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GRE Vocabulary 4
Shay
72
Other
Post-Graduate
10/20/2008

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Cards

Term
acerbic (adj)
Definition
having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting
Term
aggrandize (v)
Definition
to increase in intensity, power, influence or prestige
Term
alchemy (n)
Definition
a medieval science aimed as the transmutation of metals, esp. base metals into gold (an alchemist is one who practices alchemy)
Term
amenable (adj)
Definition
agreeable; responsive to suggestion
Term
anachronism (n)
Definition
something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
Term
astringent (adj/n)
Definition
having a tightening effect on tissue; harsh; severe; something with a tightening effect on tissue
Term
contiguous (adj)
Definition
sharing a border; touching; adjacent
Term
convention (n)
Definition
a generally agreed-upon practice or attitude
Term
credulous (adj)
Definition
tending to believe too readily; gullible (noun form: credulity)
Term
cynicism (n)
Definition
an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness (adj. form: cynical)
Term
decorum (n)
Definition
polite or appropriate conduct or behavior (adj. form: decorous)
Term
derision (n)
Definition
scorn, ridicule, comtemptuous treatment (adj. form: derisive; verb form: deride)
Term
desiccate (v)
Definition
to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
Term
dilettante (n)
Definition
one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
Term
disparage (v)
Definition
to slight or belittle
Term
divulge (v)
Definition
to disclose something secret
Term
fawn (v)
Definition
to flatter or praise excessively
Term
flout (v)
Definition
to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention
Term
garrulous (adj)
Definition
pointlessly talkative, talking too much
Term
glib (adj)
Definition
marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
Term
hubris (n)
Definition
overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
Term
imminent (adj)
Definition
about to happen; impending
Term
immutable (adj)
Definition
not capable of change
Term
impetuous (adj)
Definition
hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
Term
indifferent (adj)
Definition
having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice
Term
inimical (adj)
Definition
damaging; harmful; injurious
Term
intractable (adj)
Definition
not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate
Term
intrepid (adj)
Definition
steadfast and courageous
Term
laconic (adj)
Definition
using few words; terse
Term
maverick (n)
Definition
an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
Term
mercurial (adj)
Definition
characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
Term
mollify (v)
Definition
to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity
Term
neophyte (n)
Definition
a recent convert; a beginner; novice
Term
obfuscate (v)
Definition
to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
Term
obstinate (adj)
Definition
stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising
Term
ostentatious (adj)
Definition
characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy
Term
pervade (v)
Definition
to permeate throughout (adj. form: pervasive)
Term
phlegmatic (adj)
Definition
calm; sluggish; unemotional
Term
plethora (n)
Definition
an overabundance; a surplus
Term
pragmatic (adj)
Definition
practical rather than idealistic
Term
presumptuous (adj)
Definition
overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
Term
pristine (adj)
Definition
pure; uncorrupted; clean
Term
probity (n)
Definition
adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
Term
proclivity (n)
Definition
a natural predisposition or inclination
Term
profligate (adj)
Definition
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant (noun form: profligacy)
Term
propensity (n)
Definition
a natural inclination or tendency, penchant
Term
prosaic (adj)
Definition
dull; lacking in sprit or imagination
Term
pungent (adj)
Definition
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
Term
quixotic (adj)
Definition
foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
Term
quotidian (adj)
Definition
occuring or recurring daily; commonplace
Term
rarefy (v)
Definition
to make or become thin, less dense; to refine
Term
recondite (adj)
Definition
hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
Term
refulgent (adj)
Definition
radiant; shiny; brilliant
Term
renege (v)
Definition
to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
Term
sedulous (adj)
Definition
diligent; persistent; hard-working
Term
shard (n)
Definition
a piece of broken pottery or glass
Term
soporific (adj)
Definition
causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
Term
sparse (adj)
Definition
thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals
Term
spendthrift (n)
Definition
one who spends money wastefully
Term
subtle (adj)
Definition
not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
Term
tacit (adj)
Definition
implied; not explicitly stated
Term
terse (adj)
Definition
brief and concise in wording
Term
tout (v)
Definition
to publicly praise or promote
Term
trenchant (adj)
Definition
sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating
Term
unfeigned (adj)
Definition
genuine; not false or hypocritical
Term
untenable (adj)
Definition
indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable
Term
vacillate (v)
Definition
to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another; waver
Term
variegated (adj)
Definition
multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color
Term
vexation (n)
Definition
annoyance; irritation (verb form: vex)
Term
vigilant (adj)
Definition
alertly watchful (noun form: vigilance)
Term
vituperate (v)
Definition
to use harsh, condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; berate
Term
volatile (adj)
Definition
readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive (noun form: volatility)
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