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GRE Vocab
some vocab for studying for the GRE
244
Other
Undergraduate 3
07/14/2010

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Term
abet
Definition
to encourage or help to do something wrong, especially a crime; "aiding and abetting"
Term
abject
Definition
extremely bad, unpleasant, degrading; abject poverty
Term
ablution
Definition
the act of washing oneself (ceremonial)
Term
abrogate
Definition
repeal or do away with a law, right or formal agreement
Term
abscission
Definition
an act of cutting off
Term
abstruse
Definition
difficult to understand; obscure
Term
acarpous
Definition
no longer fertile, worn out
Term
accolade
Definition
an expression of praise
Term
acrophobia
Definition
fear of heights
Term
actuarial
Definition
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
Term
acumen
Definition

  • quick, keen, or accurate knowledge or insight[Princeton Review]
  • ability to understand and judge things quickly and clearly; shrewdness[Barron]
  • mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well

Term
adjure
Definition

  • to charge, bind, or command earnestly and solemnly, often under oath or the threat of penalty[Webster]
  • entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly

Term
adjutant
Definition

  • army officer responsible for administrative work in a battalion[Barron]
  • staff officer assisting the commander; assistant

Term
adventitious
Definition

  • not planned; accidental[Barron]
  • accidental; casual

Term
affable
Definition
polite and friendly
Term
agglomeration
Definition
collection; heap
Term
aggrandize
Definition

  • to increase in intensity, power or prestige[Princeton Review]
  • to make appear great or greater; praise highly[Barron]
  • make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor

Term
alluvial
Definition

  • made of sand, earth, etc left by rivers or floods, esp in a delta[Barron]
  • pertaining to soil deposits left by rivers, etc.

Term
ambrosial
Definition
fragrant or delicious
Term
amortize
Definition
end (a debt) by setting aside money
Term
anachronism
Definition

  • something or someone out of place in terms of its historical or chronological context[Princeton Review]
  • mistake of placing sth in the wrong historical period[Barron]
  • an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time

Term
analgesia
Definition

  • loss of ability to feel pain while still conscious[Barron]
  • condition of being unable to feel pain

Term
anathema
Definition

  • detested person or thing[Barron]
  • the denunciation of something as accursed[Taisha]
  • solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse

Term
anhydrous
Definition
free from water and especially water of crystallization
Term
anneal
Definition

  • make tough by cooling slowly after heating[Barron]
  • reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)

Term
austere
Definition

  • without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic[Princeton Review]
  • severely and strictly moral; having no pleasures or comforts[Barron]
  • markedly simple or unadorned[Taisha]
  • severely moral and strict; simple and plain

Term
conciliatory
Definition
soothing, comforting; mollifying
Term
conclave
Definition
private meeting
Term
concomitant
Definition
existing or occurring with something else, often in a lesser way
Term
concordat
Definition
agreement
Term
condign
Definition
well-deserved; fitting; adequate
Term
consort
Definition
a husband or wife; spouse
Term
consternation
Definition
a sudden, alarming amazement or dread that results in utter confusion; dismay
Term
constituency
Definition
body of voters living in a district having its own elected representative in parliament
Term
constituent
Definition
forming or helping to make a whole
Term
constrain
Definition
to force, compel or oblige
Term
constringe
Definition
to constrict, compress; cause to contract
Term
contemn
Definition
to scorn or despise
Term
churlish
Definition
marked by a lack of civility or graciousness; surly
Term
circumlocution
Definition
the use of more words than necessary to express an idea
Term
circumscribe
Definition
restrict within limits; confine
Term
circumspect
Definition
considering everything carefully before acting
Term
clandestine
Definition
done secretly; kept secret
Term
clavicle
Definition
collar bone
Term
clement
Definition
inclined to be merciful; lenient
Term
cloture
Definition
a device in parliament to end a debate by voting
Term
codicil
Definition
later addition to a will, esp. that changes part of it
Term
coeval
Definition
of the same period; coexisting
Term
cogent
Definition
convincing; strong
Term
cogitate
Definition
to think hard; ponder; meditate
Term
cognate
Definition
having the same origin; kindred
Term
collate
Definition
examine and compare in order to find the differences between them
Term
colloquy
Definition
conversation
Term
collude
Definition
conspire; plot
Term
colonnade
Definition
a series of columns set at regular intervals supporting a roof structure
Term
colossus
Definition
statue much larger than life size
Term
comity
Definition
friendly social atmosphere; social harmony
Term
commensurate
Definition
having the same measure; in the right proportion
Term
commiserate
Definition
to empathize with; pity
Term
commodius
Definition
having a lot of space available; roomy
Term
conciliate
Definition
to overcome the distrust or hostility of; placate; win over
Term
contend
Definition
to struggle in opposition; to strive in debate
Term
contention
Definition
competition
Term
contentious
Definition
argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
Term
continence
Definition
self-restraint or abstinence, esp. in regard to sexual activity; temperance
Term
contravene
Definition
to violate, infringe or transgress to contravene the law; to oppose in argument; contradict
Term
contrivance
Definition
device or tool, esp. one made by an individual for a particular purpose
Term
controvert
Definition
deny the truth; dispute; deny
Term
contumacious
Definition
stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient
Term
convalesce
Definition
to recover health and strength gradually after sickness or weakness
Term
conversant
Definition
having knowledge of; familiar with
Term
convivial
Definition
cheerful and sociable; fond of being with others
Term
convoke
Definition
call together to a meeting
Term
cornice
Definition
ornamental horizontal moldings or bands, as for concealing hooks or rods from which curtains are hung
Term
corollary
Definition
natural consequence or result
Term
corpus
Definition
a large or complete collection of writings
Term
corpuscle
Definition
red or white cells; any minute particle
Term
cosmopolitan
Definition
familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures
Term
cosset
Definition
 to treat as a pet; pamper
Term
coterie
Definition
an exclusive group; clique
Term
countermand
Definition
cancel an order given previously, esp. by giving a new or counter one
Term
countervail
Definition
to act against with equal force; counteract
Term
coup
Definition
surprising and successful action
Term
courier
Definition
a messenger bearing urgent news
Term
coven
Definition
an assembly of witches, esp. 13
Term
cozen
Definition
cheat, deceive or trick
Term
crabbed
Definition
small and difficult to read; sour; peevish; grouchy; ill-natured; irritable
Term
cravat
Definition
piece of linen worn as a necktie
Term
craven
Definition
cowardly
Term
credence
Definition
a claim of belief (give credence to)
Term
credulity
Definition
gullibility
Term
credulous
Definition
tending to believe too readily; gullible
Term
cull
Definition
to choose; pick
Term
curmudgeon
Definition
a bad-tempered, difficult, usually old man
Term
cursory
Definition
going rapidly over something, without noticing details; hasty; superficial
Term
curtail
Definition
adbridge; reduce; diminish
Term
cynosure
Definition
person or thing that attracts everybody's attention or admiration; center of attraction
Term
carping
Definition
tending to make petty complaints; fault-finding
Term
captious
Definition
fond of criticizing or raising questions about unimportant matters
Term
capacious
Definition
spacious
Term
canvass
Definition
to seek orders or votes; solicit
Term
censure
Definition
criticize severely
Term
centripetal
Definition
moving toward the center or axis
Term
centurion
Definition
officer commanding a unit of 100 soldiers
Term
cession
Definition
act of ceding land or rights
Term
chary
Definition
wary; cautious; shy
Term
chassis
Definition
framework on which the body and working parts of a vehicle, radio or television are built
Term
chevron
Definition
a sleeve badge with stripes that indicate the wearer's rank and service
Term
chiaroscuro
Definition
the interplay or contrast of dissimilar qualities
Term
chicanery
Definition
deception by artful subterfuge; trickery
Term
chimerical
Definition
unreal; fanciful; fantastic; highly imaginative
Term
choleric
Definition
easily angered; hot tempered
Term
churl
Definition
bad tempered person
Term
compendium
Definition
summary
Term
complicity
Definition
action of taking part with another person (in a crime or other wrongdoing); shared responsibility
Term
compunction
Definition
a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience; remorse
Term
concatenate
Definition
to link together in a series or chain
Term
bacchanal
Definition
an occasion of wild and drunken revelry
Term
bacchanalia
Definition
drunken revelry
Term
badinage
Definition
humorous or witty conversation
Term
balky
Definition
reluctant, uncooperative
Term
ballast
Definition
something that gives stability or substance
Term
baroque
Definition
relating to a style of European architecture, art, etc. of the 17th and 18th century
Term
barrister
Definition
attorney, minister
Term
bastion
Definition
a fortification jutting out of a building for protection
Term
bate
Definition
(birds) beat the wings to attempt an escape from the nest
Term
bathetic
Definition
an effect of anticlimax created from an unintentional lapse in mood from the sublime to the trivial
Term
bawdy
Definition
dealing with sexual matters in a comical way; indecent
Term
beatific
Definition
blissfully happy
Term
beatify
Definition
make someone blissfully happy
Term
bedizen
Definition
dressed up or decorated gaudily
Term
belabor
Definition
argue or elaborate a subject in excessive detail
Term
beleaguer
Definition
lay siege to
Term
belie
Definition
disguise or contradict; fail to fulfill or justify
Term
bellicose
Definition
demonstrating aggression or willingness to fight
Term
belligerence
Definition
aggressive or warlike behavior
Term
bellwether
Definition
the leading sheep of a flock, with a bell on its neck
Term
benediction
Definition
the utterance or bestowing of a blessing
Term
beneficent
Definition
generous or doing good
Term
benison
Definition
a blessing
Term
bereave
Definition
be deprived of a loved one through a profound absence
Term
beset
Definition
trouble or threaten persistently
Term
celerity
Definition
swiftness; speed
Term
cavil
Definition
to make unnecessary complaints
Term
caveat
Definition
a warning or caution; admonition
Term
categorical
Definition
without exceptions or conditions
Term
adulate
Definition
to flatter or admire excessively or slavishly
Term
adulation
Definition
excessive praise; intense adoration
Term
adumbrate
Definition
to suggest or disclose partially
Term
advent
Definition
arrival
Term
advert
Definition
to turn the attention; remark or comment
Term
aegis
Definition
the protection or support of someone, esp. a public institution
Term
affable
Definition
polite and friendly
Term
affected
Definition
pretended; artificial; not genuine
Term
aggregate
Definition
to collect or gather into a mass or whole; sum total
Term
agog
Definition
eager; excited
Term
alacrity
Definition
eager and enthusiastic willingness
Term
allay
Definition
alleviate; calm; pacify
Term
ameliorate
Definition
improve; make better or more tolerable
Term
amity
Definition
friendly relationship between people or countries
Term
amnesty
Definition
general pardon, esp. for offences against the state
Term
analgesic
Definition
substance that relieves pain
Term
anathematize
Definition
declare to be evil or detested
Term
ancillary
Definition
serving as an aid or accessory
Term
anemic
Definition
lacking force, vitality or spirit
Term
animadversion
Definition
criticism
Term
animus
Definition
animosity shown in speech or action; hostile feeling or intent
Term
annals
Definition
a record of events arranged by year
Term
annex
Definition
attach; add to a large thing; take possession of
Term
annuity
Definition
fixed sum of money paid to someone yearly, usually for the remaining part of his lifetime
Term
anodyne
Definition
something that soothes, calms or comforts; that can relieve pain
Term
anomalous
Definition
abnormal; irregular
Term
anomaly
Definition
deviation from the normal order
Term
apartheid
Definition
brutal racial discrimination
Term
apocrypha
Definition
writings or statements of dubious authenticity
Term
apocryphal
Definition
not genuine; sham
Term
apogee
Definition
highest point; the point farthest from the earth
Term
apologist
Definition
one who writes in defense of a cause or institution
Term
apophasis
Definition
allusion to something by denying that it will be mentioned
Term
apophthegm
Definition
a concise saying or maxim
Term
apostasy
Definition
renunciation of a religious faith
Term
apotheosis
Definition
making or becoming a god or saint; deification
Term
append
Definition
attach
Term
apposite
Definition
appropriate; fitting
Term
approbation
Definition
an expression of approval or praise
Term
appurtances
Definition
a secondary or less significant thing or part
Term
apropos
Definition
appropriate or relevant to what is being said or done
Term
aquiline
Definition
hooked or curved like an eagle's beak
Term
arabesque
Definition
an ornamental design, or flowing music
Term
arbiter
Definition
a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in the matter
Term
argot
Definition
the jargon or slang of a particular group or class
Term
arrears
Definition
money that is owed and should have been paid earlier
Term
arroyo
Definition
a steep sided gully cut by running water
Term
artful
Definition
clever or skillful or creative
Term
artifice
Definition
clever or cunning devices or expedients, used to trick or deceive others
Term
artless
Definition
without guile or deception
Term
ascendancy
Definition
occupation of a position of dominant power or influence
Term
a septic
Definition
free from contamination caused by bacteria, viruses or other sources
Term
asperity
Definition
harshness of tone or manner
Term
aspersion
Definition
an attack on the reputation of someone or something
Term
aspirant
Definition
a person having ambitions to achieve something
Term
assay
Definition
determine the content or quality of something
Term
assiduous
Definition
showing great care and perseverance
Term
atavism
Definition
relating to reversion to something ancient or ancestral
Term
athwart
Definition
in opposition to; counter to
Term
attenuate
Definition
reduce the force, effect or value of something
Term
attune
Definition
make receptive or aware
Term
augur
Definition
predict a good or bad outcome
Term
augury
Definition
a sign of what will happen in the future
Term
august
Definition
respected and impressive
Term
aureole
Definition
a circle of light or brightness surrounding something
Term
auspice
Definition
a divine or prophetic token
Term
auspicious
Definition
conducive to success; reasonable
Term
auxiliary
Definition
providing supplementary or additional help and support
Term
avant-garde
Definition
new and unusual or experimental ideas
Term
aver
Definition
state or assent to be the case
Term
avocation
Definition
a hobby or minor occupation
Term
avulse
Definition
the action of pulling or tearing away
Term
avuncular
Definition
kind and friendly toward a young or inexperienced person
Term
awl
Definition
a small pointed tool for piercing holes
Term
axiom
Definition
a statement or proposition that is regarded as being established, accepted or self-evidently true
Term
abeyance
Definition
temporary inactivity; suspension
Term
abjure
Definition
to renounce upon oath; promise or swear to give up
Term
abnegate
Definition
surrender; relinquish
Term
abominate
Definition
detest; loathe; hate
Term
abortive
Definition
unsuccessful; fruitless
Term
aboveboard
Definition
legitimate, honest and open
Term
abstemious
Definition
not self-indulgent; moderate; temperate
Term
abut
Definition
have a common boundary or side with something
Term
accouter
Definition
to equip or outfit, esp. with military clothes, equipment, etc.
Term
accouterment
Definition
personal clothing, accessories, or equipment
Term
accrete
Definition
accumulate
Term
accretion
Definition
growth or increase by means of gradual additions
Term
acerbic
Definition
having sour or bitter taste or character
Term
acetic
Definition
vinegary
Term
acidulous
Definition
slightly sour; sharp; caustic
Term
acrid
Definition
sharp; bitterly pungent
Term
acrimonious
Definition
bitter; stinging; caustic
Term
actuary
Definition
expert who calculates insurance risks and premiums
Term
actuate
Definition
motivate; activate; cause to act
Term
adipose
Definition
fatty; consisting of, resembling or relating to fat
Term
adjunct
Definition
thing that is added or attached to something else but is less important and not essential
Term
adjuration
Definition
solemn urging
Term
adjutant
Definition
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
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