| Term 
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        | noun; a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form. |  | 
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        | Term 
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        | verb (used with object), -suaged, -suag·ing. 1.
 to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate: to assuage one's grief; to assuage one's pain.
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        | Term 
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        | noun, plural -mas, -ma·ta  [-muh-tuh] Show IPA. 1.
 a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation: His disappearance is an enigma that has given rise to much speculation.
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        | adjective 1.
 allowing the possibility of several different meanings, as a word or phrase, especially with intent to deceive or misguide; susceptible of double interpretation; deliberately ambiguous: an equivocal answer.
 2.
 of doubtful nature or character; questionable; dubious; suspicious: aliens of equivocal loyalty.
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        | Term 
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        | adjective characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly: an erudite professor; an erudite commentary.
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        | adjective 1.
 heated or vehement in spirit, enthusiasm, etc.: a fervid orator.
 2.
 burning; glowing; intensely hot.
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        | adjective 1.
 easily understood; completely intelligible or comprehensible: a lucid explanation.
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        | adjective 1.
 not transparent or translucent; impenetrable to light; not allowing light to pass through.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | verb (used with object), -cat·ed, -cat·ing. to appease or pacify, especially by concessions or conciliatory gestures: to placate an outraged citizenry.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | verb (used with object) 1.
 to hasten the occurrence of; bring about prematurely, hastily, or suddenly: to precipitate an international crisis.
 2.
 to cast down headlong; fling or hurl down.
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        | Term 
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        | adjective 1.
 wastefully or recklessly extravagant: prodigal expenditure.
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        | noun fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.
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 | Definition 
 
        | verb (used without object) 1.
 to hold oneself back voluntarily, especially from something regarded as improper or unhealthy (usually followed by from ): to abstain from eating meat.
 2.
 to refrain from casting one's vote: a referendum in which two delegates abstained.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | verb (used with object) 1.
 to debase or make impure by adding inferior materials or elements; use cheaper, inferior, or less desirable goods in the production of (any professedly genuine article): to adulterate food.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | noun, plural -thies. 1.
 absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.
 2.
 lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | adjective 1.
 extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless: an audacious explorer.
 2.
 extremely original; without restriction to prior ideas; highly inventive: an audacious vision of the city's bright future.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | adjective 1.
 subject to, led by, or indicative of caprice  or whim; erratic: He's such a capricious boss I never know how he'll react.
 2.
 Obsolete . fanciful or witty.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | verb (used with object) 1.
 to make more certain; confirm: He corroborated my account of the accident.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | verb (used with object) 1.
 to dry thoroughly; dry up.
 2.
 to preserve (food) by removing moisture; dehydrate.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | verb (used with object) 1.
 to produce, cause, or give rise to: Hatred engenders violence.
 2.
 to beget; procreate.
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        | Term 
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        | adjective 1.
 lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory: the ephemeral joys of childhood.
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        | adjective easily deceived or cheated.
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        | adjective 1.
 Biology . corresponding in structure because of a common origin.
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        | adjective using few words; expressing much in few words; concise: a laconic reply.
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        | adjective 1.
 deserving praise; praiseworthy; commendable: Reorganizing the files was a laudable idea.
 2.
 Medicine/Medical Obsolete . healthy; wholesome; not noxious.
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        | adjective 1.
 talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous: a loquacious dinner guest.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | verb (used with object) 1.
 to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate.
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        | noun 1.
 a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning.
 2.
 a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.
 3.
 a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | adjective Also, prag·mat·i·cal ( for defs. 1, 2, 5 ) . 1.
 of or pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations.
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        | Term 
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        | noun, plural -ties. 1.
 conformity to established standards of good or proper behavior or manners.
 2.
 appropriateness to the purpose or circumstances; suitability.
 3.
 rightness or justness.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | verb (used without object), -lat·ed, -lat·ing. 1.
 to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute: His tendency to vacillate makes him a poor leader.
 2.
 to sway unsteadily; waver; totter; stagger.
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        | Term 
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        | adjective 1.
 evaporating rapidly; passing off readily in the form of vapor: Acetone is a volatile solvent.
 2.
 tending or threatening to break out into open violence; explosive: a volatile political situation.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | noun 1.
 a very great or indefinitely great number of persons or things.
 2.
 ten thousand.
 adjective
 3.
 of an indefinitely great number; innumerable: the myriad stars of a summer night.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | adjective 1.
 ( sometimes initial capital letter ) resembling or befitting Don Quixote.
 2.
 extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.
 3.
 impulsive and often rashly unpredictable.
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        | noun 1.
 ridicule; mockery: The inept performance elicited derision from the audience.
 2.
 an object of ridicule.
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        | noun 1.
 the act of provoking.
 2.
 something that incites, instigates, angers, or irritates.
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        | noun, plural -nies. 1.
 a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something: The speech was considered a calumny of the administration.
 2.
 the act of uttering calumnies; slander; defamation.
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        | noun 1.
 the act of commending;  recommendation; praise: commendation for a job well done.
 2.
 something that commends,  as a formal recommendation or an official citation or award: a commendation for bravery.
 3.
 Feudal Law . the placing of oneself or one's land under the protection of a lord so as to become his vassal.
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        | noun 1.
 a change or variation occurring in the course of something.
 2.
 interchange or alternation, as of states or things.
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        | Term 
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        | adjective 1.
 prominent or conspicuous: salient traits.
 2.
 projecting or pointing outward: a salient angle.
 3.
 leaping or jumping: a salient animal.
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 | Definition 
 
        | adjective favorable to or promoting health; healthful: salubrious air.
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        | adjective 1.
 conveying or expressing opprobrium,  as language or a speaker: opprobrious invectives.
 2.
 outrageously disgraceful or shameful: opprobrious conduct.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | adjective Also, en·dem·i·cal. 1.
 natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous: endemic folkways; countries where high unemployment is endemic.
 2.
 belonging exclusively or confined to a particular place: a fever endemic to the tropics.
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        | noun 1.
 an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack: There is a dearth of good engineers.
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        | adjective 1.
 expressed in few words; concise; terse.
 2.
 characterized by conciseness or verbal brevity.
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        | Term 
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        | adjective moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance: a petulant toss of the head.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | adjective 1.
 changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic: a mercurial nature.
 2.
 animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | adjective 1.
 bending readily; flexible; supple; adaptable: She manipulated the pliant clay.
 2.
 easily influenced; yielding to others; compliant: He has a pliant nature.
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        | Term 
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        | adjective 1.
 lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory: the ephemeral joys of childhood.
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        | Term 
 | Definition 
 
        | ar·ro·gate [ar-uh-geyt] Show IPA
 verb (used with object), -gat·ed, -gat·ing.
 1.
 to claim unwarrantably or presumptuously; assume or appropriate to oneself without right: to arrogate the right to make decisions.
 2.
 to attribute or assign to another; ascribe.
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        | verb (used with object) to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid: to eschew evil.
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        | verb (used with object), -bued, -bu·ing. 1.
 to impregnate or inspire, as with feelings, opinions, etc.: The new political leader was imbued with the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
 2.
 to saturate or impregnate with moisture, color, etc.
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        | Term 
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        | noun 1.
 high spirits; exhilaration; exuberance.
 2.
 a boiling over; overflow.
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        | Term 
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        | noun, plural -di·ums, -di·a  [-dee-uh] Show IPA. 1.
 a brief treatment or account of a subject, especially an extensive subject; concise treatise: a compendium of medicine.
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        | Term 
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        | adjective going rapidly over something, without noticing details; hasty; superficial: a cursory glance at a newspaper article.
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        | Term 
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        | adjective ters·er, ters·est. 1.
 neatly or effectively concise; brief and pithy, as language.
 2.
 abruptly concise; curt; brusque.
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        | Term 
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        | verb (used without object) to depart in a sudden and secret manner, especially to avoid capture and legal prosecution: The cashier absconded with the money.
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        | to increase in power, influence, and reputation |  | 
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        | something out of place in time |  | 
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        | to judge a dispute between two opposing parties |  | 
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        | intense and passionate feeling |  | 
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        | to reduce in force or degree; to weaken |  | 
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        | severe or stern in appearance; undecorated |  | 
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        | predictable, cliched, boring |  | 
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        | to punish or criticize harshly |  | 
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        | deception by means of craft or guile |  | 
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        | convincing and well reasoned. |  | 
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        | to overlook, pardon, or disregard |  | 
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        | appropriateness of behavior or conduct;propriety |  | 
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        | jumping from one thing to another; disconnected |  | 
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        | an abusive, condemnatory speech |  | 
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        | someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic |  | 
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        | a funeral hymm or mournful speech |  | 
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        | Fundamentally different; entirely unlike |  | 
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        | to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character |  | 
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        | a harsh and disagreeable combination, of ten of sounds |  | 
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        | a sorrowful poem or speech |  | 
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        | to count, list, or itemize |  | 
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        | to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead |  | 
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        | known or understood by only a few |  | 
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        | to clear from blame; prove innocent |  | 
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        | urgent; requiring immediate action |  | 
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        | excessively decorated or embellished |  | 
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        | one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions |  | 
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        | impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected |  | 
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        | quick to act without thinking |  | 
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        | unable to be clmed down or made peaceful |  | 
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        | not fully formed; disorganized |  | 
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        | lacking interest or flavor |  | 
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        | uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled |  | 
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        | to overwhelm; to cover with water |  | 
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        | to express sorrow; to grieve |  | 
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        | to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill |  | 
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        | a person who dislikes others |  | 
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        | to calm or make less severe |  | 
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        | hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion |  | 
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        | Overly submissive and eager to please |  | 
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        | to prevent; to make unnecessary |  | 
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        | to stop up, to prevent the passage of |  | 
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        | troublesome and oppressive; burdensome |  | 
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        | model of excellence or perfection |  | 
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        | willing to betray one's trust |  | 
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        | done in a routine way; indifferent |  | 
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        | to lie or deviate from the truth |  | 
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        | to make thinner or sparser |  | 
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        | to satisfy fully or overindulge |  | 
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        | causing sleep or lethargy |  | 
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        | deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious |  | 
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        | unemotional; lacking sensitivity |  | 
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        | extreme mental and physical sluggishness |  | 
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        | temporary, lasting a brief time |  | 
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        | to sway physically; to be indecisive |  | 
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        | filled with truth and accuracy |  | 
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