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n. medieval chemistry concerned with finding a way to change base metals into gold and a single cure for all diseases; hence, magic, or magic power
She has the _____________ to turn hostile listeners into friends. I do not possess that magic. |
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n. gift of money; tip; gratuity
We were told that a ________________ would work miracles, so we gave the concierge a five-franc tip. |
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adj. inclined to fight or quarrel; pugnacious; warlike
Scratchy Wilson, in "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky," was not ordinarily quarrelsome. Only when he got drunk did he become ____________. |
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v. find fault unreasonably; complain in a nagging way
There you go ______(ing) again! You are always finding fault with the way I do things. |
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n. light meal
After the meeting I stayed for the ___________, reasoning that a light meal would not spoil my appetite for dinner. |
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v. select; pick out; choose
The string beans had been thoroughly picked over by earlier shoppers, but I was able to ______ about a half pound for tonight's dinner. |
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v. object; take exception
Dad had no objection to your ordering a new dishwasher, but when you considered the model he _______________ at the added cost. |
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n. condition of no longer being used; disuse
The washboard has falled into ___________________; the horse-drawn buggy, too, is seldom used these days |
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v. amuse; entertain; give pleasure to
Her friends found her explanation __________(ing), though she really had not meant to amuse them. |
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v. make repeated, insistent demands for payment
His creditors kept sending bills and telephoning to demand payment. Their __________ made his life unbearable. |
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adj. relying solely on observation or experience
When little was known about a disease , the treatment was ______________; it was based on observation and trial-and-error experience, rather than on scientific knowledge. |
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v. be deliberately ambiguous; use misleading terms so as not to commit oneself
Stop giving us ambiguous answers. Say yes or no. Don't __________________. |
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adj. based on or involving a _________________ (suppostion); conjectural
The idea that life exists on planets beyond the earth is purely ___________________: it is based on supposition. |
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n. (literally, let it be printed) authorization; sanction; approval
The change cannot be made unless the director approves. We are waiting for her _______________. |
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adj. innocent and simple; artless; naive
He may give the impression of being ______________, but let me assure you he is not naive. |
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adj. lying; untrue; deceitful
They filed a _________________ accident report: it was full of lies. |
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n. high praise, either written or spoken; eulogy tribute
Have you read the lavish tributes in the campaign literature of the various candidates? Do their accomplishments really merit such _________________(s)? |
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v. dress up; make oneself trim; neaten up; fuss in dressing
Sam shouldn't criticize Nora for __________(ing). He likes to neaten up his appearance too, doesn't he? |
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adj. lacking in courage; cowardly; timid
I was not shocked by his ____________________ behavior. I knew he was a coward. |
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n. wet, boggy ground that gives way under the foot; difficult situation
What a difficult situation you have gotten us into! How will we ever be able to extricate ourselves from this ____________? |
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v. feel remorse for; wish undone; regret
She said I would ______ my decision to turn down the managership. The truth is I have never regretted it. |
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adj. habitually disinclined to talk; silent; uncommunicative
I tried to strike up a conversation with your neighbor, but he was uncommunicative. Is he always so ____________? |
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