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Barron's Essential Words
Unmastered during 1st pass
312
English
Graduate
07/19/2012

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Term
Abjure
Definition
to formally reject or abandon
Term
Abscission
Definition
small cut; natural separation of a leaf
Term
Abstemious
Definition
moderate in appetite
Term
Affected
Definition
pretentious or phony
Term
Affected
Definition
pretentious or phony
Term
Ambrosia
Definition
something delicious; food of the gods
Term
Anodyne
Definition
substance that calms or soothes pain
Term
Antediluvian
Definition
prehistoric
Term
Apogee
Definition
highest point; point in an orbit most distant from central body
Term
Apogee
Definition
point in an orbit most distant from central body; highest point
Term
Apothegm
Definition
a terse, witty syaing
Term
Appellation
Definition
name
Term
Apposite
Definition
strikingly appropriate or relevant
Term
Arabesque
Definition
ornate design with intertwined curves; ballet position with one leg extended back
Term
Argot
Definition
a specialized vocabulary used by a group
Term
Asperity
Definition
severity or harshness
Term
Aspersion
Definition
slander or false rumor
Term
Assiduous
Definition
diligent or hard-working
Term
Astringent
Definition
harsh or severe
Term
Atavism
Definition
reapparance of a characteristic after a period of absence
Term
Attenuate
Definition
weaken
Term
Auspicious
Definition
favorable or promising
Term
Aver
Definition
to affirm or declare
Term
Avidity
Definition
eagerness
("avid reader")
Term
Avocation
Definition
secondary occupation
Term
Avuncular
Definition
like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
Term
Bacchanalian
Definition
pertaining to drunken festivity
Term
Bawdy
Definition
obscene
Term
Beatify
Definition
to sanctify or bless
Term
Bedizen
Definition
to dress in a vulgar or showy manner
Term
Blandishment
Definition
flattery
Term
Blase
Definition
bored from frequent indulgence
Term
Blunt
Definition
to weaken; to dull
Term
Broach
Definition
mention for the first time
Term
Bucolic
Definition
characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral
Term
Bumptious
Definition
Pushy or overly-assertive; conceited
Term
Burgeon
Definition
to fluorish
Term
Burnish
Definition
to polish
Term
Cadge
Definition
to beg
Term
Calumny
Definition
slander; false and malicious accusation
Term
Canard
Definition
false, deliberately misleading story
Term
Canon
Definition
group of literary works; standard for judgment
Term
Cant
Definition
insincere talk; language of a particular group
Term
Captious
Definition
faultfinding; intended to entrap in an argument
Term
Carping
Definition
to find fault or complain
Term
Caucus
Definition
smaller group within an organization
Term
Centrifugal
Definition
moving away from the center
Term
Centripetal
Definition
moving toward the center
Term
Chicanery
Definition
trickery or fraud
Term
Churlish
Definition
rude or boorish
Term
Cloister
Definition
to confine or seclude
Term
Coda
Definition
concluding part of a literary or musical composition
Term
Compendium
Definition
brief, comprehensive summary
Term
Complaisant
Definition
overly polite or obliging
Term
Compunction
Definition
uneasiness caused by guilt
Term
Concomitant
Definition
existing concurrently
Term
Condone
Definition
to overlook or forgive
Term
Congenial
Definition
friendly toward or suited for
Term
Contumacious
Definition
disobedient or rebellious
Term
Convival
Definition
sociable
Term
Coquette
Definition
woman who flirts
Term
Cozen
Definition
to deceive by trick or fraud
Term
Craven
Definition
cowardly
Term
Dearth
Definition
scarcity
Term
Defame
Definition
to malign someone's reputation
Term
Defunct
Definition
no longer existing
Term
Demotic
Definition
pertaining to people
Term
Demur
Definition
to express doubt
Term
Denizen
Definition
an inhabitant or regular visitor
Term
Denouement
Definition
outcome; unraveling of the plot
Term
Desuetude
Definition
state of disuse
Term
Desultory
Definition
random, disconnected, or rambling
Term
Diaphonous
Definition
transparent; fine-textured; insubstantial; vague
Term
Dirge
Definition
funeral hymn
Term
Discomfit
Definition
to make uneasy
Term
Disgorge
Definition
to eject or vomit
Term
Dissemble
Definition
to pretend or disguise one's motives
Term
Dissolution
Definition
disintegration or debauchery
Term
Distrait
Definition
inattentive or preoccupied
Term
Divest
Definition
to strip or deprive
Term
Doggerel
Definition
poor verse
Term
Ebullient
Definition
exhilarated or enthusiastic
Term
Effete
Definition
depleted of vitality; overrefined or decadent
Term
Effigy
Definition
crude representation of someone
Term
Effrontery
Definition
shameless boldness or presumptuousness
Term
Elegy
Definition
poem or song expressing lamentation
Term
Elysian
Definition
blissful or delightful
Term
Emollient
Definition
soothing or mollifying
Term
Encomium
Definition
formal expression of praise
Term
Enervate
Definition
to weaken
Term
Ephemeral
Definition
short-lived or fleeting
Term
Equable
Definition
steady or unvarying
Term
Equanimity
Definition
composure or calmness
Term
Essay
Definition
to subject to a test; to make an attempt
Term
Evince
Definition
to show plainly
Term
Exculpate
Definition
to clear of blame or vindicate
Term
Execrable
Definition
detestable or abhorrent
Term
Expatiate
Definition
to speak or write at length
Term
Expatriate
Definition
to send into exhile
Term
Expiate
Definition
to atone for
Term
Expository
Definition
explanatory
Term
Extirpate
Definition
to root up; to destroy
Term
Factotum
Definition
handyman; person who does many types of work
Term
Fatuous
Definition
foolish or dumb
Term
Fauna
Definition
animals of a period or region
Term
Felicitous
Definition
appropriate or well-chosen
Term
Fetid
Definition
possessing a bad smell
Term
Fetter
Definition
to bind or confine
Term
Fiat
Definition
arbitrary order
Term
Flag
Definition
to droop; to grow weak
Term
Fledgling
Definition
beginner or novice
Term
Florid
Definition
reddish; flowery
Term
Flourish
Definition
an embellishment or ornamentation
Term
Flout
Definition
to treat scornfully
Term
Foment
Definition
to incite
Term
Forbearance
Definition
patience
Term
Forswear
Definition
to renounce or repudiate
Term
Founder
Definition
to sink or collapse; to fail
Term
Fracas
Definition
a loud quarrel
Term
Fractious
Definition
quarrelsome; unruly; rebellious
Term
Froward
Definition
stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient
Term
Fulminate
Definition
to attack loundly
Term
Fulsome
Definition
disgustingly excessive
Term
Gainsay
Definition
to deny or oppose
Term
Gambol
Definition
to frolic or leap playfully
Term
Garrulous
Definition
talkative or wordy
Term
Gauche
Definition
coarse and uncouth; clumsy
Term
Goad
Definition
to urge on
Term
Gossamer
Definition
sheer and delicate
Term
Grandiloquent
Definition
pompous or bombastic
Term
Grouse
Definition
to complain
Term
Halcyon
Definition
calm and peaceful; golden age of prosperity
Term
Harangue
Definition
long, scolding lecture; diatribe
Term
Hermetic
Definition
tightly sealed; magical
Term
Hirsute
Definition
covered with hair
Term
Homily
Definition
sermon or moralizing lecture; platitude
Term
Imbroglio
Definition
an entanglement; complicated situation
Term
Impassive
Definition
showing no emotion
Term
Impassive
Definition
unemotional; imperturbable
("impassive face")
Term
Impecunious
Definition
poor
Term
Impinge
Definition
to encroach
Term
Implacable
Definition
inflexible; incapable of being pleased
Term
Imprecation
Definition
curse
Term
Impute
Definition
to attribute to a particular cause
Term
Inchoate
Definition
imperfectly formed or formulated
Term
Indigence
Definition
poverty
Term
Ineluctable
Definition
unavoidable or inevitable
Term
Ingenuous
Definition
naive and trusting
Term
Insensible
Definition
unconscious; unresponsive
Term
Insipid
Definition
lacking flavor; dull
Term
Insouciant
Definition
indifferent or lacking concern
Term
Insuperable
Definition
insurmountable or unconquerable
Term
Interdict
Definition
to forbid or prohibit; to halt the activities or entrance of something
Term
Internecine
Definition
deadly to both sides
Term
Interpolate
Definition
to insert or change by adding new words or materials
Term
Interregnum
Definition
interval between reigns; gap in continuity
Term
Intractable
Definition
not easily managed
Term
Intransigence
Definition
stubbornness or refusal to compromise
Term
Inundate
Definition
to cover with water; to overwhelm
Term
Inured
Definition
hardened or accustomed to
Term
Invective
Definition
verbal abuse
Term
Inveigh
Definition
to disapprove or protest vehemently
Term
Inveigle
Definition
to win over by flattery or coaxing
Term
Inveterate
Definition
confirmed; long-standing; deeply rooted
Term
Invidious
Definition
offensive or likely to provoke ill-will
Term
Irascible
Definition
easily angered
Term
Jaundiced
Definition
yellowish discoloration of the skin; affected by envy, resentment, or hostility
Term
Jibe
Definition
to be in agreement
Term
Jocose
Definition
fond of joking; playful
Term
Junta
Definition
group of people united in political intrigue
Term
Kudos
Definition
glory or honor
Term
Labile
Definition
likely to change
Term
Laconic
Definition
using few words
Term
Lambaste
Definition
to verbally thrash
Term
Lassitude
Definition
lethargy or sluggishness
Term
Libertine
Definition
without moral restraint
Term
Lilliputian
Definition
extremely small
Term
Limn
Definition
to draw or describe
Term
Limpid
Definition
clear or transparent
Term
Limpid
Definition
lucid or clear
("limpid pond")
Term
Literati
Definition
scholarly or learned persons
Term
Machinations
Definition
plots or schemes
Term
Mendacious
Definition
dishonest
Term
Mendicant
Definition
beggar
Term
Meretricious
Definition
gaudy; specious
Term
Mettle
Definition
courage or endurance
Term
Militate
Definition
to work against
Term
Minatory
Definition
menacing or threatening
Term
Morose
Definition
sullen or ill-humored
Term
Motley
Definition
many-colored; composed of many parts
Term
Multifarious
Definition
diverse
Term
Munificent
Definition
generous
("munificent gift")
Term
Nonplussed
Definition
bewildered
Term
Nostrum
Definition
medicine of doubtful effectiveness
Term
Nugatory
Definition
trifling; invalid
Term
Obdurate
Definition
stubborn
Term
Obsequy
Definition
funeral ceremony
Term
Officious
Definition
overly helpful or meddlesome
Term
Opprobrium
Definition
disgrace or contempt
Term
Overweening
Definition
presumptuous; arrogant; overbearing
Term
Paean
Definition
song of joy or triumph
Term
Palliate
Definition
to alleviate or mitigate
("palliate excuse")
Term
Pallid
Definition
lacking color or liveliness
Term
Panegyric
Definition
elaborate praise
Term
Patois
Definition
regional dialect
Term
Pedantic
Definition
showing off learning
Term
Pellucid
Definition
transparent; easily understood
Term
Penury
Definition
extreme poverty
Term
Peregrination
Definition
wandering from place to place
Term
Peremptory
Definition
imperative; leaving no choice
Term
Perfidious
Definition
disloyal or untrustworthy
Term
Perigee
Definition
point in an orbit that is closest to central body
Term
Petulant
Definition
rude or peevish
Term
Phlegmatic
Definition
calm in temperament; sluggish
Term
Physiognomy
Definition
facial features
Term
Piquant
Definition
pleasant smell; appealingly stimulating
Term
Pique
Definition
fleeting feeling of hurt pride (noun); to arouse interest (verb)
Term
Placid
Definition
calm
Term
Plaintive
Definition
melancholy or mournful
Term
Plume
Definition
to congratulate oneself in a self-satisfied way
Term
Plutocracy
Definition
society ruled by the wealthy
Term
Poseur
Definition
person who affects an attitude to impress others
Term
Prate
Definition
to talk idly
Term
Prattle
Definition
meaningless, foolish talk
Term
Precipitate
Definition
hasty or rash; sudden
Term
Preempt
Definition
to supersede; to appropriate for oneself
Term
Prehensile
Definition
capable of grasping
Term
Preternatural
Definition
supernatural
Term
Prevaricate
Definition
to quibble or evade the truth
Term
Probidty
Definition
honesty; high-mindedness
Term
Propitiate
Definition
to appease or win over
Term
Propitious
Definition
favorable or gracious
Term
Proscribe
Definition
to condemn or forbid
Term
Provident
Definition
providing for future needs; frugal
Term
Puissant
Definition
powerful
Term
Punctilious
Definition
careful in observing rules of behavior or ceremony
Term
Pusillanimous
Definition
cowardly
Term
Quail
Definition
to cower or lose courage
Term
Queue
Definition
line of people
("store queue")
Term
Raconteur
Definition
witty, skillful storyteller
Term
Rarefied
Definition
refined
Term
Rebus
Definition
puzzle with pictures that represent words
Term
Redoubtable
Definition
formidable; arousing fear; worthy of respect
Term
Regale
Definition
to entertain
Term
Remonstrate
Definition
to object or protest
Term
Repine
Definition
to fret or complain
Term
Reprise
Definition
repetition of a piece of music
Term
Reproach
Definition
to blame
Term
Reprobate
Definition
morally unprincipled person
Term
Riposte
Definition
a retaliatory action
Term
Rococo
Definition
excessively ornate; highly decorated
Term
Rue
Definition
to regret
Term
Salacious
Definition
lascivious or lustful
Term
Salubrious
Definition
healthful
Term
Salutary
Definition
favorable to health; expecting an improvement
Term
Sardonic
Definition
cynical; scornfully mocking
Term
Sartorial
Definition
pertaining to tailors
Term
Saturnine
Definition
gloomy
Term
Satyr
Definition
creature that is half-man and half-beast
Term
Sedition
Definition
behavior prompting rebellion
Term
Sedulous
Definition
diligent
Term
Sextant
Definition
navigation tool
Term
Sidereal
Definition
relating to the stars
Term
Simian
Definition
apelike
Term
Sinecure
Definition
well-paying job that requires little work
Term
Sinuous
Definition
winding; intricate; complex
Term
Sodden
Definition
thoroughly soaked
Term
Solicitous
Definition
concerned; attentive
Term
Spendthrift
Definition
person who recklessly spends money
Term
Stanch
Definition
to stop the flow of
Term
Stentorian
Definition
extremely loud
Term
Stint
Definition
to be sparing
Term
Stolid
Definition
showing little emotion
Term
Stricture
Definition
something that restrains; negative criticism
Term
Strident
Definition
loud or harsh
Term
Stultify
Definition
to impair or reduce to uselessness
Term
Stygian
Definition
dark and gloomy
Term
Supine
Definition
lying on the back; marked by lethargy
Term
Suppliant
Definition
beseeching
Term
Surfeit
Definition
surplus
("surfeit of food")
Term
Sylvan
Definition
related to the woods or forest
Term
Taciturn
Definition
reticent or untalkative
Term
Tendentious
Definition
showing a definite tendency, bias, or purpose
Term
Toady
Definition
flatterer; yes-man
Term
Torpor
Definition
lethargy or sluggishness
Term
Torrid
Definition
oppressively hot
("torrid weather")
Term
Tortuous
Definition
having many twists and turns; highly complex
Term
Translucent
Definition
partially transparent
Term
Travail
Definition
arduous work; tribulation; anguish
Term
Travesty
Definition
parody or exaggerated imitation; caricature
Term
Tremulous
Definition
trembling or quivering; timid
Term
Trenchant
Definition
vigorous, sweeping, or effective ("trenchant reforms"); sharp or incisive ("trenchant wit"); biting or cutting ("trenchant remarks")
Term
Truculence
Definition
aggressiveness or ferocity
Term
Tryst
Definition
rendezvous; agreement between lovers to meet
Term
Tumid
Definition
swollen or distended
Term
Turbid
Definition
muddy or opaque; state of confusion
Term
Turgid
Definition
swollen or bloated; pompous
Term
Tutelary
Definition
serving as a guardian
Term
Undulating
Definition
moving in waves
Term
Untoward
Definition
unfavorable; troublesome; unruly
Term
Valedictory
Definition
pertaining to a farewell
Term
Vapid
Definition
tasteless or dull
Term
Vaunt
Definition
to boast or brag
Term
Venal
Definition
bribable; mercenary; corruptible
Term
Veracious
Definition
truthful or accurate
Term
Visage
Definition
countenance or appearance
Term
Vitiate
Definition
to impair the quality of something or make inoperative; to corrupt morally
Term
Vituperative
Definition
using harsh, abusive censure
Term
Volubility
Definition
talkative
("voluble spokesman")
Term
Welter
Definition
to wallow or roll; to be in turmoil
Term
Whet
Definition
to stimulate; to sharpen
Term
Wistful
Definition
vaguely longing; sadly thoughtful
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