimation (n.)
= destroying or killing a great
proportion of the population (literally
every tenth person).
Cipher (v.) [gp p ]
Cipher (n.)
The message was written in cipher.
Decipher (v.) [ad ]
something written badly or in a
difficult or hidden way.
Can you decipher the writing on this
envelope?
Decipherable (adj.)

Cynic (adj.) [, k] Decorous (adj.) [, m, ]

= someone who is critical of the = characterized by propriety and
motives of others. dignity and good taste in manners and
I'm too much of a cynic to believe that conduct.
he'll keep his promise. Decorously (adv.)
Cynical (adj.) [ mn] Decorum (n.) [ , , ]
Cynically (adv.) Even the best-mannered students have
Cynicism (n.) [, ] trouble behaving with decorum on the
He's often been accused of cynicism in last day of school.
his attitude towards politics. Indecorous (adj.) [a, kr]

7
 = lacking propriety and good taste in Demure (adj.) [pn]
manners and conduct, behaving badly = affectedly modest or shy especially
or rudely. in a playful or provocative way.
Indecorously (adv.) A demure old gentleman.
Indecorum (n.) [a, a ] She gave the young man a demure
smile.
Decry (v.) Demurely (adv.)
= express strong disapproval of. She sat with her hands folded
He is a rebel who decries society as it demurely in her lap.
is. Demureness (n.)

Defunct (adj.) [, p] Denigrate (v.) [ ]

= dead, no longer in use or existence.
That company is now defunct; it closed
last month.
Degenerate (v.) [a o]
= to become worse in quality.
Educational standards are degenerating
year by year because of a lack of
funds.
Degenerate (adj.)
= having low standards of behavior.
a degenerate young man
Degenerate (n.) [a k p] Deprecate (v.) [an ]
Degeneration (n.)
High blood pressure can cause
degeneration of the heart muscles.
Degenerative (adj.)
A degenerative disease/condition.
Deleterious (adj.) [k]
= harmful.
These drugs have a proven deleterious
effect on the nervous system.
Deleteriously (adv.)
Delineate (v.) [t//a ] Descendent []
= to describe or mark the edge of
something.
The main characters are clearly
delineated in the first chapter of the
book.
The boundary of the car park is
delineated by a low brick wall.
Delineation (n.)
Demur (v.) [t ut , p ] Despicably (adv.)
= raise objections, show reluctance.
The lawyer requested a break in the
court case, but the judge demurred.
Without demur [d]
= belittle.
You shouldn't denigrate people just
because they have different beliefs
from you.
Denigration (n.)
Denizen (n.)
= a plant or animal naturalized in a
region.
Deer, foxes and squirrels are among
the denizens of the forest.
= (1) belittle (2) express strong
disapproval of.
The teacher should not deprecate his
student's efforts.
We deprecate this use of company
funds for political purposes.
Descend (v.) [a , o,
s k , ]
= come from.
Humans are descended from (=
developed from) ape-like creatures.
Despise (v.) [j ]
= look down on with disdain.
She despised him for the way he
treated her sister.
Despicable (v.) []
= morally reprehensible.
He was drunk and his behavior at the
party was despicable.
Despondent (adj.) [, -]
= without or almost without hope.

8
 She started to feel despondent about
ever finding a job.
Despondently (adv.)
Despondency (n.)
Desultory (adj.) [ud, ag, e] = to know, recognize or understand
= (1) marked by lack of definite
plan/regularity/purpose (2) jumping
from one thing to another.
Desultory reading.
Deter (v.) [r , ] person.
= try to prevent, show opposition to.
Nothing can deter me from trying
again.
Deterrence (n.) []
Deterrent (n.) []
Do you think that capital punishment is
a deterrent to crimes?
Detriment (n.) [k]
These effluents have detrimental
effects on the living environment.
Detrimental (adj.) [k]
Detrimentally (adv.)
Diaspora (n.)
= the spreading of people from one
original country to other countries.
Dichotomy (n.) [d-]
= classification into two opposed parts.
There is often a dichotomy between
what politicians say and what they do.
Didactic (adj.) [k, ks]
= instructive especially excessively.
Nobody likes his didactic attitude.
Didactically (adv.)
Digress (v.) [ p as an attempt to get publicity.
o]
= to move away from the main subject.
The lecturer temporarily digressed
from her subject to deal with a related
theory.
Digression (n.)
Talking about money now would be a
digression from the main purpose of
this meeting.
Dire (v.) [, ].
= causing fear or dread or terror.
These people are in dire need of help.
Discern (v.) [ ub ]
sth, especially sth that is not obvious.
I could just discern a figure in the
darkness.
Discerning (adj.)
Mahdi is a discerning [an mn]
Discernible (adj.) = Distinguishable,
Perceivable [perceive = a o,
h ]
Discernment (n.)
Discount (v.)[
a ]
= ignore, to decide that something or
someone is not worth consideration or
attention.
You should discount about fifty
percent of what he says.
Disdain (v.) [/aj ]
= reject with contempt.
The older musicians disdain the new,
rock-influenced music.
Disdain (n.)
He regards the political process with
disdain.
Disdainful (adj.)
A disdainful expression.
Disdainfully (adv.)
Disparage (v.) [a ]
= express a negative opinion of.
The actor's work for charity has
recently been disparaged in the press
Disparaging (adj.)
Disparagingly (adv.)
Disparagement (n.)
Dispute (v.) [ , , g ]
= have a disagreement over something.
Few would dispute his status as the
finest artist of the period.
Dispute (n.)
They have been unable to settle/resolve
the dispute over working conditions.
9
 Disputed (adj.) Drone (v.) [e / /k ]
Disputable (adj.) = talk in a monotonous voice.
It's claimed that they produce the best He was droning on (and on) about his
athletes in the world but I think that's operation.
disputable. Drone (n.)
Disputation (n.)
Disputatious (adj.) Dubious (adj.) [n]
He's a disputatious young man (= he = feeling doubt or uncertainty.
argues a lot). These claims are dubious and not
Undisputed (adj.) [am, ] scientifically proven.
Bill Goldberg is the undisputed Dubiously (adv.)
champion in the history of wrestling. Dwindle (v.) [h o]
= to become smaller in size or amount,
Dissemble (v.) [d ] or fewer in number.
= hide under a false appearance. Her hopes of success in the race
Dissembler (n.) [p, ] dwindled last night as the weather
He accused the government of became worse.
dissembling. Dwindling (adj.)
Dissuade (v.) [ ] Dwindling numbers/supplies.
= turn away from by persuasion. Eccentric (adj.) []
He dissuaded his son from joining the = a person with an unusual or odd
army. personality.
Eccentric behavior.
Diurnal (adj.) [h, e, ] Eccentric (n.)
= (1) having a daily cycle or occurring My mother's a bit of an eccentric.
every day (2) active in daytime. Eccentrically (adv.)
Diurnal motion of the sun. Eccentricity (n.)
Her eccentricities get stranger by the
Docile (v.) [ e] day.
= easily handled or managed.
The once docile population has finally Ecclesiastic (n.) []
risen up against the ruthless regime. = a Christian priest or official.
Docility (n.) Ecclesiastical (adj.)
Ecclesiastically (adv.)
Dogged (adj.) [n, eg]
= stubbornly unyielding. Eclectic (adj.) [g (k d m)]
Her ambition and dogged = selecting what seems best of various
determination ensured that she rose to styles or ideas.
the top of her profession. An eclectic taste in literature.
Doggedly (adv.) Our bookshelves at home display a
range of books on wide-ranging
Dolor (n.) [, d, ] subjects and in many languages,
= great sorrow/distress. reflecting the eclectic tastes of our
Dolorous (adj.) [] family members.
Domicile (v.) [s /o]
Edible (adj.) [, k]
Domicile (n.) [, s]
= suitable for use as food.
= the place where a person lives.
Inedible [a, a]
Domiciled (adj.)
He was domiciled in Saudi Arabia
Eloquence (n.) []
during the 1980s.
= powerful and effective language.

10
 She was renowned for her eloquence
and beauty.
Eloquent (adj.)
She made an eloquent appeal for action
before it was too late.
Eloquently (adv.)
He spoke eloquently.
Emaciate (v.) [- o ] amazing feat of human endeavor.
= cause to grow thin or weak.
Emaciated (adj.)
= very thin and weak, usually because
of illness or extreme hunger.
There were pictures of emaciated
children on the cover of the magazine.
Emaciation (n.)
Emancipate (v.) [k ]
= free from slavery or servitude.
Emancipated (adj.)
= not limited socially or politically.
The twenties and sixties are often
regarded as the most emancipated
decades.
Emancipation (n.)
Eminent (adj.) [ ]
= famous, respected or important.
Eminence (n.)
= the state of being famous, respected
or important.
His eminence as a film director
Empiric/ Empirical (adj.) [p]
= derived from experiment and
observation rather than theory.
This theory needs to be backed up with
solid empirical data/evidence.
Empirically (adv.)
Empiricism (n.)
Empiricist (n.)
Encounter (v.) [tr , ap
o]
= to meet someone unexpectedly.
On their way home they encountered a
woman selling flowers.
Encounter (n.)
Encumber (v.) [ , , gs Rage (v.)
o, o] The hurricane raged for a full day.
= hold back.
A country encumbered with debts.
A room encumbered with useless
books.
Encumbrance (n.) [, , ]
Cumbersome (adj.) [, ]
Endeavor (n.) [p ]
= an attempt to do something.
Crossing the North Pole on foot was an
Endeavor (v.)
= to try to do something.
Engineers are endeavoring to locate the
source of the problem.
Endemic (v.) [ /a/
]
= especially of a disease or a condition,
regularly found and very common
among a particular group or in a
particular area.
Malaria is endemic in many of the
hotter regions of the world.
Endorse (v.)
= give support or one's approval to.
The National Executive is expected to
endorse these recommendations.
Endorsement (n.)
Franchise (n.) []
= the right to vote in an election.
Enfranchise (v.)
= grant voting rights.
Women in Britain were first
enfranchised in 1918.
Enfranchisement (n.)
Disenfranchise (v.)
= deprive of voting rights.
Engross (v.) [ ]
= engage wholly.
He is engrossed in his work.
Rage (n.) [k]
= (a period of) extreme or violent
anger.
I was frightened because I had never
seen him in such a rage before.
Raging (adj.)
11
 The rains had turned the stream into a
raging torrent.
Enrage (v.)
= to cause someone to become very
angry.
Plans to build a new nightclub in the
neighborhood have enraged local
residents.
Shroud (v.) [ , ] irritated.
= cover/hide.
The hills were shrouded by mist.
Suddenly all the lights went out and
the house was shrouded in darkness.
Shroud (n.)
A shroud of mist.
Enshroud (v.) [mr ] Equivocate (v.) [ ]
= cover as if with a shroud.
Snare (n.) [, p]
His promises are a snare.
Snare (v.) [ ] Equivocal (adj. [d, n]
Snare a bird/rabbit.
Ensnare (v.) [ ] Erratic (adj.) [a]
= catch in or as if in a trap.
Spiders ensnare flies and other insects
in their webs.
Enthrall (v.) [g , k ] Erratically (adv.)
= hold spellbound, capture, enslave,
captivate.
After 120 minutes of an equally
enthralling and energy-sapping battle
of attrition in Moscow, we left the
stadium.
Entice (v.) [ /p ]
= provoke someone to do something
through promises or persuasion.
He enticed her to elope with him.
Enticement (n.)
Enumerate (v.) [ ]
= to name things separately, one by on.
She enumerated five things that she
liked about the new apartment.
Enumeration (n.)
Ephemeral (adj.) [sls]
= lasting for only a short time.
Fame in the world of rock and pop is
largely ephemeral.
Epitome (n.) [-k]
= a brief abstract (as of an article or
book).
Even now in her sixties, she is the
epitome of French elegance.
Epitomize (v.)
Equable (adj.) [a]
= (1) not varying (2) not easily
The south of the country enjoys an
equable climate.
As a manager she deals with problems
reasonably and equably, never losing
her temper.
= use language that can be understood
in more than one way in order to avoid
the truth
Equivocation (n.)
= irregular, uncertain or without
organization in movement or behavior.
He drove in an erratic course down the
road.
In her study, books were arranged
erratically on chairs, tables and
shelves.
Escalate (v.) [ d o, b o]
= increase in extent or intensity.
Escalation (n.) of complaint.
Eschew (v.) [e , ,
]
= avoid and stay away from
deliberately.
We won't have discussions with this
group unless they eschew violence.
Esoteric (adj.) [ k k
e, d]
= confined to and understandable by
only an enlightened inner circle.
That branch of mathematics is so
esoteric that few study it.
Esoterically (adv.)
12
Euphemism (v.) This attack will exacerbate the already
= a word or phrase used to avoid tense relations between the two
saying an unpleasant or offensive communities.
word.
Exalt (v.) [n , up ]
'Senior citizen' is a euphemism for 'old
= praise, raise in rank/character/status.
person'.
Euphemistic (adj.) Exalted (adj.) [mn]
Euphemistically (adv.) She rose to the exalted post of Foreign
Secretary after only three years in the
Evade (v.) [ e] government.
= escape, either physically or mentally. Exaltation (n.) [un, n]
Just give me an answer and stop Exult (v.) [ul o]
evading the question! = to express great joy.
Evasion (n.) Sharapova exults after winning.
Her speech was full of excuses and Exultant (adj.) [l]
evasions and never properly addressed Exultantly (adv.)
the issue.
Evasive (adj.) Exasperate (v.) [ut , ]
The Minister was her usual evasive = to make someone very annoyed.
self, skillfully dodging reporters' Exasperated (adj.)
questions about her possible He's becoming increasingly
resignation. exasperated with the situation.
Evasively (adv.) Exasperatedly (adv.)
Evasiveness (n.) Exasperating (n.)
Exasperatingly (adv.)
Evanescent (adj.) [] Exasperation (n.)
= tending to vanish like vapor. After ten hours of fruitless
Evanescence (n.) negotiations, he stormed out of the
meeting in exasperation.
Evoke (v.) [s , ]
= call to mind. Exigent (adj.) [r]
= bringing strong images/feelings to = needing urgent attention.
mind. An exigent problem.
That smell always evokes memories of Exigency (n.)
my old school.
Evocation (n.) Exonerate (v.) [a k ]
Evocative (adj.) [s-] = pronounce not guilty of criminal
Evocatively (adv.) charges.
He was charged with fraud, but the
Evolve (v.) [s o] trial exonerated him.
= to develop gradually. Exoneration (n.)
Agriculture evolved slowly over
thousands of years. Extant (adj.) [eo ]
Evolution (n.) = still in existence.
Darwin's theory of evolution. We have some extant parish records
Evolutionary (adj.) from the sixteenth century.
The change has been evolutionary (=
gradual) rather than revolutionary. Felicitate (v.) [an ]
Exacerbate (v.) [ o, = express congratulations.
ut ] Felicitation (n.)
= make worse. Felicitous (adj.) [s, ]
~ exacerbated by human activities. He summed up Jack's achievements in
one or two felicitous phrases.

13
 Felicitously (adv.)
Felicity (n.) [p, /
s ]
As a songwriter, he combined great
linguistic felicity with an ear for a
tune.
Felicities (pl.) [s b]
Her article contained one or two verbal
felicities which will stay in my mind
for years.
Fetid (adj.) [n]
= offensively malodorous.
Fetid air/breath.
Fetter (v.) [ ]
= shackle, restrict the freedom of.
He felt fettered by a nine-to-five office
existence.
Fetter (n.)
Foible (n.) [k t a Garrulousness (n.)
]
= a behavioral attribute that is
distinctive and peculiar to an
individual.
You have to get used to other people's
quirks and foibles.
We all have our little foibles.
Folly (n.) [ d, , ]
= a stupid mistake.
Buying such an expensive car on your
small salary was pure folly.
Foolhardy (adj.) [, a]
= foolishly brave, taking unnecessary
risks.
Sailing the Atlantic in such a tiny boat
wasn't so much brave as foolhardy.
He was foolhardy to try to drive his car
through a snowstorm.
Foolhardiness (n.)
Forthright (adj.) [s ]
= (too) honest or direct in behavior.
His forthright manner can be mistaken
for rudeness.
Frivolous (adj.) [, , , t]
= not serious in content or attitude or
behavior.
Frivolously (adv.)
Frivolity (n.) []
Furtive (adj.) [, ]
= secret and sly or sordid.
A furtive glance/behavior.
I saw him cast a furtive glance at the
woman at the table to his right.
Furtively (adv.) []
Furtiveness (n.) []
Futile (adj.) [ , , ann (k)]
= pointless.
A futile attempt.
It's quite futile trying to reason with
him - he just won't listen.
Futility (n.)
Garrulous (adj.) []
= full of trivial conversation.
The crowd grew garrulous before the
speaker arrived.
Garrulously (adv.)
Genial (adj.) [, ]
= friendly and pleasant.
When the couple gives a party, they
are always genial hosts.
Florida has a genial climate.
Genially (adv.)
Geniality (n.)
Germane (adj.) [p, mk
]
= relevant and appropriate, pertinent.
Her remarks could not have been more
germane to the discussion.
Glutton (n.) []
= a person who is devoted to eating
and drinking to excess.
Gluttonous (adj.)
She said that industrialized countries
should reduce their gluttonous (=
greater than is needed) consumption of
oil.
Gluttonously (adv.)
Gluttony (n.)
They treat Christmas as just another
excuse for gluttony.
Grandiloquent (adj.) [m]
= using long/difficult words in order to
impress.
14
 Her speech was full of grandiloquent Heresy (n.) [ p rd ]
language, but it contained no new = a belief that rejects the orthodox
ideas. tenets of a religion.
Grandiloquence (n.) Heretic (adj.)
= a person who is guilty of heresy.
Grandiose (adj.) [p, m] Heretical (adj.)
= larger and containing more detail Her belief that a split would be good
than necessary. for the party was regarded as heretical.
Grandiose plans/schemes/ideas for
making money. Hiatus (n.) [, k, ]
= an interruption in the intensity or
Gregarious (adj.) [p] amount of something.
= seeking and enjoying the company of The company expects to resume
others. production of the vehicle again after a
Emma's a gregarious, outgoing sort of two-month hiatus.
person.
Gregariously (adv.) Hidebound (adj.) [, kd]
Gregariousness (n.) = stubbornly conservative and narrow-
minded.
Guile (n.) []
= clever but sometimes dishonest Humility (n.)
behavior that is used to deceive = the quality of not being proud
someone. because you are aware of your bad
The President will need to use all her qualities.
political guile to stay in power. They might be very rich, but it
Guileless (adj.) wouldn't hurt them to show a little
She regarded him with wide, guileless humility.
blue eyes.
Guileful (adj.) Hurl (v.) [ k ]
= (1) throw forcefully (2) utter with
Hackneyed (adj.) [a p, a h] force; utter vehemently.
= over familiar through overuse. In a fit of temper he hurled the book
The plot of the film is just a hackneyed across the room.
boy-meets-girl scenario. I wasn't going to stand there while he
hurled abuse at me!
Harbor (v.) [ , ,
( )] Iconoclast (n.)
= hold a thought or feeling of. = characterized by attack on
I have always harbored a penchant for established beliefs or institutions.
teaching. Rogers, an iconoclast in architecture, is
Harbor a criminal. sometimes described as putting the
Harbor thoughts of revenge. insides of buildings on the outside.
Harbor (n.) [ ] Iconoclastic (adj.)
Harborage (n.) [ s] His plays were fairly iconoclastic in
their day.
Hedonism (n.) [s pi ei ] Iconoclasm (n.)
= the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of
ethical principle. Idyll (n.) [lt]
Hedonism is a way of life for many Idyllic (adj.)
people.
Hedonist (n.)
Hedonistic (adj.)

15
Ignominious (adj.) [a, ]
An ignominious defeat/failure/retreat.
Ignominiously (adv.)
Ignominy (n.) [a, ]
= a state of dishonor.
The Workers' Coalition experienced
the ignominy of total defeat in the last
election.
Imitate (v.) [an ]
= produce a copy of.
Some birds imitate human speech.
Wood painted to imitate marble.
Imitator (n.)
Imitation (n.)
Imitation leather/jewellery.
Imitative (adj.)
Imitative words: ding-dong.
Inimitable (adj.) [an]
Inimitably (adv.)
Implausible (adj.)
= difficult to believe.
The whole plot of the film is
ridiculously implausible.
Implausibly (adv.)
Implausibility (n.)
Providence (n.) [, -n, ]
Providence fund.
Provident (adj.) []
Providently (adv.)
Providential (adj.)
Providentially (adv.)
Improvident (adj.) [a]
Improvidently (adv.)
Impudent (adj.) [ , j]
= marked by casual disrespect.
The child was impudent to her mother
when she stuck out her tongue.
Impudence (n.)

Imminent (adj.) [n] Inane (adj.) [, ]

= close in time; about to occur.
The wedding date is imminent, so we
must send invitations.
Imminently (adv.)
Imminence (n.)
Peccable (adj.)
= liable to sin.
Impeccable (adj.)
= without fault, flawless.
The fashion designer was admired for
her impeccable clothes.
Impending (adj.) [n]
The impending storm; His impending
arrival.
So relentless has the speculation
become that Portugal's impending Euro
2008 campaign is turning into
something of a sideshow, with
reporters constantly asking about the
young winger's decision.
Plausible (adj.) [ k, Incongruously (adv.)
an (k)]
= apparently reasonable and valid.
A plausible excuse/explanation.
A plausible rogue.
Plausibly (adv.)
Plausibility (n.)
= devoid of intelligence.
An inane remark.
Inanely (adv.)
Inanity (n.) [a]
Clement (adj.) [k, d]
= (1) inclined to show mercy (2) (of
weather or climate) physically mild.
It's very clement for the time of year.
Clemency (n.)
Inclement (adj.) [, rk, , o
]
= (1) (of weather of climate) physically
severe (2) showing no clemency or
mercy (person).
Inclemency (n.)
Congruent (adj.) [, ]
= corresponding in character or kind.
Martin and I have the same philosophy
on life; we share congruent beliefs.
Congruence (n.)
Incongruous (adj.) [s]
Incongruity (n.)
Inculcate (v.) [h /p (/)]
= teach and impress by frequent
repetitions or admonitions.

16
 Inculcate in young people the sense of
duty.
Incumbent (n.) []
= the official who holds an office.
Incumbency (n.) []
Incumbent (adj.) [a ]
She felt it incumbent upon/on her to
raise the subject at their meeting.
Dispense (v.) [ , o p , tears.
, i ] Inevitability (n.)
= (1) distribute/supply to a number of
people (2) prepare and supply
(medicine) according to a prescription
(3) to get rid of something or someone
or stop using them because you do not
need them.
There is a vending machine on the
platform that dispenses snacks.
They've had to dispense with a lot of
luxuries since Mike lost his job.
Dispensation (n.) [, , BOD is a measurement by inference.
s/t/ a] The inference is not supported by facts.
The dispensation of
justice/food/charity.
Death is a dispensation of providence.
Muslims are granted dispensation from
fasting during illness.
Dispenser (n.)
Dispensary (n.)
Dispensable (adj.) [, o ] Infestation (n.)
It seemed the soldiers were regarded as
dispensable - their deaths just didn't
matter.
Indispensable (adj.) [a]
= vitally necessary, unavoidable.
Indispensability (n.)
Indolent (adj.) [a]
= disinclined to work or exertion.
A labor is by nature indolent to work.
Indolence (n.)
Indulge (v.) [p ]
= give free rein to.
My aunt indulges the children
dreadfully.
Indulgence (n.)
Indulgent (adj.)
He had been a strict father but was
indulgent towards his grandchildren.
Indulgently (adv.)
Evitable (adj.)
= capable of being avoided.
Inevitable (adj.) [a]
The accident was the inevitable
consequence/result/outcome of
carelessness.
Inevitably (adv.)
Their arguments inevitably end in
Inexorable (adj.) [ap, n, ]
= relentless, unyielding, implacable.
Inexorable demands/pressure.
Inexorably (adv.)
Infer (v.) [an , dn ]
We can infer from what he said that he
is innocent.
Inference (n.) [an]
Inferential (adj.) [and]
Infest (v.) [h us (id, ),
ud ]
= invade in great numbers, as of pests.
Warehouses infested with rats.
Cloths infested with vermin/lice.
Ingenious (adj.) [udk, k]
= very clever and skilful.
An ingenious
mind/idea/method/solution.
Ingeniously (adv.)
The umbrella was ingeniously devised
to fold up into your pocket.
Ingenuity (n.)
Drug smugglers constantly use their
ingenuity to find new ways of getting
drugs into a country.
Ingenuous (adj.) [a, t]
= honest, sincere and trusting,
sometimes in a way that seems foolish.
It has to be said it was rather
ingenuous of him to ask a complete
stranger to look after his luggage.
Ingenuously (adv.)
17
 Ingenuousness (n.)
Disingenuous (adj.) [, k, a]
Inimical (adj.) [, pk, k]
= not friendly.
Actions inimical to friendly relations.
Innocuous (adj.) []
= not injurious to physical or mental
health, harmless.
The teacher's innocuous words don't
make me angry, but they also don't
teach me much.
Inquisitive (adj.) []
= showing curiosity.
Inquisitively (adv.)
The mouse looked around the room
inquisitively.
Inquisitiveness (n.)
Salubrious (adj.) [ss]
Salubrious area.
Insalubrious (adj.) [ass]
= detrimental to health.
Insalubrity (n.)
Insidious (adj.) [ a , kk] "Let us pray, " the priest intoned to his
= (of something unpleasant or
dangerous) gradually and secretly
causing harm.
An insidious enemy/disease.
High-blood pressure is an insidious
condition which has few symptoms.
Insidiously (adv.)
Insidiousness (n.)
Insolent (adj.) [ud]
= marked by casual disrespect.
An insolent child/young man.
Insolently (adv.)
Insolence (n.) [pl]
Insuperable (adj.) [ak, d]
= impossible to overcome.
Insuperable barriers.
Mingle (v.) [ o/, ] Irascible (adj.) []
= get involved or mixed-up with.
The excitement of starting a new job is
always mingled with a certain
apprehension.
Intermingle (v.)
= to become mixed together.
Fact is intermingled with fiction
throughout the book.
Intermittent (adj.) []
Intermittent fever.
Intermittently (adv.) [ ]
We've discussed this problem
intermittently, but so far we've failed
to come up with a solution.
Internecine (adj.) [uk ni t,
an]
= internecine war or fighting happens
between members of the same group,
religion or country.
Internecine war/warfare.
Intimidate (v.) [p ]
= make timid or fearful.
Intimidate a witness.
Intimidation (n.)
Intone (v.) [ s ]
= utter monotonously and repetitively
and rhythmically.
congregation.
Invective (n.) [d, , ]
= criticism that is very forceful, unkind
and often rude.
Speeches filled with invective.
A stream of invective from some
sectors of the press continues to assail
the government.
Vigor (n.) [ k]
Vigorous (adj.) [ , s]
Vigorously (adv.)
Invigorate (v.) [k/ ]
An invigorating climate. [
]
An invigorating speech. [u
k]
= quickly aroused to anger.
She's becoming more and more
irascible as she grows older.
Irascibility (n.) [kd ]
18
Itinerant (adj.) [] Lament (v.) [ ]
= traveling from place to place to = to express sadness and regret about.
work. My grandmother, as usual, lamented
An itinerant the decline in moral standards in
journalist/laborer/preacher. today's society.
Itinerant (n.) Lamentation (n.)
For all the lamentations that schools do
Jargon (n.) not teach the game, it is still played in
= a characteristic language of a some areas.
particular group.
Each occupation has its own jargon Languish (v.) [s o]
which outsiders have difficulty = lose animation or strength.
following. The girl languished for her lover.
He is now languishing in jail.
Jettison (v.) [ n t
Languid (adj.) [a, s]
, / ]
Languid stretches filled with the
We jettisoned the unworkable project.
imagined piano music that inspires
The crew of the air balloon jettisoned
Szpilman to live.
the sand bags to help the balloon rise
Languidly (adv.)
over the hill.
= in a languid and lethargic manner.
Jovial (adj.) [] Languor (n.) [ a, a]
= full of or showing high-spirited = an unusual lack of energy.
merriment. The languor of the summer noon.
He seemed a very jovial chap.
Jovially (adv.) Laud (v.) [p ]
Joviality (n.) = praise, glorify, or honor.
The teacher lauded the student for her
Juxtapose (v.) [ s ] excellent work.
= place side by side. Laudable (adj.)
The exhibition juxtaposes Picasso's Laudably (adj.)
early drawings with some of his later Laudatory (adj.) [p]
works.
Juxtaposition (n.) Lionize (v.) [u kr n ]
The juxtaposition of two very different = assign great social importance to.
cultures. Lionization (n.)

Labyrinth (n.) [] Lithe (adj.) []

= (1) complex system of paths or = gracefully slender; moving and
tunnels (2) something which is very bending with ease.
confusing. Dancers are lithe.
Finally, through a labyrinth of Lithesome (adj.)
corridors she found his office. Lithely (adv.)
He was no stranger to the labyrinth of
love. Longevity (n.) [, ]
Labyrinthine (adj.) [] = living for a long time.
It takes a fair amount of concentration To what do you attribute your
to follow the film's labyrinthine plot. longevity?
Laconic (adj.) [al p]
Lucid (adj.) [s , ]
= brief and to the point; effectively cut
= transparently clear.
short.
She gave a clear and lucid account of
Laconically (adv.)
her plans for the company's future.
Laconism (n.)

19
 Lucidly (adv.)
Lucidity (n.)
Malevolent (adj.) [ ]
= causing or wanting to cause harm or
evil.
The central character is a malevolent
witch out for revenge.
Malevolence (n.)
Mar (v.) [k , ] always what they appear to be.
= to spoil something, making it less
perfect or less enjoyable.
Sadly, the text is marred by careless
errors.
It was a really nice day, marred only
by a little argument in the car on the
way home.
Maxim (v.) [, p]
= a saying that widely accepted on its
own merits.
"Birds of a feather flock together" is a
maxim that similar people like to be
with each other.
Mayhem (n.) [] Miff (n.)
= violent and needless disturbance.
He drank too much alcohol and
committed mayhem in nearly
destroying the furniture in the bar.
Meager (adj.) [, ap, ad, ]
= deficient in amount or quality or
extent, barely adequate.
His meager income does not suffice his
large family.
A meager meat, A meager attendance.
Meagerly (adv.)
Meagerness (n.)
Meander (v.) [e o , Miniscule/Minuscule (adj.) [kdkd,
ud ] akd].]
= wander aimlessly.
Meanderings [ ]
Meanderingly (adv.)
Mendacious (adj.) []
= intentionally untrue.
Some of these statements are
misleading and some downright
mendacious.
Mendacity (n.)
Politicians are often accused of
mendacity.
Metaphor (n.) [r]
= a figure of speech that suggests
similarity between one thing and
another.
"All that glitters is not gold" is a
metaphor for saying that things are not
Metaphorical (adj.)
Her second novel is written in a very
metaphorical style.
Metaphorically (adv.)
Meticulous (adj.) [ t]
= very careful and with great attention
to every detail.
Many hours of meticulous preparation
have gone into writing the book.
Meticulously (adv.)
The entire project was meticulously
planned.
Meticulousness (n.)
= a state of irritation or annoyance.
Miffed (adj.)
= annoyed.
He was miffed that his girlfriend did
not show up for a date.
Mimic (v.) [an ]
= imitate (a person, a manner, etc.),
esp. for satirical effect.
She was mimicking the various people
in our office.
Mimicry (n.)
= the act of mimicking.
= very small.
To find someone you actually love,
who'll love you- the chances are
always minuscule.
Misdemeanor (n.) [ a]
= a crime less serious than a felony.
Parking violations are misdemeanors.
20
Misnomer (n.) [ b ap] Obsolete (adj.) [ap, ]
= an incorrect or unsuitable name.
It's something of a misnomer to refer
to these inexperienced boys as soldiers.
Mollify (v.) [p/ ] Much of our existing military hardware
= make less rigid or softer.
Mollify sbs anger.
Mollification (n.)
Nomad (n.) []
= a member of a people who have no
permanent home but move about
according to the seasons.
A tribe of Somalian desert nomads.
Nomadic (adj.)
A nomadic life/existence.
Noxious (adj.) [poisonous or harmful, very
unpleasant, k, a ] International opprobrium has been
noxious gases / chemicals / fumes
a noxious problem
Noxiously (adv.) [a r]
Noxiousness (n.) [a] Ostensible (adj.) [ ]
Nullify (v.) [ ]
= declare invalid.
The state death penalty law was
nullified in 1977.
Obdurate (adj.) [eg, a, an] Ostentation (n.)
= stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing.
The President remains obdurate on the
question of tax cuts.
Obdurately (adv.)
Obduracy (n.)
Obliterate (v.) [ h ]
= to remove all sign of something.
The missile strike was devastating - the
target was totally obliterated.
All of a sudden the view was
obliterated by the fog.
Perhaps she gets drunk to obliterate
painful memories.
Oblivion (n.) [s]
= the state of being disregarded or
forgotten.
She can remember nothing; her
memory has gone into oblivion.
Oblivious (adj.)
= no longer in use.
Gas lamps became obsolete when
electric lighting was invented.
Obsolescent (adj.)
is obsolescent.
Obsolescence (n.)
Mobile phone technology is
developing so quickly that many
customers are concerned about
obsolescence.
Opprobrious (adj.) [s, ,
a]
= expressing offensive reproach.
Opprobriously (adv.)
Opprobrium (n.) [s, , n,
]
heaped on the country following its
attack on its neighbors.
= appearing or claiming to be one
thing when it is really something else.
Their ostensible goal was to clean up
government corruption, but their real
aim was to unseat the government.
Ostensibly (adv.)
Her luxurious lifestyle and personal
ostentation were both hated and
envied.
The ostentation of the newly rich.
Ostentatious (adj.) [,
n e]
= intended to attract notice and impress
others.
They criticized the ostentatious
lifestyle of their leaders.
Ostentatiously (adv.)
Pains (n.) [n, ]
He worked very hard but got very little
for all his pains.
Painstaking (adj.) [t, ,
]
= characterized by extreme care and
great effort.
21
Pallid (adj.) [, ] Penurious (adj.)
= lacking in vitality or interest or = (1) hating to spend or give money (2)
effectiveness. very poor.
Pallidly (adv.) He penurious old man refused to lend
Pallidness (n.) his children any money.
Pallor (n.) [, ] The sight of penurious children in the
street made us very sad.
Paltry (v.) [, ] Penuriously (adv.)
= very small and of little or no value. Penuriousness (n.)
The company offered Jeremy a paltry Penury (n.)
sum which he refused. = a state of extreme poverty or
destitution.
Panache (n.) [i, ]
= distinctive and stylish elegance. Perennial (adj.) [, , s]
There is always an air of panache = lasting an indefinitely long time.
about everything she says. Perennially (adv.)

Parch (v.) [ ] Perfidy (n.) []

= cause to wither from exposure to = betrayal of a trust.
heat. Perfidious (adj.)
Parchment (n.) Perfidiously (adv.)
= skin of a sheep or goat prepared for Perfidiousness (n.)
writing on.
Perfunctory (adj.) [at a m
Pariah (n.) [ /as ] ]
= a person who is rejected (from = not thorough.
society or home). Perfunctorily (adv.)
He was treated like a pariah and cast A perfunctory inspection failed to
out from his community. reveal the house's structural flaws.

Parochial (adj.) [d, ] Peripatetic (adj.) [n s is ]

= narrowly restricted in outlook or = traveling from place to place.
scope. Peripatetic (n.) [s an k]
A parochial outlook. Peripateticism (n.) [s
Parochially (adv.) ]
Parochialism (n.) []
Persecute (v.) [ , nt , ]
Paucity (n.) [ sl, a] = cause to suffer.
= an insufficient quantity or number. Persecute a man by saying worrying
There is a paucity of information on things.
the ingredients of many cosmetics. Persecutor (n.)
Persecution (n.)
Peccadillo (n.) [ k t n d,
Suffer persecution for ones religious
tr] beliefs.
= a minor fault. The enormity of persecution in World
One of her peccadilloes is that she War II.
sometimes spends money too easily.
Persona (n.) [(k) p]
Pellucid (adj.) [s, ]
= the aspect of a persons character
= transparently clear, easily
that is presented to others.
understandable, lucid.
Pellucidly (adv.)

22
 He had a shy, retiring side to his She has published a fierce anti-war
personality that was completely at odds polemic.
with his public persona. Polemical (adj.) []
A polemical essay.
Pervade (v.) [p , ] Polemically (adv.)
= spread or diffuse through.
Pervasion (n.) Ponderous (adj.) [s]
Pervasive (adj.) [] = slow and laborious because of
Planning is pervasive and generic. weight.
Pervasively (adv.) Bureaucracies move in a ponderous
Pervasiveness (n.) way.
Ponderously (adv.)
Petrify (v.) [n/an/ k
(/s ), o] Portend (v.) [a ]
= cause to become stone-like or stiff or = indicate by signs
dazed and stunned. This portends difficult time ahead.
I think you petrified poor Jeremy - he Portent (n.) [k, ]
never said a word the whole time you
were here. Posterity (n.) [, nn, ut r]
Petrifaction (n.) = all future generations.
Petrified (adj.) Every attempt is being made to ensure
I stood petrified as the most enormous that these works of art are preserved
dog I've ever seen came bounding up for posterity.
to me.
Pragmatic (adj.) [ pd
Phlegm (n.) [ , p n]
e]
Phlegmatic (adj.) [s u]
= concerned with practical matters.
= calm and unexcitable, not easily In business, the pragmatic approach to
disturbed. problems is often more successful than
Phlegmatically (adv.) an idealistic one.
Pragmatically (adv.)
Pinion (v.) [ u ,
Pragmatism (n.) [p, ,
k ]
a, mn]
= restrain or immobilize by binding the
Pragmatist (n.)
wings or legs.
Pinion (n.)
Precipitous (adj.)
= birds wing.
= done with very great haste and
without due deliberation, extremely
Plagiarize (v.) [an , b i g
steep.
]
Don't be precipitate - think it through
= to use another person's idea or a part
before you make a decision.
of their work and pretend that it is your
There is a precipitous drop off that
own.
cliff.
The book contains numerous
Precipitously (adv.)
plagiarized passages.
Plagiarism (n.)
Precocious (adj.) [ak]
Plagiarist (n.)
= (of a child) advanced in intelligence
or development.
Polemic (n.) []
She was a precocious child who could
= (1) a controversial argument (2) a
read and write at the age of three.
person who argues in opposition to
Precociously (adv.)
another.
Precociousness (n.)

23
Predilection (n.)
A predilection for [ an/k,
n]
He has a predilection for drinking
alcohol.
Predispose (v.) [i an/ank , un
] Prodigal (adj.) [a, ks]
= make susceptible.
To predispose to disease [p ]
Smoking predisposes you to lung
cancer.
His family background predisposes
him to support the Democrats.
I found him predisposed in your favor.
Predisposition (n.) [p]
A predisposition to find fault with.
[dnp]
Pre-eminent (n.)
= more important or better than others.
She is the pre-eminent authority in her
subject.
Pre-eminence (n.)
= high status importance owing to
marked superiority.
His pre-eminence in his subject is
internationally recognized.
Prerogative (n.) [ a]
= a right reserved exclusively by a
particular person or group (especially a
hereditary or official right).
Alex makes all the big decisions -
that's his prerogative as company
director.
Prevalent (adj.) [p]
= encountered generally especially at
the present time.
Pine trees are prevalent in this part of
the country.
Prevalence (n.)
Prevaricate (v.) [(m) ] With the economy in the worst
= to avoid telling the truth or saying
exactly what you think, misrepresent.
He prevaricated when he spoke in
court.
Prevarication (n.)
Prevaricator (n.)
Procrastinate (v.) [k ]
= postpone or delay needlessly.
I know I've got to deal with the
problem at some point - I'm just
procrastinating.
Procrastination (n.)
Prodigal (n.)
Prodigally (adv.)
Prodigality (n.)
The prodigality of the sea.
Prodigy (n.) [s]
= an unusually talented or intelligent
child.
A prodigy of learning.
Infant prodigy [ad p]
Profound (adj.) [, p]
A profound sleep.
Profundity (n.) [, p]
The profundity of knowledge.
Proliferate (v.)
= grow or reproduce rapidly.
Proliferation (n.) [drs]
Prolific (adj.)
= bearing in abundance especially
offspring.
Propitiate (v.) [k u n ]
= to please and make calm a god or
person who is annoyed with you.
In those days people might sacrifice a
goat or sheep to propitiate an angry
god.
Propitiation (n.) [p t]
Propitiatory (adj.)
With a propitiatory gesture he offered
her his hand.
Propitious (adj.) [ank, spn, ]
Weather that was propitious for their
journey.
recession for thirty years, it was
scarcely the most propitious time to
start up a company.
Propitiously (adv.)
24
Puerile (adj.) [s, ] One witness refuted the statement of
I find his sense of humor rather another by presenting new evidence.
puerile. Refutable (adj.) []
Puerility (n.) [s //n] Refutation (n.) []

Punctilious (adj.) [ Regale (v.) [s/n , p/ ]

a, ds, ds] = provide with choice or abundant
Punctiliously (adv.) food or drink.
Punctiliousness (n.) Regale oneself with a bottle of
champagne.
Quotidian (adj.) [(j m) n, p] Our friend regaled us with stories of
= found in the ordinary course of things he had done in Africa.
events, daily.
Television has become part of our Reiterate (v.) [t ]
quotidian existence. The club has moved to reiterate its
stance on this matter.
Raconteur (n.) A reiterate command.
= a person skilled in telling anecdotes. Reiteration (n.)
Our grandfather was an entertaining
Raconteur. Rejoice (v.) [n /o]
= to feel great joy.
Rancid (adj.) [ dnk] When the war ended, the winners
= smelling of fermentation or rejoiced.
staleness.
Relinquish (v.) [ ]
The butter is rancid and tastes bad.
= to give up; hand over, to surrender.
The thief relinquished his gun to the
Ratify (v.) [sk an ]
police.
= approve in writing.
He relinquished alcohol and fatty foods
Ratification (n.)
to go on a diet.
Recalcitrant (adj.) [a, ] Remit (v.) [k , ok , h /o,
= marked by stubborn resistance to ]
authority. = release from (claims and debts).
Recalcitrance/Recalcitrancy (n.) His examination fees have been
[a] remitted.
The case will be remitted to an expert
Recede (v.) [/ o, o] committee.
= (1) gradually become weaker/smaller Remission (n.) [k, , i, ok,
(2) move back or further away. ]
The painful memories gradually Remission for good conducts. [
receded in her mind.
]
Remission of a fever.
Reek (n.) [b dn]
Remittance (n.) [a p p a]
= a distinctive odor that is offensively
unpleasant. Renounce (v.) [ ]
The reek of stale tobacco smoke. = give up.
Reek (v.) [dn ] He renounced drinking alcohol by
Reek with [ k p k o] telling his friends that he had quit
drinking.
Refute (v.) [u n p ]
= prove to be false or incorrect.

25
Repudiate (v.) [ as , as Ruffle (v.) [ ]
] = stir up (water) so as to form ripples.
= refuse to acknowledge or recognize. Ruffle (n.)
I utterly repudiate those remarks. = a strip of pleated material used as a
Repudiation (n.) decoration or a trim.

Resonant (adj.) Sage (n.) [j ]

= (of sound) deep, clear and ringing. = a mentor in spiritual and
Resonant with = filled with. philosophical topics.
Sage (adj.) [j, pj]
Resurgent (adj.) [ -mn] Sagely (adv.)
= rising again as to new life and vigor. Sagacious (adj.) [jmn, k]
Resurgence (n.) [rt, ] = acutely insightful and wise.
Sagacity (n.)
Revel (v.) [n ] = ability to make good judgments.
Revel in [p n ] Presage (n.) [k, ]
Drunken Revel [] Presage (v.)
Reveler (n.) A heavy rain presages flood.

Rhetoric (n.) [ah ] Salacity (n.) [a ]

Rhetorical (adj.) [pertaining to = the trait of behaving in an obscene
effective communication, ah, manner.
m] Salacious (adj.) [a ]
= asked only to make a statement or to Salaciously (adv.)
produce an effect rather than to get an Salaciousness (n.)
answer
= intended to influence people, but not Salvage (n.) [ud mt]
completely honest or sincere (of a = the act of rescuing a ship or its crew
speech or piece of writing) or its cargo from a shipwreck or a fire.
A rhetorical question = ut The ship is good for salvage because it
p n kp p can be raised from the bottom of the
Rhetorically (adv.) sea.

Rife (adj.) [ss, h p, ] Savor (v.) [s n u ]

= excessively abundant.
The folk songs are still rife in the
villages.
Corruption is rife in our society; the
integrity of even senior officials is
suspect.
Rife with []
Rodent (n.) [id p]
= relatively small gnawing animals
having a single pair of constantly
growing incisor teeth specialized for
gnawing.
Damaging of plastic pipe in trickle
irrigation by rodents.
= taste appreciatively.
I savored dinner last night; we had
roast beef and good red wine.
The baseball team savored their win.
Scintillate (v.) [jj ]
= emit or reflect light in a flickering
manner.
The party conversation scintillated as
people told jokes and drank
champagne.
Sedentary (adj.) [a u e,
e ()]
= tending to spend much time seated.
Sedentary profession.

26
Sedulous (adj.) [a] Solicitous (adj.)
= diligent, marked by care and = full of anxiety and concern.
persistent effort. He made a solicitous enquiry after her
Pay sedulous attention to a young lady. health.
Sedulously (adv.) Solicitously (adv.)
Solicitude (n.)
Sequestrate (v.) [p ]
= set apart from others. Sonorous (adj.) [, s]
At the age of 60, the old man was = full and loud and deep.
sequestrated from his colleague. A sonorous voice.
Sequestration (n.) Sonorous voice of Sonu Nigam.
= isolation. Sonorously (adv.)

Serendipity (n.) [k o ap Soporific (adj.) [sleep producer, d (

] )]
= something good that happens by = sleep inducing.
chance. Soporific class lectures of Feroze sir!
It was serendipity that I found a 10-
dollar bill on the street. Specious (adj.) [ /
nt ]
Serene (adj.) [s o n] = plausible but false.
= completely clear and fine. A specious argument.
After she told him that she loved him, Speciously (adv.)
he became serene with relief and Speciousness (n.)
happiness.
Sporadic (v.) [kp]
Serpent (n.) [, , u] = recurring in scattered and irregular or
= a snake. unpredictable instances.
Serpentine (adj.) Sporadic clashes between Mannas
We followed the serpentine course of fans and police.
the river. Sporadic fighting / gunfire / violence.
The film's serpentine (= complicated Sporadic outbreaks of the disease.
and difficult to understand) plot was Sporadically (adv.)
difficult to follow.
Stagnant (adj.) [d, ]
Simulate (v.) [ ] = (of water or air) not flowing or
(1) enact or perform again (2) make a moving, and smelling unpleasant.
pretence of. We could not drink the water in the
Simulated innocence. stagnant pond.
There are some insects that simulate A stagnant economy.
dead leaves. Stagnancy (n.)
Simulation (n.)
Dissimulate (v.) [p /an Steadfast (adj.) [, a]
n as ] = marked by firm determination or
= hide from others, as of feelings. resolution.
The group remained steadfast in its
Solicit (v.) [an ] support for the new system, even when
= to ask someone for money, it was criticized in the newspapers.
information or help. Steadfastly (adv.)
It is illegal for public officials to solicit Steadfastness (n.)
gifts or money in exchange for favors.
Solicitation (n.)

27
Stifle (v.) [rd , , ] Sublime scenery/heroism/self-
= smother, suppress, conceal, hide. sacrifice.
We were stifled in the crowded local A man of sublime
bus. conceit/impudence/indifference.
I feel stifled in a smoky room. (Go) from the sublime to the
Stifler (n.) [, ] ridiculous.
Sublimely (adv.) [r]
Stoic (n.) [s-d k] She was sublimely indifferent to the
= someone who is seemingly astounded looks of the pedestrians.
indifferent to emotions.
Stoical (adj.) Subside (v.) [h o, o]
Stoicism (n.) [ ] = sink or fall to a lower level.
The police are hoping that the violence
Stimulate (v.) [ut ] will soon subside.
= to encourage something to grow, Eventually the flood waters began to
develop or become active. subside.
Good teachers should ask questions Subsidence (n.)
that stimulate students to think. The building had to be demolished
Stimulating (adj.) because of subsidence.
Stimulation (n.)
Stimulant (n.) Subtle (adj.) [Be difficult to detect, k]
Subtle Subtler - Subtlest
Stricture (v.) [ /n] A subtle humor.
= (1) stern criticism (2) a severe moral A subtle [] argument or design.
or physical limitation. A subtle [k] observer or critic.
The strictures of the United Nations Subtly (adv.)
have failed to have any effect on the Government policy has already shifted
warring factions. subtly.
The Taliban's strictures on women's
rights and education. Succinct (adj.) [kp, m]
= briefly giving the gist of something.
Stupefy (v.) [s n k , m Succinctly (adv.) [al ]
] Succinctness (n.)
Stupefied with drink/amazement.
Stupefaction (n.) [a] Superficial (adj.) [a, h, s]
= only on the surface of something.
Subdue (v.) The driver only received superficial
= put down by force or intimidation. injuries/cuts/wounds.
Unforgiven-1: New blood joins this Superficially (adv.)
earth and quickly he's subdued. Superficiality (n.)
Subdued voice/light/satisfaction. [,
Sybarite (n.) [ k]
] = a person who loves luxury and
pleasure.
Subjugate (v.)[ ]
= put down by force or intimidation. Taciturn (adj.) [al]
She subjugated herself to her mother's = habitually reserved and
needs. uncommunicative.
The old man has a taciturn expression
Sublime (adj.) [n, sn, on his face.
(a k m)]
= worthy of adoration or reverence.

28
Tarnish (v.) [ p /o] We view future developments with
= to spoil the reputation of someone or some trepidation.
something. Intrepid (adj.) [ak]
The scandal tarnished her reputation. Intrepidly (adv.)
Tarnish (n.) [ p] Intrepidity (n.)

Teem (v.) [p , a Trite (adj.) [, n]

] = over familiar through overuse.
Fish teem in this lake. His lyrics about love and peace are too
Teem with [p ] trite for me to take them seriously.
Bangladesh is teeming with people. Tritely (adv.)
The rain was teeming down. Triteness (n.)
He found that many marketed spices
Trivial (adj.) [, n, a]
were teeming with bacteria, moulds
= having little value or importance.
and yeasts.
I don't know why he gets so upset
about something that is utterly trivial.
Temerity (n.) []
= fearless daring, boldness. Truculent (adj.) [d, d]
He had the temerity to tell his boss = defiantly aggressive.
what he thought of her. A truculent speech against the new
government.
Thwart (v.) [p , ] Truculently (adv.)
= hinder or prevent. Truculence/Truculency (n.)
Be thwarted in ones ambitions.
Trudge (v.) [an ]
Tractable (adj.) [ nt] = walk heavily and firmly, shamble.
= docile, easily managed. Trudging through the deep snow.
Tractability (n.) Trudge (n.) [kn t]
= a long difficult walk.
Tranquil (adj.) [n, ]
= free from disturbance. Truncate (v.) [ ]
The tranquil night. = make shorter as if by cutting off.
Tranquilly (adv.) Television coverage of the match was
Tranquility (n.) [pn] truncated by a technical fault.
Tranquilize (v.) [= make calm or still]
Tranquilizer (n.) Tumult (n.) [ , , tk]
= a state of commotion and loud
Travail (n.) [ p , p ] confused noise.
Travail (v.) The tumult of battle.
= work hard.
Painful or laborious effort. Tyro (n.) [aj k]
= someone new to a field or activity.
Tremor (n.) [-m, , ] I look forward to seeing this young
= a shaky motion. tyro's next ballet.
There was a slight tremor in her voice.
Tremulous (adj.) Ubiquitous (adj.) [ei t n s
He watched her tremulous hand reach
us]
for the teacup.
= being present everywhere at once.
Leather is very much in fashion this
Trepidation (n.) [ ] season, as of course is the ubiquitous
= fear or anxiety about what is going to denim.
happen, a feeling of alarm or dread.

29
Unanimity (n.) []
= everyone being of one mind.
Unanimous (adj.)
After a lengthy discussion we reached
a unanimous decision on the proposal.
Tenable (adj.) [ k ,
k ( m)] Vex (v.) [k
= able to be defended successfully or
held for a particular period of time.
His terms are hardly tenable.
His theory is no longer tenable in light
of the recent discoveries.
Untenable (adj.)
= describes a theory or argument that
cannot be supported or defended
against criticism.
If three people in four no longer
support the government, isn't this an
untenable situation?
Upheaval (n.) [at]
= (a) great change, especially causing
or involving much difficulty, activity
or trouble.
It would cause a tremendous upheaval
to install a different computer system.
Vacillate (v.) [d ]
= be undecided about something.
Her mood vacillated between hope and
despair.
Vacillation (n.)
Vacuous (adj.) [n dt a, n, he scored three goals.
u, ]
A vacuous
remark/laugh/expression/stare.
Vacuously (adv.) [n ]
Vagary (n.) [, ]
= a sudden desire.
The vagaries of human emotions.
Veracity (n.) [, , ]
= unwillingness to tell lies.
Veracious (adj.) []
Veraciously (adv.)
Verbose (adj.) [m]
= using or containing too many words.
Verbosely (adv.)
Verboseness (n.)
Verdant (adj.) [, aj]
= green with growing things.
Verdancy (n.)
Much of the region's verdant
countryside has been destroyed in the
hurricane.
]
= to annoy, worry or disturb (esp. by
minor irritations).
It vexes me that my computer is not so
fast.
A vexed question [h sr,
k s]
Vex (v.) [(d) kb ]
Vexed by storms.
Vice (n.) []
= a specific form of evildoing.
Greed, pride, envy, dishonesty and lust
are considered to be vices.
Vicious (adj.)
= having the nature of vice.
The police said that this was one of the
most vicious attacks they'd ever seen.
Viciously (adv.)
Viciousness (n.)
Vindicate (v.)
= to prove that what someone said or
did was right or true, after other people
thought it was wrong.
The decision to include Morris in the
team was completely vindicated when
Vindication (n.)
The army's victory is being seen as (a)
vindication of their tactics.
Voluble (adj.) [sn]
= marked by a ready flow of speech.
Many see Parker as the obvious leader,
whose voluble style works well on TV.
Volubly (adv.)
30
 Word List of Rizvi
Part-2

Abridge (v.) [kp ] Aesthetics (n.)

= condense, shorten.
The publishers proceeded to abridge
the novel 'War and Peace'.
The new law might abridge our
freedom of expression.
Abridged (adj.)
I've only read the abridged version of
her novel.
Abridgement (n.)
Abrogate (v.) [k ]
= abolish, revoke formally.
The king intended to abrogate the
decree issued by his predecessor.
Abrogation (n.)
Abscond (v.) [t ]
= depart secretly and hide.
She absconded from boarding school
with her boyfriend.
Absconder (n.) []
Admonish (v.) [ ]
= warn, reprove.
Her teacher admonished her to work
harder for her exams.
Admonition (v.)
Admonitory (adj.)
An admonitory letter.
Adulterate (v.) [ ]
= make impure.
It is a crime to adulterate foods without
informing the buyer.
Adulteration (n.)
Adulterant (n.) []
Aegis (n.) [ak, ]
= shield, defense.
The project was set up under the aegis
of the university.
Aesthetic (adj.) [n]
= artistic.
How can you feel this painting, as you
have no aesthetic sense.
Aesthetically (adv.)
I like objects to be both functional and
aesthetically pleasing.
= the formal study of art, especially in
relation to the idea of beauty.
Altruism (n.) [b]
= the quality of unselfish concern for
the welfare of others.
Altruistic (adj.)
I doubt whether her motives for
donating the money are altruistic -
she's probably looking for publicity.
Amoral (adj.) [a]
= without moral standards or
principles.
He has an amoral view of life in which
anything he wants to do is all right.
Amorality (n.)
Anathema (n.) [ap st]
= solemn curse.
The thought of changing to another
religion is anathema to many people.
Anathematize (v.) [a ]
Anguish (n.) [r nt]
= acute pain, extreme suffering.
The visitor wept to see the anguish of
the victims and their families.
Anguished (adj.)
Annex (v.) [a , ]
= attach, take possession of.
Britain annexed this small island west
of Scotland in 1955.
Apocalyptic (adj.) [p]
= prophetic of devastation or ultimate
doom.
The crowd jeered at the street
preacher's apocalyptic prediction of
doom.
Apocryphal (adj.) [n, p k]
= spurious, not authentic.
Landing on the moon is most likely
apocryphal now.

31
Arbor (n.) [k] Banish (v.) [ ]
= a sheltered place in a garden formed
by trees and bushes which are grown to
partly enclose it.
The rose arbor was beautiful when the
roses were in bloom.
Arboreal (adj.)
= of or relating to or formed by trees.
Arboriculture (n.)
= the cultivation of tree for the
production of timber.
Artless (adj.) [, ]
= without guile, open and honest.
I have not seen artless man like him
ever.
Artlessly (adv.)
Artlessness (n.)
Assail (v.) [ ] Bellicose (adj.) [p, ]
= assault.
He was assailed with insults and abuse
as he left the court.
Assent (v.) [m , an ] Bemuse (v.)
= agree, accept.
If I have to assent to your request, I
must think about it for few days.
Assent (n.)
= agreement with a statement or
proposal to do something.
He gave his assent eagerly.
Astound (v.) [s a sm ] Benevolent (adj.) [, ]
= to surprise or shock someone very
much.
The news astounded me.
Atone (v.) [,p , p t ] Benevolently (adv.)
= make amends for, pay for.
The country's leader has expressed a
wish to atone for his actions in the
past.
Atonement (n.)
He said that young hooligans should
do community service as atonement for
their crimes.
Auspicious (adj.) [, ank, k] Beseech (v.) [ , n p ]
= favoring success.
It was an auspicious moment to set
sail.
Auspiciously (adv.)
= expel from a community or group.
He was banished to an uninhabited
island for a year.
Banishment (n.)
Bastion (n.) [r]
= stronghold.
The attackers may not find the leader
who is into the bastion.
Befriend (v.) [u n g ]
= become friends with.
He was befriended by an old lady.
Beleaguer (v.) [a ]
= besiege or attack, harass.
The Army beleaguered the Prime
Minister's residence.
= warlike, pugnacious.
You seem an atavism to your Norman
ancestors who were bellicose.
= cause to be confused emotionally.
Bemused (adj.) [d o]
= confused, lost in thought.
Faisal watched the show in discovery
channel with a bemused look on his
face.
= generous, charitable.
He was a benevolent old man, he
wouldn't hurt a fly.
Benevolence (n.)
She smiled benevolently at me.
Benign (adj.) [, h]
= kindly, favorable.
His benign smile attracted the poor
villagers.
A benign tumor [ e]
Benignly (adv.)
= beg, plead with.
The old man beseeched his life to the
leader of the robbers.
Beseeching (adj.)
Beseechingly (adv.)
32
Besmirch (v.) [ , ] She was buoyed (up) by the warm
= soil, defile.
The scandalous remarks in the
newspaper besmirch the reputation of
the University.
Bestir (v.) [ ]
= to become active after a period of
rest.
To bestir oneself.
I'd better bestir myself - there's work to
be done.
Blithe (adj.) [, pl]
= carefree and unconcerned.
He made some blithe remarks about
the coming hurricane.
Blithely (adv.)
She blithely agreed to the contract
without realizing what its
consequences would be.
Blizzard (n.) [ o p ] Callously (adj.)
= a severe snow storm with strong
winds.
We once got stuck in a blizzard for six
hours.
Brazen (adj.) [ud, n]
= unrestrained by convention or
propriety.
There were instances of brazen
cheating in the exams.
His brazen voice [ o] was
disliked by others.
Broach (v.) [ r ]
= bring up a topic for discussion.
He at last broached the topic of his
marriage.
Brusque (adj.) [r, a]
= blunt, abrupt.
He was shocked by her brusque reply.
Brusquely (adv.)
Brusqueness (n.)
Buoy (v.) [ ]
= to prevent someone or something
from sinking.
The very salty water buoyed her (up)
as she swam.
reception her audience gave her.
Buoyant (adj.) [p, pl]
= able to float, cheerful and optimistic.
Take buoyant tyres if you go to Coxs'
Bazar.
After reading the letter he was in a
buoyant mood.
Buoyancy (n.)
He was a man of remarkable buoyancy
[an ability to stay happy despite
having difficulties].
Burgeon (v.) [dr o, l o]
= to develop or grow quickly.
Love burgeoned between them.
Burgeoning (adj.)
Callous (adj.) [u]
= hardened, unfeeling.
Due to working in the hospital for
many years, he became callous to the
suffering of the inmates.
Callousness (n.)
Calumny (n.) [a, ]
= malicious [d]
misrepresentation, slander.
You are not my foe, why you are
heaping calumny upon me!
Cantankerous (adj.) [, p]
= ill-humored, irritable.
He's getting a bit cantankerous in his
old age.
Captious (adj.) [dn,
]
= fault-finding.
Captiously (adv.)
Catharsis (n.) [k, ]
= the release of pent-up emotions.
Cathartic (adj.)
A cathartic experience.
Centrifuge (n.) [ d nt]
= machine that separates substances by
whirling them.
At the dairy, we employ a centrifuge to
separate cream from milk.
Centrifugal (adj.)
33
Chafe (v.) [ ] Cognomen (n.)
= (1) warm by rubbing (2) cause = a familiar name for a person (often a
annoyance in; disturb, especially by shortened version of a person's
minor irritations. given name).
He chafed his hand before the fire.
The slow traffic chafed her as she Comrade (n.) [an /, s n]
hurried to work. = a person who is frequently in the
company of another.
Chronicle (n.) [nk ] Many of his comrades were killed in
= a written record of historical events. the battle.
Chronicle (v.) Comradely (adj.)
The book chronicles the writer's Comradeship (n.)
coming to terms with his illness.
Conjecture (n.) [an]
Churl (n.) [ ] = a hypothesis that has been formed by
Churlish (adj.) speculating.
= boorish, rude. Conjecture (v.)
His churlish behavior annoys = to believe especially on uncertain or
everyone. tentative grounds.
Churlishly (adv.)
Contuse (v.) [k ]
Cimmerian (adj.) = injure the underlying soft tissue or
= intensely dark and gloomy as with bone of.
perpetual darkness. Contusion (n.) [ as]

Cleanse (v.) [ ] Conundrum (n.) [ p , ]

= to make something completely clean. = a difficult problem.
Cleanse the cut/wound thoroughly Arranging childcare over the school
before you bandage it. holidays can be quite a conundrum for
Cleanser (n.) [] working parents.
Cleansing (adj.)
Corpse (n.) [, ]
A cleansing cream/lotion.
= the dead body of a human being.
Cloy (v.) [m, , n p d The murder victim's corpse lay in the
ar ] street.
= supply or feed to surfeit. Corporeal (adj.) [ kn, ]
Cloyed with sweets. = having material or physical form or
Cloying (adj.) substance
= distasteful, excessively sweet or Corporeally (adv.)
sentimental. Incorporeal (adj.)
Disliking the cloying sweetness of = not having a physical body but a
standard wedding cakes, Mr. Rafique spiritual form.
chose a home made carrot cake. In the film, the house was visited by a
strange incorporeal being.
Coffer (n.) [ t
] Corroborate (v.) [ k, tt
= a large strong box in which money or ]
valuable objects are kept. = to provide evidence or information
The treasure was locked away in that supports a statement, theory, etc.
coffers. Recent research seems to corroborate
The government's coffers are empty his theory.
and it must raise taxes. Corroboration (n.)

34
 Without corroboration from forensic
tests, it will be difficult to prove that
the suspect is guilty.
Corroborating (adj.)
Corroborating evidence/reports.
Covenant (v.) [kt m ]
= Enter into a formal agreement.
5% of our profits are covenanted to
charity.
Covenant (n.)
= a signed written agreement between
two or more parties (nations) to
perform some action.
The contract contained a restrictive
covenant against building on the land.
Covert (adj.)
= secret or hidden.
The government was accused of covert
military operations against the regime.
Covert (n.)
Covertly (adv.)
Craven (adj.) [r]
= cowardly, lacking even the
rudiments of courage.
A craven act of terrorism.
Cravenly (adv.)
Creed (n.) [ a ] opinions.
= any system of principles or beliefs.
The church published its creed about
belief in God.
Curt (adj.) [sl, T ]
= marked by rude or peremptory
shortness.
A curt reply, A curt way of talking.
Curtly (adv.)
Steve answered curtly and turned his
back on me.
Curtness (n.)
Claire's curtness made him wonder
what he'd done wrong.
Curtsy (n.) [ d p ] when it rains heavily.
= bending the knees; a gesture of
respect made by women.
Curtsy (v.)
She curtseyed to the Queen.
Cynosure (n.) [ k k/st]
= sth that strongly attracts attention
and admiration.
Deadpan (adj.) [, ]
= deliberately impassive in manner.
A deadpan expression/voice.
Deadpan (adv.)
= without betraying any feeling.
Decamp (v.) [ps , ]
= leave a camp, run away, leave
suddenly.
The hikers decamped before dawn.
He decamped from the hotel with
someone else's luggage.
Deceit (n.) [p, ]
= the quality of being fraudulent.
Deceive (v.) [p ]
The company deceived customers by
selling old computers as new ones.
Deceiver (n.) [p]
= someone who deceives people.
Defer (v.) [s/ , m ]
= to agree with sbs decision cause u
have respect towards them.
To defer to ones elders/to sbs
A deferred telegram.
Deferment (n.)
I have a deferment from military
service while I am a student.
Deference (n.)
Deferential (adj.)
Deferentially (adv.)
Deluge (v.) [p ]
= fill or cover completely, usually with
water.
The city was deluged when the river
burst its banks.
Deluge (n.) [p]
This little stream can become a deluge
Demagogue (n.) [k ]
= a political leader who seeks support
by appealing to popular passions and
prejudices.
Hitler was a demagogue.
35
 Demagogic (adj.) Disabuse (v.) [ n k ]
Demagogically (adv.) = free somebody (from an erroneous
belief).
Deport (v.) [ ] Proper education can disabuse a man
= expel from a country. of communal prejudices.
Thousands of illegal immigrants are He thinks that he can say whatever he
caught and deported every year. wants, but I will disabuse him of that
Deportation (n.) idea.
There were mass deportations in the
1930s, when thousands of people were Dispatch (v.) [ ud o p ,
forced to leave the country. (g) dr , ]
Deportee (n.) = send off promptly, kill quickly.
The injured horse was suffering, so we
Deprave (v.) [ ] dispatched it with a shot to the head.
= corrupt morally or by intemperance He performs his duties with dispatch
or sensuality. by quickly doing what his boss asks.
Depraved (adj.) Dispatch (n.)
Depravity (n.) The dispatch of the letter was delayed.
= the state of being morally bad.
After he lost his job, he fell slowly into Disquiet (v.) [udg ]
a life of drugs and depravity. = to make uneasy or anxious.
We were disquieted by the news of his
Deride (v.) [u ] illness.
= ridicule. Disquiet (n.)
They derided my suggestion as = anxiety.
utopian. The news of his illness caused much
Derision (n.) Disquiet in the office.
Derisive (adj.) Disquietude (n.)
= feelings of anxiety that make you
Desiccate (v.) [ ] tense and irritable.
= lose water or moisture
Desiccated fruit. Dissertation (n.) [ n]
Desiccant (n.) [] = a long formal treatment of a subject,
esp. one written for a higher university
Desolate (v.) [n/ ] degree.
= cause extensive destruction or ruin Ann did her dissertation on Baudelaire.
utterly. After years of writing her doctoral
Desolate (adj.) dissertation, it was accepted and she
The house stood in a bleak and received her Ph.D.
desolate landscape.
Desolately (adv.) Distend (v.) [ ]
= providing no shelter or sustenance. = extend/ expand abnormally, swell
Desolation (n.) out, bloat.
A scene of desolation. In the refugee centers we saw many
children whose stomachs were
Diaphanous (adj.) [s, ] distended because of lack of food.
= (of cloth) so light and fine that you Distension (n.)
can almost see through it.
Diaphaneity (n.) Drab (adj.) [, e]
Diaphanously (adv.) = dull, causing dejection.
Diaphanousness (n.) I feel so drab in this grey uniform.
Drabness (n.)

36
 It's the unrelieved drabness of big
industrial cities that depresses me.
Drone (v.) [e / /k ] Numerous sponsors are coming
= talk in a monotonous voice.
He was droning on (and on) about his
operation.
Drone (n.)
Edify (v.) [ un ] Embezzle (v.) [t ]
= to improve someone's mind.
Edification (n.)
I tend to watch the television for
pleasure rather than edification.
Edifying (adj.)
Efface (v.) [ , h ] They were arrested for embezzlement
= remove completely from recognition
or memory.
The whole country had tried to efface
the memory of the old dictatorship.
Effacement (n.)
Effervesce (v.) [ , n u A rose is the national emblem of
o]
= become bubbly or frothy or foaming.
Effervescence (n.) [, A sword is emblematic of power
ut]
= the process of bubbling as gas
escapes.
Effervescent (adj.) [ul]
Meg Ryan has an effervescent
personality.
Ejaculate (v.) [ e k ]
= utter impulsively.
You've got my umbrella!- he
ejaculated.
Ellipsis (n.) [ n p b-]
= when words are left out of a sentence
but the sentence can still be
understood.
An example of ellipsis is "What
percentage was left?" "Twenty" (= 20
per cent).
Elliptical (adj.)
His message was written in a
deliberately elliptical style.
Elliptically (adv.)
Embellish (v.) [sn , a , ]
= (1) add details to (2) make more
beautiful.
forward to embellish the program
thereby getting a chance to be
highlighted in the society.
Embellishment (n.)
= to secretly take money that is in your
care or that belongs to an organization
or business you work for.
She embezzled thousands of dollars
from the charity.
Embezzlement (n.) [a-t]
of company funds.
Embezzler (n.)
Emblem (n.) [p]
= a visible symbol representing an
abstract idea.
England.
Emblematic (adj.)
gained by violence.
Emblematically (adv.)
Emigrate (v.) [n o]
= to leave a country permanently and
go to live in another one.
Millions of Germans emigrated from
Europe to America in the nineteenth
century.
Emigration (n.)
Immigrant (n.) []
= a person who emigrates.
Emollient (adj./n.) [t e]
= having a softening or soothing effect
especially to the skin.
An emollient cream.
Emote (v.)
= to express emotion in a theatrical or
exaggerated way.
The grandmother emoted when she
talked about the wonderful time of her
youth.
Emotive (adj.)
37
Enervate (v.) [ o ] persuasion, or to make something
= weaken mentally or morally.
Enervating (adj.)
I find this heat very enervating.
Enjoin (v.) [ p ]
= give instructions to or direct
somebody to do something with
authority, to stop/prevent.
The court enjoined the prosecution
from convicting an innocent man.
necessary.
The blackmailers exacted a total of
$100 000 from their victims.
Heart surgery exacts tremendous skill
and concentration.
Exacting (adj.) [a mn, ,
]
= demanding a lot of effort, care or
attention.
An exacting training schedule.

Ennui (n.) [ o Excerpt (n.) [ gn n a]

kn] = a passage selected from a larger
= the feeling of being bored by work.
something tedious. An excerpt from her new thriller will
The whole country seems to be appear in this weekend's magazine.
affected by the ennui of winter. Excerpt (v.)
= take out of a literary work in order to
Ensconce (v.) [ p cite or copy.
(/ s)] This passage of text has been
= fix firmly. excerpted from her latest novel.
He ensconced himself in the chair.
Exhilarate (v.) [ul ]
Entreat (v.) [an ] = fill with sublime emotion.
= ask for or request earnestly. Exhilarating (adj.)
Entreatingly (adv.) [] The cold autumn air exhilarates me.
Exhilaration (n.)
Epistemology (n.)
= the philosophical theory of Hortative (adj.) [u, p]
knowledge. Hortatory (adj.)
= giving strong encouragement.
Erudite (adj.) [] Exhort (v.) [ u udd
= having or showing profound , n an ]
knowledge. The governor exhorted the prisoners
He's the author of an erudite book on not to riot.
Scottish history. Exhortation (n.)
Eruditely (adv.) The book is essentially an exhortation
Erudition (n.) [] to religious tolerance.
A work of great erudition.
Extempore (adj./adv.) [p
st ]
Ether (n.) [- p l ] = with little or no preparation or
= light and delicate, especially in an forethought.
unnatural way. At the audition, the actors were asked
Ethereal (adj.) to perform extempore.
Ethereally (adv.) Extemporary (adj.)
Extemporarily (adv.)
Exact (v.) [ o , , Extemporaneous (adj.)
r o] An extemporaneous speech.
= to demand and obtain something, Extemporaneously (adv.)
sometimes using force, threats or

38
Extol (v.) [u p ]
= praise, glorify or honor.
She is forever extolling the virtues of
her children.
Extricate (v.) [k ]
= release from entanglement of
difficulty.
I tried to extricate myself from the
situation but it was impossible.
Extrication (n.)
Fathom (v.) [ o, ]
= come to understand, measure the
depth of (a body of water) with a
sounding line.
Unfathomed (adj.)
Unfathomable (adj.) [dj, d]
Feckless (adj.) [, ak, t]
= not fit to assume responsibility.
He was portrayed as a feckless drunk.
Fecklessly (adv.)
Fecklessness (n.)
Fidget (v.) [ a as ] As the evening wore on the dancing
= move restlessly.
Children can't sit still for long without
fidgeting.
Fidget (n.)
Foment (v.) [ , ud ]
= try to stir up public opinion.
The song was banned on the grounds
that it might foment racial tension.
Forensic (adj.)
= related to scientific methods of
solving crimes.
Forensic examination revealed a large
quantity of poison in the dead man's
stomach.
Forge (v.) [ ]
= make a copy of with the intent to
deceive.
A forged passport/ signature.
Forger (n.) []
= someone who makes copies illegally.
Forgery (n.)
He increased his income by forgery.
Forgo (v.) [ ]
= to do without, to abstain from.
I shall have to forgo the pleasure of
seeing you this week.
Fraud (n.) [ p, p]
= intentional deception resulting in
injury to another person.
Fraudster (n.)
= someone who obtains money by
deceiving people.
New measures are needed to prevent
fraudsters opening bank accounts with
stolen checks.
Fraudulent (adj.)
= dishonest and illegal.
The company made fraudulent
statements in its television
commercials for its shampoo.
Fraudulently (adv.)
Frenzy (n.) [unt]
= state of violent mental agitation.
In a frenzy of rage she hit him.
Frenzied (adj.)
got more and more frenzied.
Fret (v.) [ ]
= worry unnecessarily or excessively.
Don't fret - I'm sure he's OK.
Fret (n.)
= agitation resulting from active worry.
Fretful (adj.)
By midnight the children were tired
and fretful.
Fretfully (adv.)
Frugal (adj.) [, ]
= avoiding waste.
A frugal meal of bread and soup.
Frugally (adv.)
We had very little money left, so we
ate frugally in cheap cafs and bars.
Frugality (n.)
Gauche (adj.) [ /ap]
= lacking social polish.
She had grown from a gauche teenager
to a self-assured young woman.
Gaucherie (n.) [ ///]
= the quality of being rustic or gauche.
39
Gesture (n.) [i, i] Gullibility (n.)
= motion of hands or body to
emphasize or help to express a thought Haughty (adj.) [ud, a]
or feeling. = unfriendly and seeming to consider
She made a rude gesture at the other yourself better than other people.
driver. She has a rather haughty manner.
Gesture (v.) [a ] Haughtily (adv.)
= show, express or direct through Haughtiness (n.)
movement.
He made no answer but walked on, Heckle (v.) [ k
gesturing for me to follow. kp ]
Gesticulate (v.) [a ] = challenge aggressively.
= show, express or direct through A few angry locals started heckling
movement. (the speaker).
There was a man outside the window Heckler (n.)
gesticulating wildly. The heckler was ejected from the hall
Gesticulation (n.) by a couple of police officers.
Heckling (n.)
Goad (v.) [ ]
= give heart or courage to. Heliocentric (adj.)
Will the pressure applied by = having the sun as the center.
environmentalists be enough to goad
Hermit (n.) [s]
the industrialized nations into using
Hermitage (n.) [ ]
less fossil fuel?
Goad (n.) Hermetic (adj.) [d]
The thought of exams next week is a = completely sealed, completely
great goad to the students to work airtight.
hard. A hermetic poem.
Hermetically (adv.)
Hermetically sealed.
Gorge (v.) [ o]
= overeat or eat immodestly. Heuristic (adj.)
Gorge (n.) [s ] = (of a method of teaching) allowing
The sight made my gorge rise. students to learn by discovering things
Gorge (n.) [ ] themselves and learning from their
Engorge (v.) own experiences rather than by telling
= overeat or eat immodestly. them things.
Disgorge (v.) [u, ] Heuristics is called the discovery
approach in education.
Grimace (v.) [ ]
= to make an expression of pain, strong Hideous (adj.) [a k]
dislike, etc. in which the face twists in = extremely ugly or bad.
an ugly way. She wears the most hideous color
He tried to stand and grimaced with combinations you could ever imagine.
pain. Hideously (adv.)
Grimace (n.)
Helen made a grimace of disgust when Histrionic (adj.) [, , n]
she saw the raw meat. = characteristic of acting or a stage
performance; often affected.
Gull (v.) [ , p ] Histrionic ability [a ]
= make a fool or dupe of. She put on a histrionic display of grief
He gulled me out of my money. at her ex-husband's funeral.
Gullible (adj.) [ p] Histrionics (n.) [, ]

40
Homage (n.) [ d, a, ns] She implored her parents not to send
= deep respect and often praise shown
for a person or god.
On this occasion we pay homage to
him for his achievements.
Icicle (n.)
= ice resembling a pendent spear,
formed by the freezing of dripping
water.
Icicles hung from the roof.
Immaculate (adj.) [ ]
= (1) extremely clean and tidy (2)
containing no mistakes.
An immaculate uniform / room.
The property is in immaculate
condition.
An immaculate performance.
His sense of timing was immaculate.
Immaculately (adv.)
Immaculately dressed.
Impasse (n.) [as]
= a situation in which no progress can
be made or no advancement is
possible.
The dispute had reached an impasse, as
neither side would compromise.
Impede (v.) [gs ]
= be a hindrance or obstacle to.
Impediment (n.) [ pn Incineration (n.)
(, )]
= anything that makes progress
difficult.
Impetuous (adj.) [ag -] Incorrigible (adj.)
= (1) tending to act on a sudden idea or
wish, without considering the results of
your actions (2) marked by violent
force.
The Prime Minister may now be
regretting her impetuous promise to
reduce unemployment by half.
Impetuously (adv.)
Impetuousness (n.)
Impetuosity (n.)
Implore (v.) [ p ] = very poor.
= to beg.
her away to school.
Imploring (adj.)
He had an imploring look in his eyes.
Impromptu (adj. /adv.) [pn]
= an extemporaneous speech or
remark.
An impromptu party/performance.
Cant (n.) [, ]
= insincere talk about religion or
morals.
Incantation (n.) [nt, d]
= a ritual recitation of words or sounds
believed to have a magical effect.
Around the fire, tribal elders chanted
incantations.
Inchoate (v.)
= imperfectly formed.
She had a child's inchoate awareness of
language.
Inchoative (adj.)
Incinerate (v.) [s ]
= cause to undergo combustion.
The spacecraft and its crew were
incinerated by the billion-degree
temperatures generated by the fireball.
Incinerator (n.)
A hospital incinerator.
Corrigible (adj.) []
= capable of being corrected or set
right.
= impervious to correction by
punishment.
An incorrigible liar/rogue.
Incorrigibly (adv.)
Incur (v.) [ sn g ]
= bring upon oneself.
Incur debt; Incur hatred [ t o]
The play has incurred the wrath/anger
of both audiences and critics.
Indigent (adj.) [d]
Some indigent people beg for money
and food.
Indigence (n.)
41
Ingratiate (v.) [an o]
= gain favor with somebody by
deliberate efforts.
With an ingratiating smile [
].
Ingratiatingly (adv.) [angd].
Innervate (v.)
= supply nerves to (some organ or
body part), stimulate to action.
Innervate a muscle or a nerve.
Insouciance (n.) [p]
= the cheerful feeling you have when
nothing is troubling you.
Insouciant (n.) [u, p]
Interdict (v.) [d/pd ]
= command against.
Interdict (n.) [j]
Interdiction (n.) []
Trepidation (n.) [ ]
= fear or anxiety about what is going to
happen, a feeling of alarm or dread.
We view future developments with
some trepidation.
Intrepid (adj.) [ak]
Intrepidly (adv.)
Intrepidity (n.)
Intricate (adj.) [, k]
= having many complexly arranged
elements.
An intricate plot.
Intricately (adv.)
Intricacy (n.)
Inundate (v.) [p ]
= fill or cover completely, usually with
water.
Be inundated with congratulations.
Inundation (n.) [p/n]
Inveigle sb into (doing) sth.
The young girl was inveigled by her
associates.
Jeopardize (v.) [gs ]
= pose a threat to.
Jeopardy (n.) [, , k]
= dangerous position or situation.
His social position is in jeopardy.
Jibe (v.)
= be compatible, similar or consistent;
coincide in their characteristics.
Jibe (n.)
= an aggressive remark directed at a
person like a missile and intended to
have a telling effect.
Jingo (n.) [d p]
= an extreme bellicose nationalist.
Jingoism (n.)
Jingoist (n.)
Jingoistic (adj.)
Jurisprudence (n.) [ i j o ]
= the study of law and the principles
on which law is based.
The great problem for jurisprudence to
allow freedom while enforcing order.
Luster (n.) [jj, p, ]
= the brightness that a shiny surface
has.
Lustrous (adj.)
= very shiny.
Lustrously (adv.)
Lackluster (adj.)
= (1) lacking brilliance or vitality (2)
lacking luster.
Britain's number-one tennis player
gave a disappointingly lackluster
performance.

Inveigh (v.) [ , ] Lamentable (adj.)

= to criticize severely. = deserving severe criticism; very bad.
Inveigh against sb/sth. The lamentable state of the economy.
There were politicians who inveighed Lamentably (adv.)
against immigrants to get votes. The government says the report, have
carried out lamentably few of their
Inveigle (v.) [ o, p promises.
]
= lead astray.

42
Lampoon (v.) [u b ] Loquacity (n.) [-s]
= ridicule with satire. = the quality of being wordy and
Lampoon (n.) talkative.
The magazine Aalpin was famed for Loquacious (adj.) []
its merciless political lampoons. Loquaciously (adv.)
Loquaciousness (n.)
Lassitude (n.) [an]
= a feeling of lack of interest or Lumberjack (n.)
energy. = a person who fells trees.
Shareholders are blaming the
company's problems on the lassitude of Lynch (v.) [ ]
the managing director. = kill without legal sanction.
Cowboys lynched the cattle thief after
Lax (adj.) [, ] they caught him.
= lacking care, attention or control; not
severe or strong enough. Macerate (v.) [ ]
He took a gun through baggage control = become soft or disintegrate as a
to highlight the lax security. result of excessive soaking.
Laxity (n.) Mix together all the ingredients and
Laxly (adv.) leave them to macerate in the fridge
overnight.
Leeway (v.)
= freedom to act within particular Content (adj.) [p]
limits. = satisfy in a limited way.
Local councils will be given some I am content with my present salary.
leeway as to how they implement the Malcontent (adj.) [ant ]
legislation. Discontent (n.) [an]

Limerick (n.) [ ] Malignant (adj.) [a, k, t]

= a humorous poem with five lines. = dangerous to health.
He writes and recites limericks for fun. The process by which malignant
cancer cells multiply isn't fully
Liquidate (v.) [ , , understood.
] Malignantly (adv.)
= get rid of (someone who may be a Malignancy (n.)
threat) by killing.
The storekeeper liquidated her Malinger (v.) [ e ud ass
inventory by offering it for sale at a big ]
discount. = avoid responsibilities and duties,
The owner liquidated his business and e.g., by pretending to be ill.
retired. And is he really ill or just malingering?
Malingerer (n.)
Lissome (v.) [, ] I'm sure she thinks I'm a malingerer.
= moving and bending with ease.
Lissomness (n.) Maudlin (adj.) [al n r
e]
Lop (v.) [ , ] = insincerely emotional.
= cut off from a whole. Romantic novels can be maudlin if the
I'll need to lop off the lower branches hero dies.
of the tree.

43
Maverick (n.) [o , e ] Mnemonic (adj.) [s ud
= unbranded range animal. l]
Maverick (adj.) = of or relating to or involved the
= independent in behavior or thought. practice of aiding the memory.
The musical notes on the lines go
Mead (n.) EGBDF - use the mnemonic 'every
= made of fermented honey and water. good boy deserves fun'.
Mnemonic (adj.)
Megalomania (n.) [ a k
] Muffle (v.) [u sk n ,
= a psychological state characterized ]
by delusions of grandeur. = conceal or hide.
The dictator suffers from megalomania Muffle ones throat.
in planning to construct large palaces Muffled voice [ ]
with armies that he does not have. Muffle the oars [, ] of a boat
Megalomaniac (n.) [ i (, i) b
Mercenary (adj.) [ a o an s o]
Muffler [n]
n e]
= profit oriented.
He had some mercenary scheme to Mundane (adj.) [, , ]
marry a wealthy widow. = found in the ordinary course of
Mercenary (n.) [ /]
events.
Mundane occupations/speeches.
Mercurial (adj.) [pn, , ] Mundanely (adv.)
= liable to sudden unpredictable
change. Munificent (adj.) [extremely generous, ]
She was entertaining but unpredictable, = very generous.
with mercurial mood swings. A munificent patron / gift / gesture.
He enjoys being munificent on a
Militant (adj.) [d] princely scale.
= active, determined and often willing Munificence (n.)
to use force.
The group has taken a militant position Nave (adj.) []
on the abortion issue and is refusing to = inexperienced.
compromise. She was very naive to believe that he'd
Militant (n.) stay with her.
Militantly (adv.) Navely (adv.)
Militancy (n.) Navet (n.)
Narcotic (n./adj.) [d]
Mince (v.) [ , ] = of or relating to or designating
= (1) make less severe or harsh (2) to narcotics.
walk in an artificial way, with small He faces three years in jail for selling
delicate steps (3) cut into small pieces. narcotics.
He minced across the room in a pair of A narcotic effect.
tight pink trousers.
Mince (n.) [ ] Nebula (n.) []
= a cloud of gas/dust in outer space.
Missive (n.) [(, grm ) t] Nebular (adj.)
= a written message addressed to a Nebulous (adj.) [, as , ]
person or organization. Nebulous concepts.
She sent a ten-page missive to the
council, detailing her objections.

44
Nefarious (adj.) [a ] Opiate (n.) [ n h ]
= extremely wicked. = a narcotic drug that contains opium
One of his nefarious crimes was the or an opium derivative.
bombing of a busy train station.
Opprobrious (adj.) [s, ,
Nonchalant (adj.) [p ] a]
= marked by blithe unconcern. = expressing offensive reproach.
He was quite nonchalant about losing Opprobriously (adv.)
his job. Opprobrium (n.) [s, , n,
Nonchalance (n.) ]
International opprobrium has been
Nondescript (n.) heaped on the country following its
= a person is not easily classified and attack on its neighbors.
not very interesting.
The meteorological bureau is in a Ostensible (adj.) [ ]
nondescript building on the outskirts of = appearing or claiming to be one
town. thing when it is really something else.
Their ostensible goal was to clean up
Numismatics (n.) [d o kn ] government corruption, but their real
= the collection and study of money aim was to unseat the government.
(and coins in particular). Ostensibly (adv.)
Numismatist (n.) Ostentation (n.)
Her luxurious lifestyle and personal
Oasis (v.) [ pn s] ostentation were both hated and
= a fertile tract in a desert. envied.
Her office was an oasis of peace and The ostentation of the newly rich.
sanity amid the surrounding chaos. Ostentatious (adj.) [,
n e]
Obfuscate (v.) [n , n/d ]
= intended to attract notice and impress
= make obscure or unclear.
others.
She was criticized for using arguments
They criticized the ostentatious
that obfuscated the main issue.
lifestyle of their leaders.
Obfuscation (n.)
Ostentatiously (adv.)
Odium (n.) [p d] Unostentatious (adj.)
= hate and strong disapproval.
Odious (adj.) [] Palate (n.) [, r]
An odious crime. = the upper surface of the mouth that
Odiously (adv.) separates the oral and nasal cavities.
Ontology (n.) He has a good palate for Chinese food.
= the metaphysical study of the nature Palatable (adj.) [r]
of being and existence. Palatal (adj., n.) [ d s
u ()]
Opaque (adj.) [] Unpalatable (adj.) [s, ap,
= not transmitting or reflecting light or ar]
radiant energy.
His writing style can be opaque in Palliate (v.) [p , grt ]
places. = lessen or to try to lessen the
Opaquely (adv.) seriousness or extent of.
Opacity (n.)

45
Palpable (adj.) [s ] Patter (n.) [ b]
Neither side had ever faced a I find the patter of rain on the roof
competitive penalty shootout before soothing.
and the tension was palpable. He should succeed - he dresses well
A palpable error. and his sales patter is slick and
Palpably (adv.) convincing.
Palpate (v.)
= medically examine by touch. Pebble (n.) [n, ]
=a small smooth rounded rock.
Parable (n.) [ r -] This part of the coast has pebble
= a short moral story (often with beaches.
animal characters).
He tells parables that are meant to Pedant (v.)
make you think. = a person who pays more attention to
formal rules and book learning than
Paragon (n.) they merit.
= an ideal instance; a perfect Pedantic (adj.)
embodiment of a concept. Pedantically (adv.)
She is so good that she is a paragon of Pedantry (n.)
virtue.
Pejorative (adj.) [n]
Parry (v.) [, , (p ) e o] = expressing disapproval.
= avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, Make sure students realize that 'fat' is
answering, or performing (duties, an unflattering or pejorative word.
questions, or issues).
Predictably the president parried Peninsula (n.) [d ud]
enquiries about the arms scandal. = a large mass of land projecting into a
body of water.
Parsimony (n.) [] The Korean/Arabian/Florida Peninsula.
= extreme stinginess.
Parsimonious (adj.) Pernicious (adj.) [k]
I think that politicians are often rather Pernicious action.
parsimonious with the (= do not tell Pernicious lies can ruin a person's
the complete) truth. reputation.
Parsimoniously (adv.) Perniciously (adv.)
Perniciousness (n.)
Pasture (n.) []
= a field covered with grass or herbage Perplex (v.) [ ]
and suitable for grazing by livestock. = be a mystery or bewildering to, make
Pasture (v.) [ , kt more complicated.
o] Perplex sb with various enquiries.
Pasturage (n.) [, a] Perplexity (n.)
I stood unmoved in perplexity.
Patron (v.) [ ]
= someone who supports or champions Perspicacious (adj.) [ n dr
something. kmn]
The Princess Royal is a well-known = acutely insightful and wise.
patron of several charities. His perspicacious grandfather had
bought the land as an investment,
Patter (v.) guessing that there might be gold
= rain gently, continuous and underground.
sometimes amusing speech or talk. Perspicaciously (adv.)

46
 Perspicacity (n.)
A woman of exceptional perspicacity.
Perspicuous (adj.) [p, ss p] Her confidence and poise show that
= (of language) transparently clear,
easily understandable.
In order that writing is interesting and
instructive; it must be plain,
perspicuous and easy.
Perspicuously (adv.)
Perspicuousness (n.)
Perspicuity (n.)
Philately (n.) [ g]
= the collection and study of postage
stamps.
Philatelic (adj.)
Philatelist (n.)
Piety (n.) [n]
= righteousness by virtue of being
pious.
Pious (adj.)
Impiety (n.) [a, ak, a d] Preempt (v.) [ag o]
= unrighteousness by virtue of lacking
respect for a god.
The church accused him of impiety
and had all his writings burned.
Impious (adj.)
Impiously (adv.)
Placebo (v.)
= an innocuous or inert medication;
given as a pacifier or to the control
group in experiments on the efficacy of
a drug.
She was only given a placebo, but she
claimed she got better - that's the
placebo effect.
Plummet (v.) [dr o ] Pretension (n.)
= drop sharply.
House prices have plummeted in recent
months.
Podium (n.) []
= a platform raised above the
surrounding level to give prominence
to the person on it.
Tears ran down her face as she stood
on the winner's podium.
Poise (n.) [, s]
= a state of being balanced in a stable
equilibrium.
she is a top model.
Poise (v.)
= cause to be balanced or suspended.
Prattle (v.) [ ]
= speak (about unimportant matters)
rapidly and incessantly.
Stop your prattling and go to sleep!
Prattle (n.)
Precipitate (v.) [( as ) ,
]
= fall headlong.
Precipitate (adj.)
= done with very great haste and
without due deliberation.
Don't be precipitate - think it through
before you make a decision.
= acquire for oneself before others can
do so.
The minister held a press conference in
order to pre-empt criticism in the
newspapers.
Pre-emption (n.)
Pre-emptive (adj.)
Pretend (v.) [ , a ]
To pretend to learning [ ]
He pretended to the throne. [()
]
I can try to pretend, I can try to forget.
But it's driving me mad, going out of
my head.
Pretence/Pretense (n.) [t]
United's championship pretensions
took a dent when they were beaten 5-1
by Liverpool.
Pretentious (adj.)
A pretentious art critic.
Pretentiously (adv.)
Pretentiousness (n.)
47
Pretext (n.) [a] Prostrated with grief. [ ]
= a pretended reason for doing Many boys were prostrated by the heat.
something that is used to hide the real Prostration (n.) [ an]
reason.
The border dispute was used as a Prude (n.)
pretext for military intervention. = a person excessively concerned
about propriety and decorum.
Profligate (adj.) [j d, a] Prudery (n.)
= unrestrained by convention or = excessive or affected modesty.
morality. Prudish (adj.)
She is well-known for her profligate = exaggeratedly proper.
spending habits. Prudishly (adv.)
Profligate (n.) [m]
Puissant (adj.) [p]
Profligacy (n.)
= powerful.
The profligacy of the West shocked
Puissance (n.)
him.
Purge (v.) [ ]
Promenade (v.)
= to rid of whatever is impure or
= march in a procession, take a
undesirable; cleanse; purify.
leisurely walk.
Purge (n.) [the act or process of
We strolled along on the promenade
purging]
eating ice-creams.
Purgation (n.)
Promenade (n.)
Purgative (adj.)
Purgatory (adj.)
Prophetic (adj.) []
Purgatorial (adv.)
= foretelling events as if by
supernatural intervention. Qualm (n.) [ ass]
Much of Orwell's writing now seems = uneasiness about the fitness of an
grimly prophetic. action.
Prophetically (adv.) She had no qualms about lying to the
Prophecy (n.) police.
Prophesy (v.)
Few could have prophesied this war. Quell (v.) [ ]
Prophet (n.) = suppress or crush completely.
The police quelled the riot.
Prosaic (adj.) [n]
= lacking interest, imagination and Quiescent (adj.) [n, , k]
variety; boring. = quiet, not active.
Cleaning the house and washing dishes Quiescently (adv.)
are prosaic but necessary chores. Quiescence (n.)
Water in lakes exists under relatively
Prostrate (adj.) quiescent condition.
= stretched out and lying at full length
along the ground. Quixotic (adj.) []
Prostrate (v.) = not sensible about practical matters;
= get into a prostrate position, as in unrealistic.
submission. This is a vast, exciting and some say
Trees prostrated by the storm. quixotic project.
The runner was prostrate after racing Quixotically (adv.)
in the heat.
The miserable old man prostrated
himself at the altar.

48
Rake (v.) [ /o, i , nn ] Rectitude (n.) [, ]
= to search a place carefully for sth. = righteousness, uprightness as a
The floor of the theatre raked towards consequence of being honorable and
the audience. honest.
Rake (n.) [d t/m k] Her moral rectitude is much respected
= a dissolute man in fashionable by her friends.
society.
Rake (v.) [ /o, i , Relish (v.) [u ]
nn ] = get enjoyment from.
Rakish (adj.) [d t, ] I don't relish telling her that her son
= stylish, sporty. has been arrested.
He has a rakish air about him. Relish (n.) [u, r]
Rakishly (adv.) I have no relish for that kind of
Rakishness (n.) activity.

Rampant (adj.) [, a] Repent (v.) [anp o]

= unrestrained and violent. = feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be
Rampant inflation means that our wage contrite about.
increases soon become worth nothing. He repented (of his sins) just hours
before he died.
Rapacious (adj.) [, an p Repentance (n.) [an]
] This was an extremely violent crime,
= excessively greedy and grasping. for which the boy showed no
Rapaciously (adv.) repentance.
Rapacity (n.) Repentant (adj.) [anp]
Rapaciousness (n.) = feeling sorry for something that you
have done.
Rapt (adj.) [g] Repentantly (adv.)
= wholly absorbed as in thought.
The children watched with rapt Reproach (v.) [n ]
attention. = express criticism towards.
Rapture (n.) [g, ut n] His mother reproached him for not
Rapturous (adj.) eating all his dinner.
Rapturously (adv.) Reproach (n.) [, ]
Enrapture (v.) [n ] Your reproaches are useless - what's
done is done.
Rebuff (v.) [r p ] Reproachful (adj.)
= reject outright and bluntly. Reproachfully (adv.)
She rebuffed all suggestions that she
should resign. Requite (v.) [p , p g ]
Rebuff (n.) = make repayment for or return
Her desperate request for help was met something.
with a rebuff. Requital (n.) [, p, k]
Unrequited (adj.) [p]
Recidivism (n.) [d ap] = not returned in kind.
= habitual relapse into crime. Unrequited love/service.
Recidivist (n.)
= a criminal who continues to commit Resent (v.) [ant o]
crimes even after they have been = feel bitter or indignant about.
punished. She bitterly resented her father's new
wife.
Resentful (adj.)

49
 Resentfully (adv.) Rouse (v.) [ ]
Resentfulness (n.) = become active.
Resentment (n.) He rouses himself out of bed every
There was a feeling of resentment in morning at 6:30 A.M.
the office after everyone's pay was He roused a feeling of patriotism in
lowered. me.

Resolute (adj.) [l] Sacrilege (n.) [d]

= firm in purpose or belief. = blasphemous behavior.
Resolutely (adv.) Muslims consider it sacrilege to wear
Resoluteness (n.) shoes inside a mosque.
Resolution (n.) Sacrilegious (adj.)
He showed great resolution in facing Sacrilegious practices/acts.
the robbers. Sacrilegiously (adv.)

Reticent (adj.) [sl, grm] Sardonic (adj.) [drt]

= temperamentally disinclined to talk.
He is very reticent about his past.
Reticently (adv.)
Reticence (n.)
His reticence about his past made them
very suspicious.
Revere (v.) [ d ] He drank greedily until his thirst was
= to greatly respect and admire
someone or something.
Nelson Mandela is revered for his
brave fight against apartheid.
Reverence (n.)
She shows great reverence for her
professors.
Reverence (v.) [ d p ]
Reverent (adj.)
A reverent silence fell over the crowd.
Reverently (adv.)
He laid the wreath reverently in front
of the memorial.
Reverential (adj.)
He opened the ancient book with
reverential care.
Reverentially (adv.)
Rifle (v.) [ ud n n ] animals desperately scavenging for
= search through someone's belongings
in an unauthorized way.
The safe had been rifled and the
diamonds were gone.
= disdainfully or ironically humorous.
A sardonic smile/look/comment.
Sardonically (adv.)
Satiate (v.) [p , ar /]
= fill to satisfaction.
Be satiated with food/pleasure.
satiated.
Satiable (adj.)
Satiety (n.)
Indulge in pleasure to the point of
satiety.
Insatiable (adj.) [-ap]
Politicians who are insatiable of
powers.
Insatiably (adv.)
Insatiety (n.) [-ap]
Scalpel (n.) [ ]
= a thin straight surgical knife used in
dissection and surgery.
Scavenge (v.) [ ]
= feed on carrion or refuse.
The flood has left villagers and
food.
We managed to scavenge a lot of
furniture from the local rubbish dump.
Scavenger (n.)

Rotund (adj.) [dnd, ] Scoff (v.) [u/dr ]

= (1) excessively fat (2) full and rich. = laugh at with contempt and derision.
A fat man can also be called rotund. The critics scoffed at his paintings.
Scoff (n.)

50
 Scoffer (n.) Did I miss your birthday? I have a
I was able to prove the scoffers wrong. mind like a sieve!

Scowl (v.) [kd ] Slouch (v.) [n a /]

= frown with displeasure. = walk slovenly.
The boy scowled at her and reluctantly Stop slouching and sit up straight,
followed her back into school. please!
Scowl (n.) Slouch (n.)
= a lazy person.
Scuttle (v.) [ ] She's no slouch; she finished college in
= to move about or proceed hurriedly. three years.
The children scuttled off as soon as the
headmaster appeared. Smirk (v.) [tp ]
= smile affectedly or derisively.
Secede (v.) [/n o] He could not find his glasses, and his
= withdraw from an organization or wife smirked at him; they were on top
communion. of his head.
There is likely to be civil war if the
region tries to secede from the south. Solace (n.) [p]
Secession (n.) = comfort in disappointment or misery.
Secessionist (n.) Find solace in music.
Solace (v.)
Seclude (v.) [n ] The deserted hero solaced him with
= keep away from others. whisky.
We drove to a secluded spot in the
country and had a lovely picnic. Spasm (n.) [s s, ]
Seclusion (n.) = a painful and involuntary
When his mother died, the artist went muscular contraction.
into total seclusion. A spasm of joy.
Spasmodic(adj.)
Sedate (adj.) [pn] = happening suddenly for short periods
= slow, calm and relaxed. of time.
Sedately (adv.) Spasmodically (adv.)
Sedateness (n.)
Spurious (adj.) []
Sentinel (n.) = plausible but false.
= sentry, a person employed to keep The movie star told spurious lies about
watch for some anticipated event. his ex-wife.
I think this is a spurious painting, not a
Sequester (v.) [/n ] valuable work of Leonardo da Vinci,
= keep away from others. as the museum says.
The judge sequestered himself in his Spuriously (adv.)
office to think about the law. Spuriousness (n.)
He sequestered the jury in the jury
room and sent food in. Squander (v.) [ ]
= spend extravagantly.
Sieve (v.) [ ] We must not squander our forests and
= check and sort carefully. rivers by not managing them properly.
We poured ocean water into the sieve, Squanderer (n.)
and shells and sand remained. Squandermania (n.)
Sieve (n.)
= a forgetful mind, a bad memory.

51
Squelch (v.) [ , Judges subpoenaed many people for
] jury duty last month.
= suppress or crush completely.
The school boys squelched through the Sullen (adj.) [, n]
muddy road. = gloomy, surly.
When the group voted against his plan,
Staid (adj.) [ o k, m] he became sullen.
= characterized by dignity and A sullen [g] sky.
propriety. Sullenly (adv.) [ k, ank]
In an attempt to change its staid image, Sullenness (n.) [ank]
the newspaper has created a new
section aimed at younger readers. Sully (v.) [ ]
Staidly (adv.) = attack the good name and reputation
Staidness (n.) of someone.
Croatia fans sullied the tournament by
Stalwart (adj.) [ , , spj] raising a racist banner.
Stalwart of the party [ Sully sbs reputation.
s e]
Stalwartly (adv.) Supple (adj.) [, ]
Stalwartness (n.) = moving and bending with ease.
I'm not supple enough to be able to
Stark (adj.) [st, () ] touch the floor with my hands while
= (1) devoid of any qualifications or I'm standing up.
disguise or adornment (2) complete or Suppleness (n.)
extreme.
Stark madness/naked. Surreal (v.) [s]
It was a stark room with its white = resembling a dream.
walls, and a bed and chair as the only Driving through the total darkness was
furniture. a slightly surreal experience.
Starkly (adv.) Surrealism (n.)
Her later sensual works contrast starkly Surrealist (n.)
with the harsh earlier paintings. Surrealistic (adj.)

Stomp (v.) [ / ] Swatch (n.)

= walk heavily. = a small piece of cloth used as an
He stomped on a snake. example of the color and type of the
cloth.
Stupor (n.) Swindle (v.) [p ]
= a state of senselessness, a complete = deprive of by deceit.
lack of mental power. They swindled local businesses out of
The drunken man fell to the floor in a thousands of pounds.
stupor. This color TV is a swindle (n.)
Swindle (n.)
Stutter (v.) [] Swindler (n.)
= speak haltingly.
Stutterer (n.) Sycophant (n.) []
Stutteringly (adv.) = a person who tries to please someone
in order to gain a personal advantage.
Subpoena (n.) [ o n The Prime Minister is surrounded by
sycophants.
hk]
Sycophantic (adj.)
= a legal paper requiring him or her to
Sycophancy (n.)
appear in court.

52
Sylvan (adj.) [] Treatise (n.) [ gn]
= relating to or characteristic of = a formal exposition.
wooded regions. A six-volume treatise on trademark
law.
Talon (n.) [ ]
= a sharp hooked claw especially on a Truculent (adj.) [d, d]
bird of prey. = defiantly aggressive.
A truculent speech against the new
Tawdry (adj.) [] government.
= looking bright and attractive but in Truculently (adv.)
fact cheap and of low quality. Truculence/Truculency (n.)
Tawdrily (adv.)
Tawdriness (n.)
Turpitude (n.) [d t]
= a corrupt or depraved or degenerate
Tempest (n.) [p /ut]
act or practice.
= a violent commotion or disturbance.
The various turpitudes of modern
Tempestuous (adj.)
society.
He was in a tempestuous mood.
Usurp (v.) [ ]
Tenacious (adj.) [n]
= take illegally or by force.
Tenaciously (adv.)
Usurp the throne.
Tenaciousness (n.)
Usurper (n.)
Tenacity (n.)

Thespian (adj.) Utensil (n.) [s -]

= of or relating to drama. = an implement for practical use
Thespian (n.) (especially in a household).
= a theatrical performer. In the drawer was a selection of
kitchen utensils - spoons, spatulas,
Totter (v.) [ ] knives and whisks.
= walk unsteadily.
Tottery (adj.) Vacillate (v.) [d , d o]
= be undecided about something.
Tranquil (adj.) [n, ] Her mood vacillated between hope and
= free from disturbance. despair.
The tranquil night. Vacillation (n.)
Tranquilly (adv.)
Tranquility (n.) [pn] Vanquish (v.) [ ]
Tranquilize (v.) [= make calm or still] = come out better in a competition,
Tranquilizer (n.) race, or conflict.
Napoleon was vanquished at the battle
Transfix (v.) [d ] of Waterloo in 1815.
= pierce with a sharp stake or point.
A body lay in the corner, transfixed by Vicarious (adj.) [l]
a spear. = experienced at secondhand.
I got vicarious pleasure from hearing
Travesty (n.) [] about their trip.
= a composition that imitates Vicariously (adv.)
somebody's style in a humorous way.
Langdale described the court ruling as Vigil (n.) [ p n t ]
a travesty of justice. = a period of sleeplessness.
Travesty (v.) [ ] Vigilance (n.) [, ]
Vigilant (adj.) [, h]

53
 Vigilantly (adv.) Zest (n.) [u]
Vigilante (n.) [ - s] = vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment.
He approached every task with a
Virile (adj.) [rp] boundless zest.
= characterized by energy and vigor.
Virility (n.)

Virulent (adj.) [k]

= extremely poisonous or injurious.
Virulently (adv.)
Virulence (n.)

Vitiate (v.) [d// ]

= make less good/effective.
He said that American military power
should never again be vitiated by
political concerns.

Vivacity (n.) [p]

= characterized by high spirits and
animation.
Vivacious (adj.) [pn]
A vivacious girl.
Vivaciously/Vivace (adv.)

Waive (v.) [ (/a)]

= to not demand something you have a
right.
The bank manager waived the charge,
as we were old and valued customers.
Waiver (n.)
We had to sign a waiver, giving up any
rights to the land in the future.

Wanton (adj.) [tj, ]

= extreme and showing complete lack
of care.
A wanton breeze [ o]
In a wanton mood [ ]
But it is wanton killing off that I am
speaking of to-night.
Wanton (n.)
= lewd or lascivious woman.

Waylay (v.) [k n o ]
= wait in hiding to attack.
A man on his way to deposit $120 000
in a bank was waylaid by two men
who punched him and snatched his bag
yesterday.

54
 Word List of Rizvi
Abeyance (n.) [ss]
= suspended action.
The party was held in abeyance until
his arrival.
Abnegate (v.) [k ]
= abolish, revoke formally.
Abnegation (n.) [t]
= self-sacrifice, renunciation.
We will never forget those martyrs of
language movement for their
abnegation.
Accolade (n.) []
= award of merit.
In Hollywood, an 'Oscar' is the highest
accolade.
Accountable (adj.) []
= someone who is accountable is
completely responsible for what they
do and must be able to give a
satisfactory reason for it.
She is accountable only to the
managing director.
Accountability (n.)
Accouter (v.) [j ]
= equip.
The traveler was accoutered with
various goods.
Accouterments (n.)
Agglomerate (v.) [ o]
=form into one cluster.
Agglomeration (n.) []
= collection, heap.
An agglomeration of various ethnic
and religious groupings.
Ambulatory (adj.)
= able to walk about.
An ambulatory corridor/ patient.
Anecdote (n.) [s kp ]
= short account of an amusing event.
He told one or two amusing anecdotes
about his years as a policeman.
Anecdotal (adj.)
Anecdotal evidence.
Part-3
Anomaly (n.) [as k st]
=irregularity.
A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly.
Anomalous (adj.)
Anomalously (adv.)
Antagonize (v.) [trn , ]
I didnt want to antagonize him.
Antagonist (n.) [pk, pdnd]
Antagonistic (adj.) [trn]
Antagonistically (adv.)
Antagonism (n.) [k ]
Antediluvian (adj.) [p mn,
, ap]
= antiquated, extremely ancient.
She has some hopelessly antediluvian
ideas about the role of women.
Apprehend (v.) [g , ,
]
= perceive, dread, arrest.
The police will apprehend the culprit
and convict him before long.
Apprehension (n.)
Arcane (adj.) [, s]
= requiring secret or mysterious
knowledge.
This argument may seem arcane to
those not closely involved in the world
of finance.
Assay (v.) [ i d k , pt
]
= analyze (chemical substances).
Make an assay of an ore.
Assay (n.) [ ]
Atrocity (n.) []
= the quality of being shockingly cruel
and inhumane.
They're on trial for committing
atrocities against the civilian
population.
Atrocious (adj.)
Murder is an atrocious crime.
55
Attrition (n.) [kk d] Becloud (v.)
= a wearing down to weaken or = make less visible or unclear.
destroy, erosion by friction.
Terrorist groups and the government Bland (adj.) [, m, , ]
have been engaged in a costly war of = lacking taste or flavor or tang.
attrition since 1968. Pop music these days is so bland.
Blandly (adv.)
Audacity (n.) [s] Blandness (n.)
= aggressive boldness or unmitigated
effrontery. Boor (n.) [/a , g , ]
It took a lot of audacity to stand up and = a crude uncouth ill-bred person
criticize the chairman. lacking culture or refinement.
Audacious (adj.) Boorish (adj.)
He described the plan as ambitious and Boorishly (adv.)
audacious. Boorishness (n.)
Audaciously (adv.)
Audaciousness (n.) Bucolic (adj.) [, g]
= rustic, pastoral.
Avarice (n.) [, p, k] There is a bucolic sight behind the
= insatiable desire for wealth. airport.
Her business empire brought her
wealth beyond the dreams of avarice. Burlesque (v.) [p ]
Avaricious (adj.) [ (a/k = make a parody of.
mn)] Burlesque (n.) [ an]
Avariciously (adv.) = a type of writing or acting that tries
to make something serious seem
Avouch (v.) ridiculous.
= admit openly and bluntly; make no
bones about. Camaraderie (n.) [/
/]
Axiom (n.) [sd] = a feeling of friendliness towards
= a saying that widely accepted on its people with whom you work or share
own merits. an experience.
All geometrical axioms are affixed at When you've been climbing alone for
the end of this book. hours, there's a tremendous sense of
Axiomatic (adj.) camaraderie when you meet another
It is an axiomatic fact that climber.
governments rise and fall on the state
of the economy. Capacious (adj.) [s, kmn]
Axiomatically (adv.) = large in capacity.
A capacious memory.
Bamboozle (v.) [p , ] Capaciousness (n.)
= to trick or deceive someone, often by
confusing them. Carnal (adj.) []
She was bamboozled into telling them = of or relating to the body or flesh.
her credit card number. Carnal desire [k]
Carnally (adv.)
Bard (n.) [, ]
= a lyric poet. Catholic (adj.) [u, , g, ]
The ancient bard Homar sang of [sing = free from provincial prejudices or
of sth = ps ] the fall of attachments.
Troy. A man with catholic tastes.
Catholicity (n.)

56
Caustic (adj.) [k]
= burning, sarcastically [ t]
biting.
The critic's caustic remarks angered
the helpless actors who were the
subjects of his sarcasm.
Chaff (v.) [T , , () ] Complacent (adj.) [t ]
= be silly or tease one another.
Champion (v.) [ , k ] Complacently (adv.)
= support militantly.
He has always championed for human
rights.
Chivalry (n.)
= courtesy towards women.
Chivalrous (adj.) [n, ]
= polite, kind and behaving with honor
(especially towards women).
Chivalrous behavior involves noble
words and good deeds.
Clandestine (adj.) [gp]
= secret.
After avoiding their chaperon
[a tpp], the lovers had a
clandestine meeting.
Clement (adj.) [k, d]
= (1) inclined to show mercy (2) (of
weather or climate) physically mild.
It's very clement for the time of year.
Clemency (n.)
Inclement (adj.) [, rk, , o
] Conscript (v.) [ u
= (1) (of weather of climate) physically
severe (2) showing no clemency or
mercy (person).
Inclemency (n.)
Coalesce (v.) [ o]
= mix together different elements.
Our plans for a long trip finally
coalesced when we mapped out exactly
where to go.
Coalescence (n.)
Coddle (v.) [a t - ] She was contemplating a visit to India.
= treat with excessive indulgence.
He accused his wife of coddling their
son.
Commodious (adj.) [sh, ps]
= large and roomy.
Complacence (n.) [tp, p]
= the feeling you have when you are
satisfied with yourself.
Complacency (n.)
We can't afford to become complacent
about any of our products.
Complaisance (n.) [a nt g/i,
n]
= a disposition or tendency to yield to
the will of others.
Complaisant (adj.) [n]
Confer (v.) [nt ]
= have a conference in order to talk
something over.
I should like some time to confer with
my lawyer.
Confiscate (v.) [p ]
= take temporary possession of as a
security, by legal authority.
His passport was confiscated by the
police to prevent him from leaving the
country.
Confiscation (n.)
There were a record number of
confiscations by customs officers last
year.
]
= enroll into service compulsorily.
He was conscripted into the army at
the age of 18.
Conscription (n.)
He's been worried that the government
will introduce conscription ever since
the war began.
Contemplate (v.) [ n ]
She was contemplating herself in the
mirror.
[l ]
I do not contemplate any opposition
from him. [p ]
57
Convene (v.) [ ] Debauch (v.) [ // /k ]
= meet formally. = corrupt morally or by intemperance
or sensuality.
Convolute (v.) Debauchery (n.) [a o ]
= curl, wind, or twist together. A life of debauchery.
Convoluted (adj.) [, k, Debauchee (n.) [ /m]
, e dr] He gave a convincing stage
A convoluted argument. performance as the unpleasant young
debauchee.
Corsage (n.)
= an arrangement of flowers that is Debilitate (v.) [ ]
usually given as a present. = make weak.
A debilitating climate.
Covet (v.) [p , - His health is debilitated from not
] getting enough good food.
= wish, long, or crave for (something,
especially the property of another Debunk (v.) [k ]
person). = to show that something is less
Covetous (adj.) [- ] important, less good or less true than it
Covetously (adv.) has been made to appear.
Covetousness (n.) The writer's aim was to debunk the
myth that had grown up around the
Crepuscular (adj.) [] actress.
= relating to twilight.
Decadent (adj.) [k ]
Crevice (n.) [( ) ] = marked by excessive self-indulgence
= a long narrow depression in a and moral decay.
surface. A decadent society.
The harsh light revealed every crevice Humorous champagne and chocolates
and wrinkle in his face. for breakfast - how decadent!
Sweat poured out of every crevice of Decadence (n.) [a, ak]
the fat man's body.
Crevasse (n.) [ ] Decant (v.) [ an t e
]
Cumbrous (adj.) = pour out.
= difficult to handle or use especially Decanter (n.)
because of size or weight.
Decapitate (v.) [ ]
Dapple (v.) = cut the head of.
= color with streaks or blotches of The guillotine decapitated French King
different shades. Louis XVI.
Dappled deer [t], A dappled
horse [t]. Declivity (n.) []
Dappled shade [t ]. = a downward slope or bend.

Debacle (n.) Deference (n.) [ d, an i s]

= a sudden and violent collapse, a
sound defeat.
The collapse of the company was
described as the greatest financial
debacle in US history.
= courteous regard for anothers wish.
To treat sb with deference.
To show deference to a teacher.
In deference to [ d]
Deferential (adj.) [ d]
= respectful, showing deference.

58
 The Deferential Spirit By Joan
Didion.
Deflate (v.) [/ , oppression.
, ds h ]
= collapse by releasing contained air or
gas.
To deflate a balloon/tyre.
They were totally deflated by losing
the match.
Deflation (n.)
Delectable (adj.) [n, s, ]
= extremely pleasant to taste, smell or
look at.
The delectable Miss Haynes.
Delectation (n.) [, ]
Demean (v.) [/ , ] He considered the remarks derogatory
= reduce in worth or character, usually
verbally.
Demean oneself.
Dement (v.)
= to deprive of reason, to make mad.
Demented (adj.) [ , ]
She was nearly demented with worry
when her son didn't come home.
Dementia (n.)
= mental deterioration of organic or
functional origin.
Demur (v.) [t ut , p ] Deterrent (n.) []
= raise objections, show reluctance.
The lawyer requested a break in the
court case, but the judge demurred.
Without demur [d]
Demure (adj.) [pn]
= affectedly modest or shy especially
in a playful or provocative way.
A demure old gentleman.
She gave the young man a demure
smile.
Demurely (adv.)
She sat with her hands folded
demurely in her lap.
Demureness (n.)
Denounce (v.) [k a , ]
= speak out against.
His former colleagues have denounced
him as a spy.
We must denounce injustice and
Denunciation (n.)
Deprecate (v.) [an ]
= (1) belittle (2) express strong
disapproval of.
The teacher should not deprecate his
student's efforts.
We deprecate this use of company
funds for political purposes.
Derogate (v.) [(t
, , a) ]
= belittle.
Derogation (n.)
Derogatory (adj.) [a]
to his reputation.
Desuetude (n.)
= a state of inactivity or disuse.
Fall into desuetude. [a o]
Words that have fallen into desuetude
are not included in this dictionary.
Deter (v.) [r , ]
= try to prevent, show opposition to.
Nothing can deter me from trying
again.
Deterrence (n.) []
Do you think that capital punishment is
a deterrent to crimes?
Devious (adj.) [, a, ]
= indirect in departing from the
accepted or proper way; misleading.
We took a devious route to avoid the
busy market place.
Some people use devious means to get
rich quickly.
Diatribe (n.) [b o k , p
n k]
= thunderous verbal attack.
The politician launched into a diatribe
against the government policy.
59
Digress (v.) [ p Disport (v.) [ , n ]
o] = (1) occupy in an agreeable,
= wander from a direct or straight entertaining or pleasant fashion (2)
course. play boisterously.
The lecturer temporarily digressed Disport oneself.
from her subject to deal with a related
theory. Dissemble (v.) [d ,
Digression (n.) ]
= to hide your real intentions and
Dilate (v.) [p o/] feelings or the facts.
= become wider. He accused the government of
The pupils of the eyes dilate as dissembling.
darkness increases. Dissembler (n.)
Dilate upon [ g
/] Disseminate (v.) [ tt p ]
Dilation (n.) [s, p] = cause to become widely known.
Dilatory (adj.) [t, mn] Dissemination (n.)
Setting up an efficient system for the
Diminish (v.) [h , hpp o] dissemination of flood warning.
= decrease in size, extent, or range.
Diminution (n.) [h, hpp, h Dissipate (v.) [ , a ]
] = (1) move away from each other (2)
Diminutive (adj.) [akd] spend frivolously and unwisely.
Dont dissipate your energy in
Disburse (v.) [p a p ] worthless pursuits.
= pay out. Dissipated (adj.) [a/k
The local authorities annually disburse
p p]
between 50m and 100m on arts
He leads a dissipated life.
projects.
Dissipation (n.)
Disbursement (n.) [ap]
A life of dissipation.
Discursive (adj.) [an]
= digressing. Dissolute (adj.) [a , t]
Discursively (adv.) = unrestrained by convention or
Discursiveness (n.) morality.
He leads a dissolute life.
Inter (v.) [ ] Dissolutely (v.)
= place in a grave or tomb. Dissolution (n.)
Disinter (v.) [ ] = dissolute indulgence in sensual
= dig up for reburial or for medical pleasure.
investigation; of dead bodies.
A gravedigger disinterred a body by Dither (v.) [is ]
court order. = be undecided.
Dither (n.)
Dismay (v.) [/ ] He is in a dither.
= fill with apprehension or alarm;
cause to be unpleasantly surprised. Vest (v.) [(k i) , k
Dismay (n.) a/ns ]
Dismayed (adj.) = Provide with power and authority.
I was dismayed to discover that he Vestiary (n) [g ]
lied. Vestry (n.) [g ]
Vestibule (n.) [ (
h- )]

60
 Vestment (n.) [ Embarkation (n.)
] You'll be asked for those documents on
Divest (v.) [ , k embarkation.
, / ]
= take away possessions/investment Encompass (v.) [ ]
from someone. = to include, especially a variety of
The priest was divested of his robes. things.
The ruler was divested of all his The festival is to encompass
powers. everything from music, theatre and
He could not divest himself of the idea ballet to literature, cinema and the
of marriage. visual arts.

Doctrine (n.) [] Encumber (v.) [ , , gs

= a belief (or system of beliefs)
accepted as authoritative by some
group or school.
The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 says that
no foreign power may create a colony
on the American continents.
Doctrinaire (adj.)
Doctrinal (adj.)
Droll (adj.) [s, ]
= amusing, especially in an unusual
way.
Drollery (n.) [, ] Entrench (v.) [ s ]
A droll remark/expression/person.
Ebullient (adj.) [u]
= joyously unrestrained.
The overall atmosphere suffered: it
was friendly and polite but quite
noticeably not as ebullient as in
Germany two years ago.
Ebullience (n.) [u]
Egalitarian (n.)
= a person who believes in the equality
of all people.
Egalitarian (adj.)
The party's principles are basically
egalitarian.
Egalitarianism (n.)
Egress (n.) [ a, ps] where there had formerly been love,
= the action of going out of or leaving
a place.
Embark (v.) [ t ]
Embark (v.) [r , ag ]
We embarked at Liverpool for New
York.
o, o]
= hold back.
A country encumbered with debts.
A room encumbered with useless
books.
Encumbrance (n.) [, , ]
Cumbersome (adj.) [, ]
Engender (v.) [ sr o]
= (1) call forth (2) make children
Poverty often engenders disease.
= fix firmly or securely, infringe.
The owner's son entrenched himself in
a job given him by his father.
Entrenched (adj.)
Entrenchment (n.)
There has been a shift in opinion on
the issue after a decade of
entrenchment.
Equanimity (n.) [- pn]
= steadiness of mind under stress.
Three years after the tragedy she has
only just begun to regain her
equanimity.
Estrange (v.) [ , n ,
]
= arouse hostility or indifference in
affection, or friendliness.
His behavior estranged all his relatives.
Estrangement (n.)

61
Eulogy (n.) [up] Exaggeration (n.)
= a formal expression of praise. It would be no exaggeration to say that
The song was a eulogy to the joys of her work has saved lives.
travelling.
Eulogist (n.) Excise (v.) [ ]
Eulogistic (adj.) = remove by cutting.
Eulogize (v.) The official censors have excised the
Critics everywhere have eulogized her controversial sections of the report.
new novel. Excision (n.) [/ st]
Excise (n.)
Evict (v.) [i u ] = a government tax on some goods.
= expel from one's property or force to
move out by a legal process. Execrate (v.) [a ]
He was evicted from his house. = curse or declare to be evil or
Eviction (n.) anathema or threaten with divine
punishment.
Evince (v.) [n, g i p Execration (n.) [am]
, p ] Execrable (adj.) [ , n]
= give expression to, to make obvious
or show clearly. Exhume (v.) [ ]
Assistant professor Dr. Shariful Islam = dig up for reburial or for medical
evinced with histories and databases investigation; of dead bodies.
the SIDR effects in Bangladesh. Exhumation (n.)
In all the years I knew her, she never
evinced any desire to do such a thing. Exigent (adj.) [r]
= needing urgent attention.
Eviscerate (n.) [ ] An exigent problem.
= surgically remove a part of a Exigency (n.)
structure or an organ.
Exorbitant (adj.) [a, tk]
Viscera (n.) [] = (of an amount charged) unreasonably
= internal organs collectively high.
(especially those in the During the chilly shortage, many stores
abdominal cavity). charged exorbitant prices for it.
Eviscerate (v.) Exorbitantly (adv.)
= surgically remove a part of a Exorbitance (n.)
structure or an organ.
Exotic (adj.) [, ud]
Exacerbate (v.) [ o, = strikingly strange or unusual.
ut ] Exotic flowers/food/designs.
= make worse. Exoticism (n.)
~ exacerbated by human activities.
This attack will exacerbate the already Expiate (v.)
tense relations between the two = to show regret for bad behavior by
communities. doing something to express that you
are sorry and by accepting punishment.
Exaggerate (v.) [a ] To expiate a crime/sin
= do something to an excessive degree. Expiation (n.) [= compensation for a
I'm not exaggerating - it was the worst wrong]
meal I've ever eaten in my life.
Exaggerated (adj.)
Exaggeratedly (adv.)

62
Extenuate (v.) [ p a) Fervent (adj.) [p, n]
grt h ] Fervent love/hatred.
= lessen or to try to lessen the Fervently (adv.)
seriousness or extent of. Fervency (n.)
He was unable to say anything that Fervid (adj.) [udp, n]
might have extenuated his behavior. Fervidly (adv.)
Extenuating (adj.) Fervor (n.) [an ut/kt,
She was found guilty of theft, but n]
because of extenuating circumstances
was not sent to prison. Fester (v.) [ , , , m k
Extenuation (n.) ]
= ripen and generate pus.
Extradite (v.) [ i T Keep the cut out of dirt, otherwise it
a T s ] will fester.
= to officially send back sb who has The insult festered in his mind.
been accused or found guilty of a
crime to the country where the crime Fettle (n.) [ut as, ]
was committed. = a state of fitness and good health.
Extradition (n.) "How was Jane?" "Oh, she was in fine
For the reason I chose Panama, there is fettle."
no extradition laws.
Fib (v.) [g , ]
Facile (adj.) [, b] = tell a relatively insignificant lie.
A facile victory/remark. I can tell he's fibbing because he's
= expressing oneself readily, clearly, smiling!
effectively. Fib (n.)
Able to dazzle with his facile tongue. Don't believe him - he's telling fibs
Facilitate (v.) again.
Fibber (n.)
Fatuous (adj.) [, d]
= complacently or inanely foolish. Finesse (v.)
A fatuous smile. = avoid or try to avoid fulfilling,
Fatuously (adv.) answering, or performing (duties,
questions, or issues).
Feisty (adj.) She finessed the interview by playing
= showing courage. down her lack of experience and
He launched a feisty attack on the talking about her long-standing interest
government. in the field.
Finesse (n.) [ s s
Feral (adj.) [n, e] d]
= wild and menacing. = great skill or style.
Feral dogs/cats. It was a disappointing performance
which lacked finesse.
Ferret (v.) []
Fitful (adj.) [ e, ]
= search busily.
= Intermittently stopping and starting,
I was just ferreting around in my
occurring irregularly.
drawer for my passport.
A few hours fitful sleep, A fitful
After a bit of ferreting, I managed to
breeze.
find his address.
Fitfully (adv.)

63
Fledgling (n.) [t u e , r Gluttonous (adj.)
aj k]
Fledged (adj.) [u k]
Fully fledged [aj o pkpp]
A fully fledged doctor.
Flippant (adj.) [ , ]
= showing inappropriate levity [].
A flippant answer/remark.
Flippantly (adv.) [ ]
Flippancy (n.) [, ]
Formidable (adj.) []
= extremely impressive in strength or
excellence.
A formidable
adversary/enemy/opponent.
Formidably (adv.)
Fortuitous (adj.) [s, ]
= occurring by happy chance.
A fortuitous meeting.
Fortuitously (adv.)
Genial (adj.) [, ]
= friendly and cheerful.
When the couple gives a party, they
are always genial hosts.
Florida has a genial climate.
Genuflect (v.) [n o]
= bend the knees and bow in a servile
manner.
Genuflection/Genuflexion (n.)
Girth (n.) [ st ]
= the measure around anything.
The oak was 2 meters in girth.
My girth [ ]
Girth (v.) [to girdle, encircle]
Glut (v.) [a d , ak = habitually disposed to disobedience
o]
= overeat or eat immodestly.
Glut a market with foreign goods.
Glut (n.)
The current glut of graduates means
that many of them will not be able to
find jobs.
Glutton (n.)
= a person who regularly eats and
drinks more than is needed.
She said that industrialized countries
should reduce their gluttonous
consumption of oil.
Gluttonously (adv.)
Gluttony (n.) [a]
They treat Christmas as just another
excuse for gluttony.
Grate (v.) [ g u ]
= reduce to small shreds or pulverize
by rubbing against a rough or sharp
perforated surface.
Grate (n.)
Gratis (adj.) [, ]
= costing nothing.
I'll give it to you, gratis!
Gulp (v.) [ , / ]
= gulp down a glass of water.
Gulp (n.)
He emptied the glass at one gulp.
Hallow (v.) [t , t ]
= render holy by means of religious
rites.
A land hallowed by the memories of
great saints.
Headlong (adv. /adj.) [a, ,
]
= (1) with great speed or without
thinking (2) with the head foremost.
Fall headlong.
Rush headlong into danger.
A headlong decision.
In the headlong rush to buy houses,
many people got into debt.
Headstrong (adj.) [, e]
and opposition.
She was a headstrong child, always
getting into trouble.
Hearten (v.) [u ]
= give encouragement to.
Anti-government protesters have been
heartened by recent government
promises of free and fair elections.
Heartened (adj.)
64
 We all felt heartened by the news. Hoax (n.) []
Heartening (adj.) = deliberate trickery intended to gain
It was heartening to see so many an advantage.
people at the rally. The bomb threat turned out to be a
hoax.
Hedonism (n.) [s pi ei ] Hoax (v.)
= the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of = subject to a playful hoax or joke.
ethical principle. Hoaxer (n.)
Hedonist (n.)
Hedonistic (adj.) Hoist (v.) [ut ]
Hedonic (adj.) = raise or haul up with or as if with
= devoted to pleasure. mechanical help.
A hedonic thrill. With some difficulty he hoisted her
onto his shoulders.
Hefty (adj.) [] Hoist (n.)
= possessing physical strength and
weight. Holistic (adj.)
A hefty farm worker. = dealing with or treating the whole of
something or someone and not just a
Hegemony (n.) [g T e T part.
t, pt] My doctor takes a holistic approach to
= the domination of one state over its disease.
allies. Holistically (adv.)
The three nations competed for Holism (n.)
regional hegemony.
Hegemonic (adj.) Hone (n.) [ ()]
= make perfect or complete.
Helm (n.) [] Hone (v.) [ ]
= a position of leadership. The bone had been honed to a point.
Who was at the helm when the
collision occurred? Hortatory/Hortative (adj.) [u, p]
= giving strong encouragement.
Heterodox (adj.) [nm, ] Exhort (v.) [ u udd
= characterized by departure from , n an ]
accepted beliefs or standards. Exhortation (n.)
His opinions have always been Make sure that my exhortations hold
distinctly heterodox. for Civil/Environmental as well.
Heterodoxy (n.)
Hospitable (adj.) [a]
Hoarse (adj.) [] = disposed to treat guests and strangers
= deep and harsh sounding as if from with cordiality and generosity.
shouting or illness or emotion. The villagers were very hospitable
Hoarsely (adv.) to/towards anyone who passed
Hoarseness (n.) through.
Hospitably (adv.)
Hoary (adj.) [sp] Hospitality (n.) []
= ancient.
He told a few hoary old jokes and Husbandry (n.) [, s]
nobody laughed. = (1) frugal management (2) farming.
Hoariness (n.) Animal husbandry, Good/Bad
husbandry.

65
Idiosyncrasy (n.) [s ]
= a behavioral attribute that is
distinctive and peculiar to an
individual.
One of the idiosyncrasies of this
printer is that you can't stop it once it
has started to print.
Idiosyncratic (adj.)
The film, 3 hours long, is directed in
his usual idiosyncratic style.
Ignominious (adj.) [a, ] = slightly unwell, unwilling.
= (used of conduct or character)
deserving or bringing disgrace or
shame.
An ignominious defeat/failure/retreat.
Ignominiously (adv.)
Ignominy (n.) [a, ]
= a state of dishonor.
The Workers' Coalition experienced
the ignominy of total defeat in the last
election.
Implement (n.) [, ast]
= a piece of equipment or tool used to
effect an end.
Implement (v.) [ ] Ineluctable (adj.) [e e, a]
Impresario (n.) [p]
= a person who organizes theatrical or
musical productions.
London's leading theatrical impresario.
Inception (n.) [m, r]
= an event that is a beginning.
Since its inception in 1968, the
company has been at the forefront of
computer development.
Incise (v.) [/n ] = not liable to error.
Incision (n.) [, ]
Incisive (adj.) [k]
Incisive criticism.
Incisively (adv.)
Incisor (n.) [n]
Decorous (adj.) [, m, ]
= characterized by propriety and
dignity and good taste in manners and
conduct.
Decorously (adv.)
Decorum (adj.) [ , , ]
Even the best-mannered students have
trouble behaving with decorum on the
last day of school.
Indecorous (adj.) [a, kr]
= lacking propriety and good taste in
manners and conduct, behaving badly
or rudely.
Indecorously (adv.)
Indecorum (n.) [a, a ]
Indisposed (adj.) [ass, ]
Look, I am not indisposed to help you.
Inebriate (v.) [ ]
= make/become drunk.
Inebriate (n., adj.)
An institution for inebriates.
Inebriety (n.)
Inebriation (n.) []
Ineffable (adj.) [a, a]
= cannot be expressed in speech.
Ineffable joy/beauty.
Ineffably (adv.)
= impossible to avoid or evade,
irresistible.
An ineluctable destiny.
Inept (adj.) [a, a, a]
= not elegant or graceful in expression,
generally incompetent and ineffectual.
Inept remarks.
Ineptly (adv.)
Ineptitude (n.) [a, ak]
Inerrant (adj.)
The Church was theoretically inerrant
and omnicompetent.
Inordinate (adj.) [a, a]
= beyond normal limits.
Inordinate passions/demands.
Inordinately (adv.)
Insentient (adj.) [a, ]
= devoid of feeling and consciousness
and animation.
Insentient stone.
66
Insinuate (v.)[ s p /] Jest (v.) [/T/ ]
= give to understand. One should not jest about serious
I insinuated that I did not like his wife. matters.
Insinuate oneself into a persons favor Jest (n.)
[ s ang o] In jest [ ]
Insinuate that [k ] Jesting [T]
Insinuation (n.) He made some jesting remarks about
the project.
Invade (v.) [ ] Jester (n.) []
= to intrude upon, infringe, encroach
on, violate. Jocose (adj.) []
Concentrations of troops near the Jocosely (adv.)
border look set to invade within the Jocosity (n.)
next few days.
Invader (n.) Jubilee (n.) [n]
Invasion (n.) Silver Jubilee [ ]
They were planning to mount an Golden Jubilee [ ]
invasion of the north of the country. Diamond Jubilee [ ]
Invasive (adj.)
An invasive disease. Kernel (n.) [ ndst, s]
= the choicest or most essential or
Involuntary (adj.) [ud , most vital part of some idea or
ap] experience, a bit.
= not subject to the control of the will. = there is not a kernel of truth in what
Involuntarily (adv.) she says.

Jar (v.) [ , ] Latitude (n.) [, i s]

The sound jars on my ears/nerves. = scope for freedom of e.g. action or
He was badly jarred by the news. thought; freedom from restriction.
Jar with [ o, k ] An autocratic Govt. does not allow
Your views on the situation jars with much latitude in political beliefs.
mine.
Limpid (adj.) [, s]
Jaundice (n.) Writes in a limpid style.
= a sharp and bitter manner. Limpidly (adv.)
Jaundice (v.) Limpidity (n.)
= distort adversely.
Lionize (v.) [u kr n ]
Jaundiced (adj.)
= assign great social importance to.
He has a jaundiced view toward
Lionization (n.)
popular music.
Listless (adj.) []
Jaunty (adj.) [t o tp]
= lacking zest or vivacity.
= cheerful and pleased with life,
Listlessly (adv.) [r]
lighthearted.
Listlessness (n.) [a]
Wear ones hat at a jaunty angle.
[t t ]
Jauntily (adv.)
Loiter (v.) [is ]
= stand around without any obvious
Jauntiness (n.)
purpose.
Jejune (adj.) [, ap, , a] A gang of youths were loitering
= lacking interest or significance. outside the cinema.
Jejunely (adv.) Loiterer (n.) []
Jejuneness (n.)

67
Lukewarm (adj.) [ks , Melancholia (n.)
g] = the condition of feeling unhappy or
= feeling or showing little interest or sad for no obvious reason.
enthusiasm.
Lukewarm friendship. Mellifluous (adj.) [s, s]
Lukewarmly (adv.) = having a pleasant and flowing sound.
Lukewarmness (n.) A deep mellifluous voice.

Lurch (n.) Mendacity (n.) []

= an act or instance of swaying =the tendency to be untruthful.
abruptly. Politicians are often accused of
The truck gave a sudden lurch as it was mendacity.
hit by a strong gust of wind. Mendacious (adj.)
Lurch (v.) [e ] Some of these statements are
The train lurched forward and some of misleading and some downright
the people standing fell over. mendacious.
Leave sb in the lurch [
Mere (adj.) []
] She is a mere child.
The merest [the smallest or slightest]
Lurid (adj.) [, , ]
Merely (adv.) [s]
A lurid sky.
That was merely a joke.
Luridly (adv.)
Mere (n.) [k]
Luridness (n.)
Meretricious (adj.) [ nt
Lusty (adj.) [ss] ]
= healthy; energetic; full of strength = like or relating to a prostitute.
and power. A meretricious style.
Lustily (adv.) He claims that a lot of journalism is
The baby cried lustily the moment he meretricious and superficial.
was born. Meretriciously (adv.)
Lustiness (n.) Meretriciousness (n.)
= seeming attractive but really false or
Malice (n.) [an k i] of little value.
= feeling a need to see others suffer.
There certainly wasn't any malice in Mesmerize (v.) [m ]
her comments. = to have someone's attention
Malicious (adj.) completely so that they cannot think of
Maliciously (adv.) anything else.
I was completely mesmerized by the
Meddle (v.) [a ] performance.
= intrude in other people's affairs or Mesmerizing (adj.)
business; interfere unwantedly. He had the most mesmerizing blue
People shouldn't meddle with things eyes.
they don't understand. Mesmeric (adj.)
Meddler (n.) = music with a repetitive, slightly
Meddlesome (adj.) mesmeric quality.

Melancholy (n.) [, ] Mettle (n.) [, ]

Melancholic (adj.) []
= characterized by or causing or
expressing sadness.
Melancholy (adj.)
Melancholy autumn days.
= the courage to carry on.
She takes the hardest courses that she
can to test her mettle as a good student.
Be on ones mettle [dp o]

68
 Put sb on his mettle [ n He molested children and was sent to
u ud ] jail for 30 years.
Mettlesome (adj.) [s, dp] Molestation (n.) [g]
Molester (n.)
Minion (n.) [, n]
= a servile or fawning dependant. Aural (adj.) [ nd-m]
The minions of the law. [, k] An aural surgeon.
Monaural (adj.) [e mn]
Mire (n.) [, ] = relating to or having or hearing with
Mire (v.) [ , o, only one ear.
/ ] Monaural deafness.
= entrap.
Miry (adj.) [k] Morganatic (adj.)
Miry road. = of marriages) of a marriage between
one of royal or noble birth and one of
Mirth (n.) [-h, s] lower rank; valid but with the
= great merriment.
understanding that the rank of the
Mirthful (adj.)
inferior remains unchanged and
Mirthfully (adv.)
offspring do not succeed to titles or
property of the superior.
Mirthless (adj.) [n]
A mirthless laugh.
Moribund (adj.) []
= being on the point of death.
Miscible (v.) [ ]
How can the Trade Department be
= capable of mixing.
revived from its present moribund
Miscibility (n.)
state?
Misfeasance (n.) [ a a p]
Morose (adj.) [, ]
= doing a proper act in a wrongful or
= showing a brooding ill humor.
injurious manner.
A morose and unsociable manner.
Morosely (adv.)
Mislay (v.) [as ,
Moroseness (n.)
, ]
= place (something) where one cannot
Mortify (v.) [j a ]
find it again.
= (1) humiliate, lower in esteem (2)
Could I borrow a pen? I seem to have
decay.
mislaid mine.
Mortified by ones rudeness.
A mortifying defeat.
Mode (adj.)
Mortify the flesh. [ ]
= to be fashionable at a particular time.
Mortification (n.) [, j]
Miniskirts were very much the mode in
the 60s.
Multifaceted (adj.)
Modish (adj.) [m, ds]
= having many aspects.
= in the current fashion or style.
A multifaceted undertaking.
Modishly (adv.)
Narcissism (n.) [ en a ,
Moiety (n.) [di e]
= one of two equal parts.
t]
= an exceptional interest in and
admiration for yourself.
Molest (v.) [uk , ]
Narcissistic (adj.)
= annoy continually or chronically, to
Narcissist (n.)
abuse sexually.

69
Nascent (adj.) [n e, ] Olfactory (adj.) [kn]
= coming into existence. = related to the sense of smell.
Nascent oxygen. The olfactory nerves.
People with a limited olfactory sense
Neologism (n.) [ b p] also often have a poor sense of taste.
= a newly invented word or phrase.
Oppress (v.) [an/ ]
Noisome (adj.) [, (n m)] = to govern people in an unfair and
= offensively malodorous. cruel way and prevent them from
The rotting meat caused a noisome having opportunities and freedom.
health hazard. For years now, the people have been
oppressed by a ruthless dictator.
Nostrum (n.) [ (), o Oppressed (adj.)
s l] Oppression (n.)
= a remedy for all ills or diseases, a Every human being has the right to
patent medicine whose efficacy is freedom from oppression.
questionable. Oppressive (adj.)
Society's nostrums for social problems Oppressively (adv.)
are often ineffective. Oppressiveness (n.)
Oppressor (n.)
Nugatory (adj.) [, a, ] Sisters, we must rise up and defeat our
= of no real value, worthless, futile. oppressors.
A nugatory amount.
Nugacity (n.) Overbear (v.) [a/ ]
= triviality, futility. = overcome.
Overbearing (adj.) [t]
Obloquy (n.) [k, n] Overbearingly (adv.)
= state of disgrace resulting from
public abuse. Overture (n.) [ ps]
On this account he has already suffered = an approach made to someone in
much obloquy, and has much to order to offer something.
encounter. Neither side in the conflict seems
willing to make peace overtures.
Obstreperous (adj.) [u]
= boisterously and noisily aggressive. Paean (n.) [n , -]
Obstreperous children. = a formal expression of praise.
Obstreperously (adv.) The song is a paean to solitude and
Obstreperousness (n.) independence.

Obviate (v.) [k o, t o] Palisade (v.) [k

= prevent from happening sk ]
= (1) remove/prevent (a = surround with a wall in order to
need/difficulty) (2) make unnecessary fortify.
Obviate difficulties.
Panacea (n.) [ ]
Occult (n.) [gp, , nd] = hypothetical remedy for all ills or
= supernatural forces and events and diseases.
beings collectively. Technology is not a panacea for all our
She claims to have occult powers, problems.
given to her by some mysterious spirit. Aspirin is considered a panacea for
aches and pains.

70
Pander (v.) [ u ( Perpetuate (v.) [s ]
a-ar), ( p Perpetuation (n.)
n)] Perpetuity (n.) [st]
= to do or provide exactly what a Perpetual (adj.) [an]
person or group wants, cater. Perpetually (adv.)
It's not good the way she panders to his
every whim. Persnickety/ Pernickety (adj.)
Pander (n.) = giving too much attention to small
= someone who procures customers for unimportant details in a way that
whores. annoys other people.
As a writer, he is extremely pernickety
Pantomime (n.) [ a] about using words correctly.
= a performance using gestures and
body movements without words. Perturb (v.) [ut , ]
It's an evening of music, drama and = disturb in mind or make uneasy or
pantomime. cause to be worried or alarmed.
Sorry to perturb you.
Penitence (n.) [ a n an/p t] Perturbation (n.)
Penitent (adj.) [ a n anp]
Penitential (adj.) [an/p t kn] Picaresque (n.) [ o d t a
Penitentially (adv.) ]
Penitentiary (n.) [] = involving clever rogues or
adventurers especially as in a type of
Perfidious (adj.) [, d] fiction.
= deceitful and disloyal.
A perfidious lover. Picayune (adj.)
Perfidiously (adv.) = small and of little importance.
Perfidiousness (n.) Giving a police officer a free meal may
be against the law, but it seems to be a
Peril (n.) [ ] picayune infraction.
= a state of danger involving risk.
His life is in peril now. Piecemeal (adj./adv.) [ ,
Peril (v.) [ ] as]
= pose a threat to. = done in a gradual and inconsistent
Perilous (adj.) [j] way.
The country roads are quite perilous. Work done piecemeal, Read a novel
Perilously (adv.) piecemeal.

Periphrasis (n.) [ /] Pied (adj.) [n k, tt]

= a style that involves indirect ways of = having 2 or more different colors.
expressing things. Piebald (adj.)
Example: I believe e I do = having sections or patches colored
believe. differently and usually brightly.

Perpetrate (v.) [ a ] Pilfer (v.) [ (n )]

= perform an act, usually with a = steal (things of little value)
negative connotation. Pilfered from the bookracks.
The Pak army perpetrated great The children pilfered apples from the
atrocities. fruit stand.
Perpetrator (n.) Pilferer (n.)
Perpetration. (n.) Pilferage (n.)

71
Pinion (v.) [ u , = difficult to believe.
k ] The whole plot of the film is
= restrain or immobilize by binding the ridiculously implausible.
wings or legs. Implausibly (adv.)
Pinion (n.) Implausibility (n.)
= birds wing.
Plenitude (n.) [p]
Pique (v.) [o a tm , = a full supply.
(s )] In the plenitude of ones powers.
= cause to feel resentment or Plenteous (adj.) [p]
indignation. Plenteously (adv.)
Pique oneself on sth. [ an ] Plentiful (adj.)
She piqued herself on being very Plentifully (adv.)
charming. Plenty (n. /adv.)
Pique (n.) [, a, ]
He left the meeting in a fit of pique. Plethora (n.) [ap, ]
= extreme excess.
Pirouette (n.) There's a plethora of books about the
= a rapid spin of the body (especially royal family.
on the toes as in ballet).
Pirouette (v.) Pneumatic (adj.)
= of or relating to or using air (or a
Pith (n.) [, , , , ] similar gas).
= the choicest or most essential or Pneumatic drill, pneumatic tire.
most vital part of some idea or
experience. Precinct (n.) [ , k e]
The pith of his argument/speech. = a district of a city or town marked
Pithy (adj.) [s, ] out for administrative purposes.
Pithily (adv.) [ ] Pedestrian precinct, Shopping precinct.

Placate (v.) [n/s ] Predilection (n.)

= to stop someone from feeling angry. A predilection for [ an/k,
Outraged minority groups will not be n]
placated by promises of future He has a predilection for drinking
improvements. alcohol.
Placatory (adj.)
The tone of the letter was placatory. Preponderant (adj.) [p]
= having superior power and influence.
Platitude (n.) [hr sd uk] Preponderantly (adv.)
= a trite or obvious remark, an Preponderance (n.) [p]
unoriginal saying.
Politicians speak platitudes about Prepossess (v.) [ /a ]
lowering taxes. = make a positive impression (on
someone) beforehand.
Plausible (adj.) [ k, He was prepossessed by young ladys
an (k)] charms.
= apparently reasonable and valid. Prepossessing (adj.) [t]
A plausible excuse/explanation. A girl of prepossessing appearance.
A plausible rogue. Prepossession (n.) [p i ank
Plausibly (adv.) an]
Plausibility (n.)
Implausible (adj.)

72
Prescient (adj.) [] Promulgate (v.) [p , ]
= perceiving the significance of events = state or announce.
before they occur.
Presciently (adv.) Propinquity (n.) [, () ]
Prescience (n.) [j] = the property of being close together.

Preternatural (adj.) [as, a] Propitiate (v.) [k u n ]

= surpassing the ordinary or normal.
Preternaturally (adv.)
Proactive (adj.)
= taking action by causing change and
not only reacting to change when it
happens.
Companies are going to have to be
more proactive about environmental
management.
A proactive approach/role.
Proclivity (n.) [p]
= a natural inclination.
The sexual proclivities of celebrities.
Prodigal (adj.) [a, ks]
Prodigal (n.)
Prodigally (adv.)
Prodigality (n.)
The prodigality of the sea.
Progenitor (n.) [r, ] Propulsion (n.)
= an ancestor in the direct line.
Marx was the progenitor of
communism.
= to please and make calm a god or
person who is annoyed with you.
In those days people might sacrifice a
goat or sheep to propitiate an angry
god.
Propitiation (n.) [p t]
Propitiatory (adj.)
With a propitiatory gesture he offered
her his hand.
Propitious (adj.) [ank, spn, ]
Weather that was propitious for their
journey.
With the economy in the worst
recession for thirty years, it was
scarcely the most propitious time to
start up a company.
Propitiously (adv.)
Propel (v.) [m ]
= cause to move forward with force.
A rocket propelled through space.
Propeller (n.)
= a force that pushes something
forward.
A propulsion system.

Proletariat (adj.) [-mp] Proscribe (v.) [d , ]

= a social class comprising those who = (1) officially forbid, command
do manual labor or work for wages. against (2) criticize/condemn
Proletarian (n.) [] Sugar is proscribed for most diabetics.
Proscribed (adj.)[d]
Prolix (adj.) [as kn/k]
= tediously prolonged or tending to Protract (v.) [/m ]
speak or write at great length. = lengthen in time.
The author's prolix style has done A protracted visit/argument.
nothing to encourage sales of the book. Protraction (n.) [t]
Prolixity (n.)
Providence (n.) [, -n, ]
Promiscuous (adj.) [e, ] Providence fund.
= casual and unrestrained in sexual Provident (adj.) []
behavior. Providently (adv.)
Promiscuous sexual intercourse. Providential (adj.)
Promiscuously (adv.) Providentially (adv.)

73
Puerile (adj.) [s, ] Pusillanimity (n.)
I find his sense of humor rather
puerile. Putative (adj.) [ , an]
Puerility (n.) [s //n] = generally accepted, commonly put
forth or accepted as true on
inconclusive grounds.
Pugnacious (adj.) [d, ip, ]
Putatively (adv.)
= wanting to start an argument or fight.
The putative leader of the terrorist
I found him pugnacious and arrogant.
organization was arrested by police in
Pugnaciously (adv.)
Birmingham yesterday.
Pugnacity (n.)
Putrefy (v.) []
Pulchritude (n.) [ n] = liable to decay or spoil or become
= physical beauty (especially of a putrid.
woman). Putrefaction (n.) []
Putrescent (adj.) [ e]
Pummel (v.) [u ] Putrescence (n.) [pk]
= strike with the fist. Putrescible (adj.) [capable of decaying
The boxer had pummeled his opponent or rotting]
into submission by the end of the Putrid (adj.) [, o dnk, ah]
fourth round. Putridity (n.) [ as]

Punctilious (adj.) [ Quaff (n.)

a, ds, ds] = a hearty draft.
= marked by precise accordance with Quaff (v.)
details. = to drink something quickly or in
He was always punctilious in his large amounts.
manners.
Punctiliously (adv.) Quail (v.) [ o]
Punctiliousness (n.) = shrink back in fear.
He quailed at the thought of fighting in
Purloin (v.) [ ] the war.
= steal. Quail (n.) [ ]
I was using a pen that I'd purloined
from the office. Quandary (n.) [d]
Purloiner (n.) [ ] = a state of not being able to decide
what to do about a situation in which
Purulent (adj.) [
k] you are involved.
= having undergone infection.
It is logical quandary as much as
Purulence (n.)
anything.
I was in a quandary about what to do.
Purvey (v.) [ ]
= supply with provisions.
Quench (v.) [ , ,
Benson & Hedges purvey tobacco for
(g), ]
the NAVY.
= satisfy (thirst).
Purveyance (n.)
Quenchless (adj.) [d, ap, d]
Purveyor (n.)
A quenchless thirst.
Pusillanimous (adj.) [r, t]
Raillery (n.)
= lacking in courage and manly
= joking or laughing at someone in a
strength and resolution.
friendly way, light teasing repartee.
He's too pusillanimous to stand up to
his opponents.
Pusillanimously (adv.)

74
Raiment (n.) [, ] Ratify (v.) [sk an ]
= especially fine or decorative = approve in writing.
clothing. Many countries have now ratified the
Raiment (v.) UN convention on the rights of the
= provide with clothes or put clothes child.
on. Ratification (n.)

Rake (n.) [d t/m k] Raucous (adj.) [ ]

= a dissolute man in fashionable = unpleasantly loud and harsh.
society. A raucous voice.
Rake (v.) [ /o, i , I heard the raucous call of the crows.
nn ] Raucous laughter came from the next
= examine hastily. room.
The floor of the theatre raked towards Raucously (adv.)
the audience.
Rakish (adj.) [d t, ] Ravel (v.) [ /]
= stylish, sporty. = unravel.
He has a rakish air about him.
Rakishly (adv.) Raze (v.) [ ]
Rakishness (n.) = tear down so as to make flat with the
ground, destroy completely (a
Ramble (v.) [ ] building/town).
My various ramblings... The government razed some old
Ramble (n.) [is ] buildings and built new ones.
Rambler (n.)
Rambling (adj.) [() is (, Rebut (v.) [ p ]
s, m) () ag (k, , = prove to be false or incorrect.
m)] Our lawyer saved our case when she
rebutted the other lawyer's speech.
Ramify (v.) [ k /o]
= divide into two or more branches. Recant (v.) [/ , a
Ramification (n.) [ k n p ]
a/] = formally reject or disavow a
This book will analyze the idea in all formerly held belief, usually under
its ramifications. pressure.
The witness later recanted the things
Rapport (n.) [n m] he said in court and said it was all not
= a feeling of sympathetic
true.
understanding.
We'd worked together for years and Recuperate (v.) [ass kk
developed a close/good rapport. ss o/ , rd ]
She has an excellent rapport with her = regain or make up for.
staff. Recuperate ones health.
He recuperated quickly after being in
Rasp (v.) [ , uk , the hospital.
Recuperation (n.)
u , ]
Rasp sbs feelings/nerves.
Rasp out orders/insults. Redolent (adj.) [ss]
Rasping on a violin. = serving to bring to mind.
Handkerchiefs redolent of rose-leaves.
Raspingly (adv.) [ ]
The album is a heartfelt cry, redolent
of a time before radio and television.

75
Redress (v.) [() , k ] Rejoin (v.) [/ut ]
= make reparations or amends for. = (1) join again (2) answer back.
Redress ones errors. Rejoinder (n.) [pt]
Redress the balance [ = a quick/witty reply.
p ] A lawyer said the witness was lying,
Redress (n.) and the witness answered with an
Seek legal redress. angry rejoinder, proving to the court
that she was telling the truth.
Redundant (adj.) [, a,
pk] Reminisce (v.) [s ]
= more than is needed, desired, or Remind (v.)
required. Reminder (n.)
A redundant word, A redundant labor. Reminiscent (adj.) [s e,
The teacher told him the ideas in his s]
essay were redundant, because he = serving to bring to mind.
repeated the same idea three times. His voice is reminiscent of his fathers.
Her position at the company was Become reminiscent.
declared redundant and she was told to Reminiscently (adv.)
find a new job. Reminiscence (n.) [s]
Redundancy (n.) There is a reminiscence of her mother
in the way she smiles.
Reek (n.) [b dn]
= a distinctive odor that is offensively Remit (v.) [k , ok , h /o,
unpleasant. ]
The reek of stale tobacco smoke. = release from (claims and debts).
Reek (v.) [dn ] His examination fees have been
Reek with [ k p k o] remitted.
The case will be remitted to an expert
Reel (v.) [ o, o] committee.
= walk as if unable to control one's Remission (n.) [k, , i, ok,
movements. ]
She hit him so hard that he reeled Remission for good conducts. [
backwards. ]
We were reeling with the news that we Remission of a fever.
had won all that money. Remittance (n.) [a p p a]

Refractory (adj.) [a, eg] Remunerate (v.) [ ]

= stubborn, difficult to control.
As refractory as a mule [].
Regurgitate (v.) [u ]
= pour or rush back, repeat after
memorization.
Birds regurgitate food to feed their
young.
Rehash (v.) [ r ] his enemy's helmet in two.
= reuse (old ideas/materials) with no
great change/improvement.
Rehash last terms lectures for the
coming term.
= pay (someone) for work done.
He is poorly remunerated for all the
work he does.
Remuneration (n.)
Remunerative (adj.) []
Rend (v.) [ , ]
= tear or be torn violently.
With one stroke of his sword, he rent
Renege (v.)
= go back on a promise, undertaking,
or contract.
Renege on [ ]

76
Repent (v.) [anp o] He said it would be a retrograde step to
= turn away from sin or do penitence. remove single parent benefit.
Repentance (n.)
= remorse for your past conduct. Robust (adj.) [, p]
This was an extremely violent crime, = strong and healthy.
for which the boy showed no A robust economy.
repentance. Robustly (adv.)
Repentant (adj.) Some of his colleagues felt he could
= feeling sorry for something that you have defended himself more robustly.
have done. Robustness (n.)

Repertoire (n.) Ruddy (adj.) [ssj, k, ]

= list of works of music, drama, etc. = inclined to a healthy reddish color
There are a hundred popular songs in often associated with outdoor life.
her repertoire. In ruddy health.
A ruddy glow in the sky.
Repine (v.) [an , ap o]
= express discontent, fret. Rudimentary (adj.) [p, ]
Repine against [ a = being in the earliest stages of
] development.
Her knowledge is still only
Replenish (v.) [ ns ] rudimentary.
Replenishment (n.)
Replete (adj.) [, ] Rustic (adj.) [g, , a]
Repletion (n.) [/ as] = characteristic of rural life.
They live in a rustic fishing village.
Rescind (v.) [i/k ] Rusticity (n.)
= to make a law, agreement, order or
decision no longer have any (legal) Salutary (adj.) [, ]
power, revoke. = beneficial to health.
The Congress rescinded a tax law that A salutary reminder of the dangers of
people didn't like. mountain climbing.
Rescission (n.)
Sapling (n.) [ , r]
Resilience (n.) [ as g] Sappy (adj.) [pk ]
= the physical property of a material
that can return to its original shape or Savior (n.) [t, t]
position after deformation that does not = a person who rescues you from harm
exceed its elastic limit. or danger.
Resilient (adj.) This mayor has created jobs and
helped the poor; she is the city's savior.
Resplendent (adj.) [an ujj, ]
= having great beauty and splendor. Scarce (adj.) [d]
I saw Anna at the other end of the = not easy to find or obtain.
room, resplendent in a red sequined Food and clean water were becoming
cocktail dress. scarce.
Resplendently (adv.) A scarce book.
Resplendence (n.) Scarcely (adv.) [ , ]
She scarcely knows you. [
Retrograde (v.) [ o, o] i ]
= going from better to worse. Scarcity (n.)
Retrograde (adj.) [a]

77
Scruple (n.) [ d] Shun (v.) [ , ]
= an ethical or moral principle that = (1) avoid and stay away from
inhibits action. deliberately (2) expel from a
Tell lies without scruple. [] community or group.
Scruple to do sth (v.) [ r d Shun temptation.
] She has shunned publicity since she
Scrupulous (adj.) [, ] retired from the theatre.
Scrupulously (adv.) After the trial he was shunned by
Scrupulously exact/careful. friends and family alike.
Unscrupulous (adj.) []
Unscrupulously (adv.) Sibilant (adj.) [k, ]
Sibilant (n.)
Sear (v.) = a consonant characterized by a
= make very hot and dry. hissing sound (like s or sh).
The heat from the explosion seared
their hands and faces. Simper (v.) [ ]
Searing (adj.) = to smile in a foolish or silly way.
Searingly (adv.) She gave her teacher a simpering
smile.
Senescence (n.) Simperingly (adv.)
= the property characteristic of old age.
Slew (v.)
Sententious (adj.) [kp a = turn sharply, change direction
as, m, h] abruptly, glut/excess.
= concise and full of meaning. The car hit a patch of ice and slewed
A sententious speaker/speech. around violently.
Slew (n.)
Serene (adj.) [s o n] = large quantity or number.
= peaceful and calm; troubled by
nothing. Smolder (v.) [ j]
She has a lovely serene face. = (1) have strong suppressed feelings
Serenely (adv.) (2) burn slowly and without a flame.
Serenity (n.) Smoldering discontent [ an]
I admired her serenity in the midst of The fire was started by a smoldering
so much chaos. cigarette.
The dispute is still smoldering, five
Sheepish (adj.) [apst, ap, ] years after the negotiations began.
= embarrassed because you know that He gazed at her with smoldering eyes,
you have done something wrong or wishing she wasn't married.
silly.
She gave me a sheepish smile and Smother (v.) [ , ,
apologized. ]
Sheepishly (adv.) = deprive of oxygen and prevent from
Sheepishness (n.) breathing.
The latest violence has smothered any
Shrivel (v.) [] remaining hopes for an early peace
= wither, esp. with a loss of moisture. agreement.
Shriveled face/leaves. I think she broke off their engagement
because she felt smothered by him.

78
Sober (adj.) [tnt, ] = an amusing and ridiculous piece of
= completely lacking in playfulness. writing, music, theatre, etc. that copies
Anthony was in a very sober mood - I the style of an original work.
scarcely heard him laugh all night. It was a spoof cowboy film.
Sober (v.)
News of the tragedy has sobered us. Spurn (v.) [ ]
Soberly (adv.) = reject with contempt, push aside.
Sobering (adj.) She spurned my offers of help.
Sobriety (n.)
We had the priest sitting at our table Stagger (v.) [ ]
which instilled a little sobriety into the = (1) walk/move unsteadily as if about
occasion. to fall (2) astonish sb (3) spread over a
period of time (4) to arrange in a stack
Solipsism (n.) [tj] or pile.
= (philosophy) the Every night we find him staggering to
philosophical theory that the self is all his house.
that you know to exist. Thats a piece of staggering news.
Solipsistic (adj.) Staggerer (n.)
Staggeringly (adv.)
Sophomore (n.) [ d
t/t] Stalemate (v.) [as ]
Freshman : < 30 Credits = subject to a stalemate, in chess.
Sophomore: 30 59 Credits Stalemate (n.)
Junior: 60 89 Credits = a situation in which no progress can
Senior: > 90 Credits be made.
Despite long discussions, the workers
Sordid (adj.) [, , ] and the management remain locked in
= morally degraded. stalemate.
A sordid slum.
These men and women are all living in Stanza (n.) [s]
sordid poverty. = a fixed number of lines of verse
Sordidly (adv.) forming a unit of a poem.
Sordidness (n.)
Sordid motives. Stasis (n.)
= a period/state when there is no
Speculate (v.) [an ] change or development.
= to believe especially on uncertain or She was bored - her life was in stasis.
tentative grounds.
The newspapers have speculated that Stellar (adj.) [kt mn, kt]
they will get married next year. = being or relating to or resembling or
Speculation (n.) emanating from stars.
The Prime Minister's speech Constellation (n.) [et as kt,
fuelled/prompted speculation that an k /]
election will be held later in the year.
Stifle (v.) [rd , , ]
Spoof (v.) [p , ] = smother, suppress, conceal, hide.
= to try to make someone believe in We were stifled in the crowded local
something that is not true, as a joke. bus.
You have been spoofed. [ I feel stifled in a smoky room.
] Stifler (n.) [, ]
Spoof (n.)

79
Stolid (adj.) [a, ant]
= not easily aroused or excited.
Stolidly (adv.)
Stolidness (n.)
Stolidity (n.)
Stride (v.) [m m , di ]
/]
= walk with long, decisive steps
Stride along the empty footpath.
Stride over a wide drain.
Astride (adv.) [di d ]
Strident (adj.) [, k]
= unpleasantly loud and harsh.
The old machine gives out strident
notes.
I could hear her angry, strident voice
from next door.
Stridulate (v.) [k b ]
Stridulation (n.)
Stridency (n.)
Suave (adj.) [ o ( m = aggravation by deriding or mocking
n)]
= smoothly agreeable and courteous
with a degree of sophistication.
Suavely (adv.)
Suavity (n.)
Suffrage (n.) [, ]
= the right to vote in an election.
Universal suffrage.
Suffragette (n.)
= a woman advocate of women's right
to vote.
Supercilious (adj.) [aj ]
= having or showing arrogant
superiority to.
Nose high in the air, looking like a
supercilious camel.
Superciliously (adv.)
Superciliousness (n.)
Supine (adj.) [ , a]
= (1) offering no resistance. (2) lying
face upward.
The new director has introduced a
series of changes against little
opposition from the supine staff.
We walked along the beach, past the
rows of supine bodies soaking up the
sun.
Supinely (adv.)
Surfeit (n.) [a/a r ass,
= the state of being more than full.
Have a surfeit of [ ar/
]
Surfeit (v.)
Surfeit oneself with fruit, Be surfeited
with pleasure.
Swathe (v.) [ ]
= wrap around, bandage.
Swathed in bandages.
Taper (v.) [e k r o]
One end of the cloth tapers.
Taper (n.) [ r ]
Taunt (n.) [dr]
or criticizing.
Tauntingly (adv.) [drt]
Tautology (n.) [a t]
= useless repetition.
Tautological (adj.)
Temporal (adj.) []
(1) relating to time (2) not eternal
Temporality (n.) [ st]
Tender (adj.) []
=young and immature.
He was sent off to boarding school at
the tender age of seven.
Tenuous (adj.) [k, r]
= very slight and weak.
We were only able to make a tenuous
connection between the two robberies.
Tenuity (n.)
Terse (adj.) [kp, h]
= brief and to the point.
Are you feeling any better? No was
the terse reply.
Tersely (adv.)
Terseness (n.)
80
Thrive (v.) [d ] Vanity (n.) [a]
= grow vigorously. = feelings of excessive pride.
His business thrived in the years before His vanity about his appearance is
the war. ridiculous; he is always looking at
Thriving (adj.) himself in the mirror.
A thriving economy.
Variegated (adj.) [tt]
Tirade (n.) [, kdp o s k] = having a variety of colors.
= a violent denunciation [ak]. Variegated leaves.
Variegation (n.)
Transcend (v.) [ o]
= be greater in scope or size than some Venal (adj.) [a n a pst]
standard. = capable of being corrupted.
The best films are those which A venal ruler.
transcend national or cultural barriers. Venally (adv.)
Transcendence (n.) Venality (n.)
Transcendent (adj.)
Transcendental (adj.) Venial (adj.) [, k]
= easily excused or forgiven.
Unqualified (adj.) [, , ak] A venial error.
= complete, not limited or restricted.
We achieved a lot but I wouldn't say Veracity (n.) [, , ]
that the project has been an unqualified = unwillingness to tell lies.
success. Veracious (adj.) []
The proposal has the unqualified Veraciously (adv.)
support of the entire committee.
Vernal (adj.) [n, n]
Unrequited (adj.) [p] = pertaining to spring.
= not returned in kind.
Unrequited love/service. Veteran (n.) [dp]
= an experienced person who has been
Unstudied (adj.) [sn, s] through many battles.
= impromptu, improvised. The ceremony was attended by many
of the surviving veterans of World War
Upshot (n.) [, ] II.
= outcome, final result. Veteran (adj.)
The upshot of the discussions is that
there will be no redundancies. Vex (v.) [k ]
= to annoy, worry or disturb (esp. by
Vain (adj.) [Unproductive of success, , minor irritations).
] It vexes me that my computer is not so
= characteristic of false pride. fast.
It was a vain mission. A vexed question [h sr,
Vain Vainer Vainest k s]
As vain [d] as a peacock. Vex (v.) [(d) kb ]
Vainglory (n.) [] Vexed by storms.
Vainglorious (adj.) [ t]
Vainly (adv.) [without success, Virtuoso (n.)
, d] = someone who is dazzlingly skilled in
any field.

81
 Famous mainly for his wonderful
voice, Cole was also a virtuoso on the
piano.
Virtuosity (n.)
Vivacity (n.) [p]
Vivacious (adj.) [pn]
A vivacious girl.
Vivaciously/Vivace (adv.)
Vocation (n.) [, t, ]
Vocational (adj.) []
Vocational guidance.
Avocation (n.) [[ = lose freshness, vigor, or vitality.
t]
Voluptuary (adj.) [, ind]
= describes a woman who has a soft,
curved, sexually attractive body.
A voluptuous body/mouth/figure.
I sank into the bed's voluptuous
warmth.
Voluptuous (adj.) [inds]
Voluptuous
beauty/music/sensations/thoughts
Voluptuously (adv.)
Voluptuousness (n.)
Voracious (adj.) [k]
= excessively greedy and grasping.
A voracious appetite, A voracious
reader.
Voraciously (adv.)
Voracity (n.)
Vulpine (adj.) [ mn, ]
= resembling or characteristic of a fox.
Wan (adj.) [ass, kn, ]
= dim or feeble.
A wan smile.
Wanly (adv.)
Wan (v.) [become pale and sickly]
Warmonger (n.) [d k]
= a person who advocates war or
warlike policies.
The President was called a warmonger
for sending our army to fight in
another country.
Copyright 2009 by Rizvi
its.rizvi@gmail.com
Warrant (n.) [n, ]
You had no warrant for what you did.
Warrant (v.)
Nothing can warrant such insolence.
Wisp (n.) [ , g, k]
= bale, a small bundle of straw or hay.
A wisp of hair.
A blue wisp of cigarette smoke curled
in the air.
Wispy (adj.)
= thin, slight, barely discernible.
Wither (v.) [ o]
Grass had withered in the fields.
Withered (adj.)
Withered leaves/flowers.
Withhold (v.) [ ]
= hold back.
She withheld her rent until the landlord
agreed to have the repairs done.
Woo (v.) [p k , () ,
]
= (1) make amorous advances towards
(2) seek someone's favor.
Wooer (n.)
He wooed her for months with flowers
and expensive presents.
The party has been trying to woo the
voters with promises of electoral
reform.
The airline has been offering
discounted tickets to woo passengers
away from their competitors.
Xenophobia (n.) [ mn a /]
= a fear of foreigners or strangers.
Xenophobic (n.)
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