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GRE Barron List 4
2nd
224
English
Graduate
11/03/2010

Additional English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
s varnish
Definition
paint used to coat a surface with a glossy film; glossy coating produced by using this substance; Ex. nail varnish; V.
Term
n patois
Definition
local or provincial dialect
Term
n patrician
Definition
noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian
Term
patronize
Definition
support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending manner; be a customer of; N. patron: one that supports; regular customer; N. patronage; CF. boycott
Term
pauper
Definition
very poor person
Term
pecuniary
Definition
pertaining to money
Term
pedagogue
Definition
teacher; CF. child leader
Term
s precinct
Definition
division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college
Term
n pell-mell
Definition
in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell
Term
n penchant
Definition
strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars
Term
pendant(pendent)
Definition
hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)
Term
n pendulous
Definition
hanging; suspended
Term
s suspense
Definition
state of being undecided; anxiety or apprehension resulting from uncertainty
Term
penitent
Definition
repentant /contrite ; N.
Term
n pensive
Definition
dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think over
Term
n penumbra
Definition
partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow
Term
n peon
Definition
landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage
Term
n percussion
Definition
striking one object against another sharply; Ex. percussion instrument; N: striking together of two bodies; sound caused by percussion
Term
n perdition
Definition
damnation; complete ruin; hell
Term
peregrination
Definition
journey; V. peregrinate
Term
perfidious
Definition
treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery
Term
perigee
Definition
point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee
Term
n peripatetic
Definition
walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy
Term
perjury
Definition
false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath
Term
n peroration
Definition
conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great length
Term
n perpetrate
Definition
commit an offense; do (something wrong)
Term
n perquisite(perk)
Definition
any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals and a car
Term
n personable
Definition
attractive (in personality or appearance)
Term
perspicuity
Definition
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
Term
perspicuous
Definition
(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments
Term
n pert
Definition
(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat
Term
pertinacious
Definition
holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent
Term
n peruse
Definition
read through with care; N. perusal
Term
n perverse
Definition
purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction; Ex. Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood; N. perversity
Term
perversion
Definition
corruption; turning from right to wrong
Term
s wrongheaded
Definition
stubbornly wrong
Term
n pestilential(pestilent)
Definition
causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)
Term
n pestle & mortar
Definition
tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar
Term
s mortar & pestle
Definition
vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle
Term
n petrify
Definition
turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or paralyze
Term
petty
Definition
trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded; petty-minded
Term
n petulant
Definition
touchy; peevish; ill-tempered
Term
s phalanx
Definition
formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)
Term
n pharisaical
Definition
pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical
Term
s pharisee
Definition
Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group that emphasized strict observance of the Mosaic law (considering themselves very holy); hypocritical self-righteous person
Term
philanderer
Definition
faithless lover; flirt
Term
n philatelist
Definition
stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
Term
n philistine
Definition
narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete
Term
n philology
Definition
study of language or words
Term
n phylum
Definition
major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division
Term
n physiognomy
Definition
face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features
Term
n piebald
Definition
of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald
Term
n piecemeal
Definition
one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read a novel piecemeal
Term
pillage
Definition
plunder
Term
pillory
Definition
punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
Term
n pine
Definition
long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline
Term
pinnacle
Definition
peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
Term
n piscatorial
Definition
pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces
Term
pitfall
Definition
hidden danger; concealed trap
Term
n pith
Definition
core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance
Term
s marrow
Definition
soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and is the source of blood cells
Term
n pittance
Definition
small amount (of money); small allowance or wage
Term
pivotal
Definition
of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
Term
n plaintive
Definition
expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song
Term
n plait
Definition
braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair o fabric; CF. pigtail, ponytail
Term
platonic
Definition
purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire
Term
n plebeian
Definition
common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician
Term
s plebiscite
Definition
direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)
Term
s referendum
Definition
direct vote by all the people
Term
n plenary
Definition
(of power) complete; full; fully attended by all qualified members; Ex. plenary power
Term
plight
Definition
difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition); predicament
Term
n plumage
Definition
feathers of a bird;
Term
plutocracy
Definition
society ruled by the wealthy
Term
podiatrist
Definition
doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist; N. podiatrics
Term
s pedestal
Definition
support or base as for a pillar or statue
Term
n poignancy
Definition
quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion; ADJ. poignant: touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow, grief, etc.) painful; keenly distressing to the mind; Ex. poignant memory/anxiety; CF. prick
Term
n polemic
Definition
attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or refutation; argument in support of point of view; N. polemics: art of debate or controversy
Term
polity
Definition
(particular form of) political organization; form of government of nation or state; Ex. student polity
Term
polygamist
Definition
one who has more than one spouse at a time; CF. bigamy; CF. polyandry
Term
polyglot
Definition
speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society; N.
Term
n pontifical
Definition
pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious; CF. pontiff: pope; bishop
Term
n pore
Definition
study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.
Term
porous
Definition
full of pores; like a sieve
Term
s interstice
Definition
narrow space between things
Term
portend
Definition
foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen; forewarning
Term
s soothsayer
Definition
one who foretells the future
Term
n portly
Definition
stout; corpulent
Term
s stout
Definition
rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter
Term
n poseur
Definition
person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others; person who poses; CF. pose
Term
n posterity
Definition
descendants; future generations; Ex. go down to posterity; CF. posterior, anterior
Term
n posthumous
Definition
after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death); coming or occurring after one's death; Ex. posthumous fame/novel
Term
s postmortem
Definition
autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a postmortem
Term
n postulate
Definition
self-evident truth; something assumed without proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an argument)
Term
n potable
Definition
suitable for drinking; drinkable
Term
potent
Definition
powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential
Term
n potentate
Definition
monarch; sovereign
Term
n potpourri
Definition
heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)
Term
n poultice
Definition
soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body
Term
s prance
Definition
move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)
Term
n prate
Definition
talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly
Term
n prattle
Definition
talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate
Term
n precarious
Definition
unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky; Ex. precarious living
Term
precept
Definition
practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept
Term
precipice
Definition
cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the precipice
Term
s brink
Definition
edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon
Term
precipitant
Definition
something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form; ħÀüÁ¦; OP. solvent
Term
precipitate
Definition
hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash; premature; sudden
Term
precipitous
Definition
steep; overhasty; precipitate
Term
n precis
Definition
abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise summary of a text
Term
preclude
Definition
make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
Term
precocious
Definition
advanced in development; N. precocity
Term
precursor
Definition
forerunner; predecessor
Term
n predilection
Definition
preference; partiality
Term
n predispose
Definition
give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition
Term
n preempt
Definition
prevent in advance; head off(forestall); forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself before others; supplant; take the place of; displace; Ex. preempt any attempts; ADJ. preemptive
Term
n preen
Definition
make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak; Ex. preen oneself on; CF. prune
Term
prefatory
Definition
introductory; of a preface
Term
n prehensile
Definition
capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping around); Ex. prehensile tails
Term
n prelate
Definition
church dignitary; priest of high position in the church (esp. bishop)
Term
premeditate
Definition
plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder
Term
premonition
Definition
forewarning; presentiment; foreboding
Term
premonitory
Definition
serving to warn
Term
preponderance
Definition
superiority of power, quantity, etc.; V. preponderate: be greater in power, weight, or importance; ADJ. preponderant
Term
preposterous
Definition
absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous
Term
prerogative NOT
Definition
privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before
Term
presentiment
Definition
premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear
Term
prestige
Definition
respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige
Term
n presumptuous
Definition
going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking liberties
Term
s presume
Definition
take for granted; assume; act overconfidently; take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair advantage of (someone's kindness or connection); N. presumption
Term
s pretension
Definition
pretentiousness; claim (without foundation); Ex. I make no pretensions to skill as an artist.
Term
n preternatural
Definition
beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural strength/forces
Term
pretext
Definition
excuse
Term
n prevaricate
Definition
lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)
Term
n prim
Definition
proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper
Term
n primogeniture
Definition
seniority by birth; state of being the first-born child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the entire property of one or both parents)
Term
primordial
Definition
existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
Term
n pristine
Definition
unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic of earlier times; primitive; Ex. an old book in pristine condition
Term
n privation
Definition
lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want; CF. deprive
Term
n privy
Definition
secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret; Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; CF. private
Term
probity
Definition
uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility
Term
s defalcate
Definition
embezzle
Term
procurement
Definition
obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for another
Term
prodigal
Definition
wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality
Term
prodigious
Definition
enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory
Term
prodigy
Definition
highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents; marvel; wonder
Term
profane
Definition
violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily; be profane for; ADJ: secular; nonreligious; irreverent for holy things
Term
n profligate
Definition
wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy
Term
profusion
Definition
great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant
Term
progenitor
Definition
ancestor
Term
n progeny
Definition
children; offspring; descendants
Term
prognosis
Definition
forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic
Term
prognosticate
Definition
predict (according to present indications)
Term
proletarian
Definition
member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)
Term
n prolixity
Definition
tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse
Term
s feud
Definition
bitter prolonged quarrel (usually between two peoples or families); V. CF. Romeo and Juliet; CF. feudal, feudalism
Term
n promiscuous
Definition
mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular, particularly sexually; Ex. promiscuous life/girl; N. promiscuity
Term
promontory
Definition
headland
Term
n promulgate
Definition
announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication
Term
propagate
Definition
increase in number by producing young; multiply; spread; Ex. Most plants propagate by seed; Ex. newspaper propagating their ideas
Term
propensity
Definition
natural inclination
Term
prophylactic
Definition
used to prevent disease; N: something prophylactic; condom; N. prophylaxis: prevention of disease
Term
n propinquity
Definition
nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship
Term
n propitiate
Definition
appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory
Term
n propitious
Definition
favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign
Term
propound
Definition
put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a problem/theory
Term
propriety
Definition
fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary
Term
propulsive
Definition
driving forward; N. propulsion
Term
n proscenium
Definition
part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage
Term
proscribe
Definition
prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
Term
n proselytize
Definition
(induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or religion
Term
n prosody
Definition
art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse
Term
s metrical
Definition
metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical translation of Homer
Term
s meter
Definition
arrangement of words in the form of poetry (by accentual rhythm)
Term
prostrate
Definition
stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate; Ex. prostrating illness; ADJ: lying face down; having lost all strength
Term
n protean
Definition
able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will
Term
protege
Definition
person receiving protection and support from a patron
Term
prototype
Definition
original work used as a model by others
Term
protract
Definition
prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
Term
n provenance
Definition
place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; CF. come
Term
n provender
Definition
dry food for livestock; fodder
Term
provident NOT provinsical NOT provisional NOT providence
Definition
providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident
Term
s providence
Definition
quality of being provident; divine care; god's care; Providence: god; Ex. It seemed like providence that the doctor happened to be there; ADJ. providential: of divine providence; fortunate
Term
provincial
Definition
pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated
Term
provisional
Definition
tentative; temporary
Term
proviso
Definition
stipulation(contract); condition in an agreement; provision
Term
n prowess
Definition
extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle
Term
proxy
Definition
authorized agent; authority to act for another
Term
n prude
Definition
excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N. prudery; ADJ. prudish: excessively concerned with propriety
Term
n prurient
Definition
having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate sexual desire
Term
n pry
Definition
inquire impertinently (someone else's private affairs); use leverage to raise or open something; prize; N. pries: tool for prying
Term
psychosis
Definition
mental disorder; ADJ. N. psychotic
Term
s psychosomatic
Definition
of the influence of the mind on the body (esp. with respect to disease)
Term
n pterodactyl
Definition
extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger
Term
n puerile
Definition
childish; immature; CF. puer: boy
Term
n puissant
Definition
powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power
Term
n pulmonary
Definition
pertaining to the lungs
Term
n pulsate
Definition
throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly
Term
pulverize
Definition
crush or grind into very small particles
Term
n pummel
Definition
pommel; beat or pound with fists
Term
punctilious
Definition
minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio, punctiliousness: careful attention payed to every small exact detail
Term
n punitive
Definition
punishing; Ex. punitive measures
Term
purgatory
Definition
place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or place in which the souls must expiate their sins
Term
purge
Definition
remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp. of sin, guilt, or defilement); N.
Term
purport
Definition
intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess; Ex. order which purports to be signed by the general
Term
purported
Definition
alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex. purported Satanists
Term
s rabble
Definition
mob; noisy crowd
Term
n purse
Definition
pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet
Term
n purveyor
Definition
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; CF. provide
Term
n putative
Definition
supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of the child
Term
s putrescent
Definition
becoming putrid; putrefying
Term
s gangrene
Definition
decay of body tissue caused by insufficient blood supply (usually following injury); ADJ. gangrenous
Term
pyromaniac
Definition
person with an insane desire to set things on fire
Term
n quaff
Definition
drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment); ²Ü²©²Ü²© ¸¶½Ã´Ù; CF. sip
Term
s bog
Definition
soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud
Term
n quail
Definition
cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart
Term
quaint
Definition
odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; old-fashioned; picturesque
Term
qualified
Definition
limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning of; modify
Term
n qualms
Definition
uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears especially about matters of conscience; Ex. I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen.
Term
n quarantine
Definition
isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection; V: isolate in quarantine
Term
n quarry
Definition
person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey
Term
n quarry
Definition
dig into (to get stone); N: mine; ä¼®Àå
Term
s bank
Definition
heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning
Term
n quash
Definition
crush; suppress; squash; subdue; annul; Ex. quash a rebellion/the decision of the low court
Term
quay
Definition
dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)
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