Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible:
ineffable joy.
2.
not to be spoken because of its sacredness; unutterable:
the ineffable name of the deity. |
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Term
|
Definition
adjective 1. of or characterized by solipsism, or the theory that only the self exists, or can be proved to exist: Her treatment philosophy dealt with madness as a complete, self-contained, solipsistic world that sane people are not able to enter.
His relationship to the idea of an animal was solipsistic in nature. |
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Term
|
Definition
3rd person present: presumes
-
1.
suppose that something is the case on the basis of probability.
"I presumed that the man had been escorted from the building"
-
-
be audacious enough to do something.
"kindly don't presume to issue me orders in my own house"
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Term
|
Definition
adjective, Also, plum. 2. true according to a plumb line perpendicular. 3. Informal. downright or absolute.
A dropped anchor created a plumb line. |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
having or showing great knowledge or learning. |
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Term
|
Definition
informal make a recording of.
to increase the supply of. |
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Term
|
Definition
(of a system or situation) excessively complicated, typically involving a great deal of administrative detail.
"Byzantine insurance regulations" |
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.
"an irascible man" |
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Term
|
Definition
verbformal disembowel (a person or animal).
"the goat had been skinned and neatly eviscerated"
synonyms: disembowel, gut, draw, dress "the goat had been skinned and eviscerated" deprive (something) of its essential content.
"myriad little concessions that would eviscerate the project"
The easiest way to eliminate Isis would be to eviscerate them from the inside out. |
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Term
|
Definition
verb
past tense: emended; past participle: emended
make corrections and improvements to (a text).
synonyms: correct, rectify, repair, fix; More
alter (something) in such a way as to correct it.
"the year of his death might need to be emended to 652" |
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
characterized by or given to extreme optimism, especially in the face of unrelieved hardship or adversity.
The sort of thing demonstrated by Voltaires Candid |
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
(especially of humor) having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting.
"a mordant sense of humor" |
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.
"a caustic cleaner"
synonyms: corrosive, corroding, abrasive, mordant, acid
"a caustic cleaner"
2.
sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way.
"the players were making caustic comments about the refereeing"
synonyms: sarcastic, cutting, biting, mordant, sharp, bitter, scathing, derisive, sardonic, ironic, scornful, trenchant, acerbic, abrasive, vitriolic, acidulous
"a caustic comment" |
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Term
|
Definition
verb
gerund or present participle: smoldering
burn slowly with smoke but no flame.
"the bonfire still smoldered, the smoke drifting over the paddock"
synonyms: smoke, glow, burn
"the bonfire still smoldered"
show or feel barely suppressed anger, hatred, or another powerful emotion.
"Anna smoldered with indignation"
synonyms: seethe, boil, fume, burn, simmer, be boiling over, be beside oneself; informalbe livid
"she was smoldering with resentment"
exist in a suppressed or concealed state.
"the controversy smoldered on for several years" |
|
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
(of a person) tending to show feelings, especially of affection, openly.
synonyms: expressive, open, forthcoming, communicative, unreserved, emotional, effusive, gushing; More
2.
serving as conclusive evidence of something; giving proof.
"demonstrative evidence"
synonyms: indicative, suggestive, illustrative More |
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
extremely or unusually small.
"a diminutive figure dressed in black" |
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Term
|
Definition
superficial/cursory and unconvincing.
pat remarks |
|
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Term
|
Definition
adjective informal
1.) (especially of speech, writing, or ideas) pompous or pretentious.
"you don't want any highfalutin jargon" |
|
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Term
|
Definition
noun
1.
written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.
"a short story in prose"
2.
another term for sequence (sense 4 of the noun).
verb
1.
talk tediously.
"prosing on about female beauty"
2.
dated
compose or convert into prose. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or composed in poetic meter.
"metrical translations of the Psalms"
2.
of or involving measurement.
"a metrical analysis of male and female scapulae" |
|
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
too long, slow, or dull: tiresome or monotonous.
"a tedious journey" |
|
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Term
|
Definition
verb
past tense: jettisoned; past participle: jettisoned
throw or drop (something) from an aircraft or ship.
"six aircraft jettisoned their loads in the sea"
abandon or discard (someone or something that is no longer wanted).
"individuals are often forced to jettison certain attitudes and behaviors" |
|
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
full of knots.
"the room was paneled in knotty pine"
synonyms: gnarled, knotted, knurled, nodular, knobbly, lumpy, bumpy More
(of a problem or matter) extremely difficult or intricate. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
having or showing the symptoms of a fever.
"he suffered from feverish colds"
synonyms: febrile, fevered, hot, burning; informalhaving a temperature
"she's really feverish"
displaying a frenetic excitement or energy.
"the next couple of weeks were spent in a whirl of feverish activity" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
intense and passionate feeling.
"he talked with all the fervor of a new convert"
Intense heat |
|
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Term
|
Definition
(of language) open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning.
"the question is rather ambiguous"
unclear or inexact because a choice between alternatives has not been made.
"this whole society is morally ambiguous"
equivocal |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
(of a person) clever, original, and inventive.
"he was ingenious enough to overcome the limited budget"
synonyms: inventive, creative, imaginative, original, innovative, pioneering, resourceful, enterprising, inspired; More
(of a machine or idea) cleverly and originally devised and well suited to its purpose. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
(of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
(of tidewater) move away from the land; recede.
"the tide began to ebb"
synonyms: recede, go out, retreat, flow back, fall back/away, subside
"the tide ebbed"
2.
(of an emotion or quality) gradually lessen or reduce.
"my enthusiasm was ebbing away" |
|
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
nauseated; feeling sick.
"in the morning he was still pale and queasy"
synonyms: nauseous, nauseated, bilious, sick; More
inducing a feeling of nausea.
"the queasy swell of the boat"
slightly nervous or worried about something. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
(of an appetite or desire) impossible to satisfy.
"an insatiable hunger for success" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
em·i·nent
ˈemənənt/Submit
adjective
(of a person) famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession.
"one of the world's most eminent statisticians"
synonyms: illustrious, distinguished, renowned, esteemed, preeminent, notable, noteworthy, great, prestigious, important, influential, affluential, outstanding, noted, of note; More
used to emphasize the presence of a positive quality.
"the guitar's eminent suitability for recording studio work" |
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
"Polonius is portrayed as a foolish, garrulous old man" |
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely.
"forlorn figures at bus stops"
synonyms: unhappy, sad, miserable, sorrowful, dejected, despondent, disconsolate, wretched, abject, down, downcast, dispirited, downhearted, crestfallen, depressed, melancholy, gloomy, glum, mournful, despairing, doleful, woebegone; More
2.
(of an aim or endeavor) unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled; hopeless.
"a forlorn attempt to escape" |
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
acting in a confused or ineffectual way; incompetent.
"he's a bumbling fool" |
|
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Term
|
Definition
OPPOSITE
NOUN -i.e. we match each person with their foil.
also....foiled
verb
1.
prevent (something considered wrong or undesirable) from succeeding.
"a brave policewoman foiled the armed robbery" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
sedate, respectable, and unadventurous.
"staid law firms"
most accountants & law firms have staid practices. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
noun
fluent or persuasive speaking or writing.
"a preacher of great power and eloquence" |
|
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Term
|
Definition
verb speak or act in an evasive way.
"he seemed to prevaricate when journalists asked pointed questions"
pre varied with kate, he prevaricated when kate asked him about his love life
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|
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Term
|
Definition
noun
the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself; prevarication. |
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Term
|
Definition
verb
perceive or recognize (something).
"I can discern no difference between the two policies"
distinguish (someone or something) with difficulty by sight or with the other senses.
"she could faintly discern the shape of a skull" |
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Term
|
Definition
noun
great technical skill and brilliance shown in a performance or activity.
"the recital ended with a blazing display of bravura" |
|
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Term
|
Definition
noun
the fact or condition of being prevalent; commonness.
"the prevalence of obesity in adults" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
sparse
spärs/Submit
adjective
thinly dispersed or scattered.
"areas of sparse population" |
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Term
|
Definition
adjective
filled with or showing great emotion. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
me/informal
exclamation
1.
expressing a lack of interest or enthusiasm.
"Meh. I'm not impressed so far"
adjective
1.
uninspiring; unexceptional.
"a lot of his movies are … meh" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.
"the world's preeminent expert on asbestos" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
verb
1.
cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations.
"the inflation figure confounded economic analysts"
synonyms: amaze, astonish, dumbfound, stagger, surprise, startle, stun, throw, shake, discompose, bewilder, bedazzle, baffle, mystify, bemuse, perplex, puzzle, confuse; More
2.
mix up (something) with something else so that the individual elements become difficult to distinguish. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
present, appearing, or found everywhere.
"his ubiquitous influence was felt by all the family" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.
"Kate is in a quandary" |
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|
Term
|
Definition
verb
past tense: unfettered; past participle: unfettered
release from restraint or inhibition.
unfettered imaginations |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
noun
a member of any of the bands of English workers who destroyed machinery, especially in cotton and woolen mills, that they believed was threatening their jobs (1811–16).
a person opposed to increased industrialization or new technology.
"a small-minded Luddite resisting progress" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
an ability to do or learn something well and easily; a natural aptitude.
"he had a facility for languages" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
presenting a point of view, especially a controversial one, in an excessively and unpleasantly forceful way.
"public pronouncements on the crisis became less strident" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective knowing everything. "the story is told by an omniscient narrator"
Krishna was not omniscient, but the Bhagavad Ghita certainly had all of the answers |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
verb
past tense: infantilized; past participle: infantilized
treat (someone) as a child or in a way that denies their maturity in age or experience.
"seeing yourself as a victim infantilizes you" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
noun
the quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance.
"the preponderance of women among older people" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a : a disease or injury of plants marked by the formation of lesions, withering, and death of parts (as leaves and tubers)
b : an organism (as an insect or a fungus) that causes blight
2
: something that frustrates plans or hopes
3
: something that impairs or destroys
4
: a deteriorated condition |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
diligent in application or attention; persevering; assiduous.
2.
persistently or carefully maintained:
sedulous flattery. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
verb
impair the appearance of; disfigure.
"no wrinkles marred her face"
synonyms: spoil, impair, disfigure, detract from, blemish, scar; More
impair the quality of; spoil.
"violence marred a number of New Year celebrations" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| of, relating to, or befitting a teacher or education. — |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
nothing at all.
"you know bupkis about fundraising" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
verb
alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.
"I had for a time vacillated between teaching and journalism" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
noun
a thing tacitly assumed beforehand at the beginning of a line of argument or course of action.
"images that challenge presuppositions about feminine handiwork"
synonyms: presumption, assumption, preconception, supposition, hypothesis, surmise, thesis, theory, premise, belief, postulation
"the presupposition that all enzymes are proteins"
the action or state of presupposing or being presupposed. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
understood without being openly expressed; implied:
tacit approval.
2.
silent; saying nothing:
a tacit partner.
3.
unvoiced or unspoken:
a tacit prayer. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
noun
a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation.
"not all of us have a vocation to be nurses or doctors"
synonyms: calling, life's work, mission, purpose, function; More
a person's employment or main occupation, especially regarded as particularly worthy and requiring great dedication.
"her vocation as a poet"
a trade or profession. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
praise enthusiastically.
"he extolled the virtues of the Russian peoples" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
noun
noun: primadonna
the chief female singer in an opera or opera company.
synonyms: leading soprano, leading lady, diva, star, opera star, principal singer
"this scene was added to give the prima donna another aria"
a very temperamental person with an inflated view of their own talent or importance.
synonyms: ego, self-important person, his nibs, temperamental person, princess, diva, pooh-bah; informaldrama queen
"a city council filled with prima donnas" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
fame or recognized superiority, especially within a particular sphere or profession.
"her eminence in cinematography"
formalliterary
a piece of rising ground.
"an eminence commanding the River Emme" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
the state of being famous or well known for some bad quality or deed.
"the song has gained some notoriety in the press" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective of or like a pedant. "many of the essays are long, dense, and too pedantic to hold great appeal"
noun
-
a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning.
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
too long, slow, or dull: tiresome or monotonous.
"a tedious journey" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
tending to induce drowsiness or sleep.
"the motion of the train had a somewhat soporific effect" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
(of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation.
"a scurrilous attack on his integrity" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
(of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed.
"she's an incorrigible flirt" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
done in a pompously or overly solemn manner so as to impress.
"the author's portentous moralizings"
synonyms: pompous, bombastic, self-important, pontifical, solemn, sonorous, grandiloquent
"portentous dialogue" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
(especially with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial.
"a salutary reminder of where we came from" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
genuine; real.
"only bona fide members of the company are allowed to use the logo"
synonyms: authentic, genuine, real, true, actual; More
adverbLAW
1.
sincerely; without intention to deceive.
"the court will assume that they have acted bona fide" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
noun
a preliminary or preparatory statement; an introduction.
"what she said was by way of a preamble"
LAW
the introductory part of a statute or deed, stating its purpose, aims, and justification.
synonyms: introduction, preface, prologue; More |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
verb
1.
make (something) appear unexpectedly or seemingly from nowhere as if by magic.
"Anne conjured up a most delicious homemade stew" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
very evil or cruel
: extremely bad, unpleasant, or difficult |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
1.
barely sufficient or adequate.
"companies with scant regard for the safety of future generations" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective slow to act. "he had been dilatory in appointing a solicitor"
dilly dally |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
noun
1.
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
"his polemic against the cultural relativism of the sixties" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.
"esoteric philosophical debates" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
very weak or slight.
"the tenuous link between interest rates and investment"
very slender or fine; insubstantial.
"a tenuous cloud" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjectiveformal
(typically of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adverb
referring to something that has been done or repeated so often that it has become annoying or tiresome. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
Alacrity, however, means an eager willingness to do something.
So imagine the first day at a job that you’ve worked really hard to get. How are you going to complete the tasks assigned to you? With alacrity, of course.
An interesting correlation: the more alacritous (adjective form) you are when you’re learning GRE vocabulary, the better you will do. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Prosaic means dull and lacking imagination. It can be used to describe plans, life, language, or just about anything inanimate that has become dull (it is not used to describe people).
A good mnemonic: prose is the opposite of poetry. And where poetry, ideally, bursts force with imagination, prose (think of text-book writing), lacks imagination. Hence, prose-aic. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Veracity sounds a lot like voracity. Whereas many know voracity means full of hunger (the adjective form voracious is more common), few know veracity. Unfortunately, many confuse the two on the test.
Veracity means truthful. The adjective form, veracious, sounds a lot like voracious. So be careful. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Paucity is a lack of something. In honor of paucity, this entry will have a paucity of words. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| The second definition of this word – and one the new GRE favors – is to assert. One can maintain their innocence. A scientist can maintain that a recent finding support her theory. The latter context is the one you’ll encounter on the GRE. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Word roots are often misleading. This word does not mean with triteness (con- meaning with). To be contrite is to feel remorse. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
noun
an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.
"an allusion to Shakespeare" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
verb
3rd person present: betrays
1.
expose (one's country, a group, or a person) to danger by treacherously giving information to an enemy.
"a double agent who betrayed some 400 British and French agents to the Germans"
2.
unintentionally reveal; be evidence of.
"she drew a deep breath that betrayed her indignation" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Much like a pug dog, which aggressively yaps at things near it, a person who is pugnacious likes to aggressively argue about everything. Verbally combative is another good way to describe pugnacious. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| If two things are fundamentally different, they are disparate. For instance, verbal skills and math skills are disparate, and as such are usually tested separately, the GRE being no exception. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
‘Greg’ is the Latin root for flock. At one point egregious meant standing out of the flock a positive way. This definition went out of vogue sometime in the 16th century, after which time egregious was used ironically.
Thus for the last five hundred years, ‘egregious’ meant standing out in a bad way. In sports, an egregious foul would be called on a player who slugged another player (not including hockey, of course). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| If something literally pours out in abundance we say it is profuse. This pouring is usually figurative. A person who apologies ceaselessly does so profusely. Perhaps a little more vividly, certain men who fail to button up their shirts all the way, let the world – perhaps not unwittingly – know of their profuse chest hair (which, on their part, should necessitate a profuse apology). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Unpredictable, often wildly so, erratic is reserved for pretty extreme cases. An athlete who scores the winning point one game, and then botches numerous opportunities. The stock market. And your sleep, especially if your stocks aren’t doing well, can become erratic.
Erratic can also mean strange and unconventional. Someone may be known for their erratic behavior. Regardless of which meaning you are employing, you should not be erratic in your GRE prep. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A person can also be candid if they are being honest and straightforward with you.
Even with a perfect stranger, he was candid and would rarely hold anything back. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Many think this word means extinct. Extant is actually the opposite of extinct.
Despite many bookstores closing, experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be extant generations from now.
A great mnemonic is to put the word ‘is’ between the ‘x’ and the ‘t’ in extant. This gives you existant (don’t mind the misspelling). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
This GRE word does not mean content, as you could have probably guessed. It comes from the word contend, which means to argue. If you are contentious, you like to argue.
Contentious is a very common GRE word, so unless you want me to become contentious, memorize it now! |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
This word sounds very sinister. Auspicious is actually the opposite and means favorable.
Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike’s road trip became a series of mishaps, and he was soon stranded and broke next to his wrecked automobile.
The opposite, inauspicious, is also common on the GRE. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Most people think this words means to energize. It actually means to sap the energy from.
John preferred to avoid equatorial countries; the intense sun would always leave him enervated after he’d spent the day sightseeing. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| People tend to think that equivocate has to do with equal. It actually means to speak vaguely, usually with the intention to mislead or deceive. The related word unequivocal also can be confusing. To state something unequivocally is to state it in such a way that there is no room for doubt. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Students often believe that to be ambivalent towards something is to be indifferent. The truth is almost the opposite. See, when you are ambivalent you have mixed or conflicting emotions about something.
Imagine somebody asked you how it was studying for the GRE.
You could say, “I am ambivalent about studying for the GRE because it ate up a lot of time. On the plus side, I did learn many words and improved my reading comprehension.” |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| I am not quite sure why students can never seem to remember the definition for this word. Perhaps the sed- reminds them of sitting and being idle. To be sedulous, however, is to be anything but idle. If you are sedulously studying for the GRE, you are studying diligently and carefully—making flashcards, writing down important words and formulas, and, of course, checking out the Magoosh blog every day. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
adjective
lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring.
"no excuses were made for the team's lackluster performance" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
To stem means to hold back or limit the flow or growth of something. You can stem bleeding, you (can attempt to) stem the tide. Do not stem the flow of vocabulary coursing through your brains. Make sure to use these words whenever you can.
To stem the tide of applications, the prestigious Ivy requires that each applicant score at least 330 on the Revised GRE. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
If you blink a lot you are likely to miss something. Indeed, your view would be very limited. Extending this meaning, we get the definition of blinkered: means to have a limited outlook or understanding.
In gambling, the addict is easily blinkered by past successes and/or past failures, forgetting that the outcome of any one game is independent of the games that preceded it. |
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Term
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Definition
To check something is to stop its growth (similar to stem but with more of a focus on growth than flow). If something is left unchecked, then it grows freely.
Deserted for six months, the property began to look more like a jungle and less like a residence –weeds grew unchecked in the front yard. |
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Term
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Definition
The meaning of checkered is completely unrelated to the meaning of check above– very tricky, so be sure to know the difference between the two. A checkered past is one that is marked by disreputable happenings.
One by one, the presidential candidates dropped out of the race, their respective checkered pasts – from embezzlement to infidelity – sabotaging their campaigns. |
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Term
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Definition
A raft is an inflatable boat. It can also mean a large number of something. I know – it doesn’t really make much sense. But a good mnemonic – imagine a large number of rafts and you have a raft of rafts.
Despite a raft of city ordinances passed by an overzealous council, noise pollution continued unabated in the megalopolis. |
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Term
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Definition
We are involved in many things, from studying to socializing. For something to be involved, in terms of the GRE definition, means it is complicated, and difficult to comprehend.
The physics lecture became so involved that the undergraduate’s eyes glazed over. |
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Term
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Definition
Sure, many dream of the day when they can be retiring (preferably to some palatial estate with a beachfront view). The second definition does not necessarily apply to most. To be retiring is to be shy, and have the inclination to retract from company.
Nelson always was the first to leave soirees-– rather than mill about with “fashionable” folk, he was retiring, and preferred the solitude of his garret. |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.
"an irascible man" |
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Term
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Definition
Yes, expansive means expansive. It also means communicative, and prone to talking in a sociable manner.
After a few sips of cognac, the octogenarian shed his irascible demeanor and became expansive, speaking fondly of the “good old days”. |
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Term
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Definition
A moment is a point in time. We all know that definition. If something is of moment, it is significant and important (think of the word momentous).
Despite the initial hullabaloo, the play was of no great moment in Hampton’s writing career, and, within a few years, the public quickly forgot his foray into theater arts. |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
1.
given to begging.
noun
1.
a beggar. |
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Term
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Definition
verb
1.
envy (someone) the possession or enjoyment of (something).
"she begrudged Martin his affluence"
synonyms: envy, resent, grudge
"she begrudged Brian his affluence"
2.
give reluctantly or resentfully.
"nobody begrudges a single penny spent on health"
synonyms: resent, feel aggrieved about, feel bitter about, be annoyed about, be resentful of, grudge, mind, object to, take exception to, regret
"don't begrudge the cost" |
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Term
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Definition
When the definition of this word came into existence, there were some obvious biases against the lower classes (assuming that lexicographers were not lower class). It was assumed that those from the base, or the lowest, class were without any moral principles. They were contemptible and ignoble. Hence, we have this second definition of base (the word has since dropped any connotations of lower class).
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She was not so base as to begrudge the mendicant the unwanted crumbs from her dinner plate. |
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Term
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Definition
Literally, to imbibe is to drink, usually copiously. Figuratively, imbibe can refer to an intake of knowledge or information.
The professor was a fountain of erudition, and we imbibed his wisdom.
Plato imbibed Socrates’ teachings to such an extent that he was able to write volumes of work that he directly attributed, sometimes word for word, to Socrates. |
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Term
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Definition
Speaking of floods, inundate is a synonym for deluge. Figuratively, to be inundated means to be overwhelmed by too many people or things.
Once inundated with 5,000 vocabulary words, GRE students now have to contend with somewhat fewer words.
The newsroom was inundated with false reports that only made it more difficult for the newscasters to provide an objective account of the bank robbery. |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
1.
expressed clearly; easy to understand.
"a lucid account"
synonyms: intelligible, comprehensible, understandable, cogent, coherent, articulate; More
2.
literary
bright or luminous. |
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Term
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Definition
noun
secrets or mysteries.
"his knowledge of federal budget arcana is legendary" |
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Term
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Definition
If something gives off sparks, such as when photons collide, it is said to scintillate. Figuratively, scintillating describes someone who is brilliant and lively.
Richard Feynman was renowned for his scintillating lectures—the arcana of quantum physics was made lucid as he wrote animatedly on the chalkboard. |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
1.
favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, especially that of the government, at the expense of personal freedom. |
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Term
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Definition
noun
1.
a government, especially an authoritarian one.
synonyms: government, system of government, authorities, rule, authority, control, command, administration, leadership
"members of the former military regime"
2.
a system or planned way of doing things, especially one imposed from above.
"detention centers with a very tough physical regime" |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
too great to calculate.
"a treasure of inestimable value" |
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Term
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Definition
If the sky darkens, and becomes night, it is, unsurprisingly, benighted. However, if a people are benighted (this word is usually reserved for the collective), that group falls in a state of ignorance.
Far from being a period of utter benightedness, The Medieval Ages produced some inestimable works of theological speculation. |
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Term
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Definition
| At mile 23 of his first marathon, Kyle had all but given up, until he noticed his friends and family holding a banner that read, “Go Kyle”; galvanized, he broke into a gallop, finishing the last three miles in less than 20 minutes. |
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Term
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Definition
| avoid making direct statements, qualify, limit, hedge your bets |
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Term
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Definition
| What word means to turn red (especially in the face), to send down the toilet, to be in abundance, and to drive out of hiding? Yep, it’s flush, which has all four of these totally unrelated definitions. |
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Term
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Definition
| Imagine an evil person who cuts down trees, and then falls himself. Well, that image is capturing three different definitions of fell—to cut down a tree, the past tense of fall (we all know that) and evil. Yes, I know, fell can’t possibly mean evil…but the English language is a wacky one. Fell indeed means terribly evil. |
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Term
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Definition
| You have arches in architecture, or at a well-known fast-food restaurant. You can arch your back, or a bow. Arches are even a part of your foot. But, did you know that to be arch is to be deliberately teasing, as in, “he shrugged off her insults because he knew she was only being arch” Finally, arch as a root means chief or principal, as in archbishop. |
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Term
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Definition
Commonly, when we think of begging, we think of money, or a favor. But, one can also beg a question, and that’s where things start to get complicated. To beg a question can mean to evade a question, invite an obvious question, or, and this is where it starts to get really tricky, to ask a question that in itself makes unwarranted assumptions.
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For instance, let’s say you are not really sure if you are going to take the GRE. If somebody asks you when you are going to take the GRE, then that person is assuming you are going to take the GRE. That is, they are begging the question. If you avoid giving a direct answer, then you are also begging the question (albeit in a different sense). Which finally begs the question, how did this whole question begging business get so complicated in the first place? |
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Term
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Definition
| Tender is a verb, and it does not mean to behave tenderly. When you tender, something you offer it up. For instance, when you tender your resignation, you hand in a piece of paper saying that you are resigning. |
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Term
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Definition
| Just as tender doesn’t relate to two people in love, neither does intimate, at least on the GRE. The secondary meaning for intimate is to suggest something subtly. |
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Term
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Definition
Just as tender doesn’t relate to two people in love, neither does intimate, at least on the GRE. The secondary meaning for intimate is to suggest something subtly.
Intimaaaaatteee |
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Term
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Definition
| Wanting means lacking. So, if your knowledge of secondary meanings is wanting, this post is a perfect place to start learning. |
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Term
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Definition
Another secondary meaning that changes parts of speech, becoming an adjective. If something is becoming, it matches nicely.
Her dress was becoming and made her look even more beautiful. |
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Term
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Definition
| The secondary meaning for start is somewhat similar to the common meaning. To start is to suddenly move or dart in a particular direction. |
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Term
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Definition
| If you are thinking Mary Had a Little Lamb (…fleece as white as snow), you have been fleeced by a secondary meaning. To fleece is to deceive. |
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Term
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Definition
If something is telling, it is significant and stands out.
Her unbecoming dress was very telling when it came to her sense of fashion. |
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Term
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Definition
| Melting wax will only lead you astray. The secondary meaning for wax is to increase. The opposite of wax is to wane. |
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Term
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Definition
To check is to limit, and is usually used to modify the growth of something.
When government abuses are not kept in check, a ruling body is likely to become autocratic. |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
showing contempt; scornful.
"she was intolerant and contemptuous of the majority of the human race" |
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Term
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Definition
In the context of the GRE, the concept of qualification is usually found in the Reading Comprehension passage. For example, an author usually expresses qualified approval or some qualified opinion in the passage. As you may have noticed, the authors of reading comprehension passages never feel 100% about something. They always think in a nuanced fashion. Therefore, they are unlikely to be gung-ho or downright contemptuous. That is, they qualify, or limit, their praise/approval/disapproval.
I love San Francisco.
I love San Francisco, but it is always windy. |
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Term
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Definition
| Frugal has a positive connotation, i.e. you spend money wisely, |
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Term
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Definition
| miserly has a negative connotation, i.e. you pinch every penny. Monte was no miser, pinching each penny, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned. |
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Term
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Definition
| To prevaricate is to speak in an evasive way. A good synonym for prevaricate is equivocate. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
histrionic is not to have a penchant for bad Pacino or Brando imitations, but to be overly theatrical.
Ethan was histrionic in his drunk impersonation eric for the muffin joke at thanksgiving dinner.
Though she received a B- on the test, she had such a histrionic outburst that one would have thought that she’d been handed a death sentence. |
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Term
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Definition
To demur is a verb meaning to object or show reluctance.
Wallace dislike the cold, so he demurred when his friends suggested they going skiing in the Alps. |
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Term
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Definition
| To be demure is to be modest and shy. This word refers to a woman, so don’t call a man demure, as they will surely demur. |
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Term
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Definition
A beatific person is one who radiates bliss. This person is so happy, they almost seem blessed and holy (think of a saint, of the Buddha).
Marred by the ravages of time, the idols were hardly beautiful, yet each seemed to emanate a beatific aura that not even 500 years could diminish. |
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Term
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Definition
noun
the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization.
"they had reached the nadir of their sufferings" |
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Term
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Definition
when we do dishes, we do them in a routine way. We are hardly inspired.
To do something in such a manner is to be perfunctory. The word also carries with it the connotation of carelessness. That is, if you do something in which you are merely going through the motions, you are probably not doing your best (as far as my perfunctory dish-cleaning goes, my wife can attest to this). |
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Term
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Definition
Just as Martha was about to take the only cookie left on the table, Noah preemptively swiped it.
Preemptive is often times heard in a political context. A country that strikes before another country can do so is launching a preemptive strike. |
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Term
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Definition
If you are peremptory you are bossy and domineering.
My sister used to peremptorily tell me to do the dishes, a chore I would do perfunctorily or avoid doing altogether. |
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Term
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Definition
Indigenous means relating to a certain area. Plants and animals are often indigenous, as are people.
The flora and fauna indigenous to Australia are notably different from those indigenous to the U.S—one look at a duckbill platypus and you know you’re not dealing with an opossum. synonym to endemic? |
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Term
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Definition
Imagine you are waiting in line to order your morning coffee. Right as you are about to order a nice steaming cup, someone cuts in front of you and places an order for six people. How would you feel? Indignant.
Indignant means to feel anger over a perceived injustice. And you don’t want to be indignant the day of the test, when ETS just happens to pick that one word you always end up confusing with another word. |
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Term
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Definition
To be errant is to be wandering, not sticking to a circumscribed path. synonym to periptitious?
Unlike his peers, who spent their hours studying in the library, Matthew preferred errant walks through the university campus to help his brain function. |
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Term
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Definition
Arrant means complete and utter. adj.
It usually modifies a noun with a negative connotation, e.g. liar, fool, etc.
An arrant fool, Lawrence surprised nobody when he lost all his money in a pyramid scheme that was every bit as transparent as it was corrupt. |
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Term
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Definition
He erred in thinking that errant and arrant were synonyms.
-
be mistaken or incorrect; make a mistake.
"the judge had erred in ruling that the evidence was inadmissible"
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Term
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Definition
| Maria carried out her errands with dispatch, completing most before noon. |
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Term
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Definition
verb
1.
send off to a destination or for a purpose.
"he dispatched messages back to base"
synonyms: send (off), post, mail, forward, transmit, email
"all the messages were dispatched"
2.
deal with (a task, problem, or opponent) quickly and efficiently.
"they dispatched the opposition" |
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Term
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Definition
noun
the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax.
Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet…surely they relate to the second word, and definitely not the first, which would be reserved for people like me who reached their artistic apotheosis with the drawing of stick-figures. |
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Term
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Definition
To be artful means to be cunning and wily.
To be artful means to be cunning and wily. To have artifice is to be artful. Perhaps you’ve read Dickens, and remember The Artful Dodger. The titular artful dodger did not have a penchant for watercolors, but was instead a devious, wily lad. This trait, presumably, allowed him to dodge tricky situations. |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
1.
holding or constituting a purely formal position or title without any real authority.
"the queen is titular head of the Church of England"
synonyms: nominal, in title only, in name only, ceremonial, honorary, so-called; More
2.
denoting a person or thing from whom or which the name of an artistic work or similar is taken.
"the work's titular song" |
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Term
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Definition
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something.
"he has a penchant for adopting stray dogs"
synonym: proclivity, predilection |
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Term
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Definition
| If somebody is artless, on the other hand, that person is innocent, guileless. It should come as little surprise, then, that the literary canon is absent an artless dodger, as he would be too innocent and naive to dodge much of anything. |
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Term
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Definition
To have artifice is to be artful.
Finally, artful and artless can refer back to the original usage of art. Therefore, Picasso is artful and I am artless. However, the GRE rarely, if ever, tests this definition. |
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Term
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Definition
They both mean to remove, but in different ways. To expurgate means to remove objectionable material. If you’ve ever watched a rated-R film that has been adapted for prime time, you’ll probably note that all those F-words—factitious, facetious, and fatuous—have been removed. That’s expurgation (think of the beep).
verb
-
remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a book or account).
"the expurgated Arabian Nights"
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Term
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Definition
adjective
artificially created or developed.
"a largely factitious national identity" |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.
synonyms: flippant, flip, glib, frivolous, tongue-in-cheek, ironic, sardonic, joking, jokey, jocular, playful, sportive, teasing, mischievous; More |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
silly and pointless.
"a fatuous comment" |
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Term
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Definition
| To expunge simply means to wipe out or remove any trace off. Many people who commit petty crimes have those crimes expunged from their records, given that person doesn’t decide to start running every other red-light. So, if you’ve been a good driver over the last 10 years, then that one incident when 85 became the new 65…well, that’s probably been expunged from your record. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Censure, the much more common GRE word, has nothing to do with removing objectionable words and/or material. However, if you decide to start dropping the F-bomb in public—and I don’t mean facetious—then you can easily expect someone to censure you. To censure someone is to express strong disapproval of that person. |
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Term
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Definition
| Ponderous is derived from ‘pondus’, which means weight (think of a pound). So, to be ponderous means to be weighed-down, and to move slowly and in a labored fashion. |
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Term
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Definition
| Ponderous is derived from ‘pondus’, which means weight (think of a pound). So, to be ponderous means to be weighed-down, and to move slowly and in a labored fashion. |
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Term
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Definition
| Imponderable is not the opposite of ponderous. It actually relates to thinking. An imponderable is something that is impossible to estimate, fathom or figure out. Say a child was to ask, “How long would it take driving in a car to go from one end of the universe to the other?” Unless you have a really big calculator—and a very fast car—then the answer to this question would be imponderable. |
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Term
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Definition
Nope, kowtow is not a giant truck for pulling bovines, but a word that comes from the imperial courts of China. When a person kowtowed to the emperor, or any eminent mandarin for that matter, he or she knelt and touched the ground with his or her forehead. Such a gesture was intended to show respect and submission.
Today, kowtow has a negative connotation and implies that a person is acting in a subservient or sycophantic manner.
He kowtowed to his boss on even the most trivial matters that the boss herself soon became nauseated by his sycophancy. |
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Term
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Definition
No, it’s not kowtow’s cousin – in fact, this word sprung from American soil, namely the Algonquin tribe of North America. A powwow was quite a hootenanny of a time and involved a big party of dancing and dining between tribes.
Strangely, today’s meaning is a lot more subdued, and far less fun. Any informal discussion or colloquy is regarded as a powwow. You and your co-worker can have a mid-afternoon powwow over coffee. A political leader can have a powwow with his cronies (I’m presuming they’d favor cigars over coffee). |
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Term
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Definition
verb
take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force.
"Richard usurped the throne" |
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Term
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Definition
| Junta means to join and comes via Portugal and Spain. But this joining was in no way peaceful. Whenever a military group joined forces to usurp the existing regime, they would form a military junta. Today, junta can refer to the aggressive takeover by a group. |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
having a sharply strong taste or smell.
"the pungent smell of frying onions" |
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Term
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Definition
verb
involve (someone) deeply in an argument, conflict, or difficult situation.
"she became embroiled in a dispute between two women she hardly knew" |
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Term
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Definition
It may sound like an exotic vegetable or a pungent pasta dish, but it’s neither. Imbroglio comes to us via mid-18th century Italian and has nothing to do with the kitchen. Instead it is related to the verb ‘embroil’ and describes a confusing, and potentially embarrassing, situation.
The chef cook-off featured one gourmand who had the unfortunate distinction of mixing the wrong broths, creating off-putting dishes on an imbroglio that viewers will not soon forget. |
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Term
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Definition
To many, this word was forever immortalized in X-Men 2, when one of the main characters, Juggernaut, ran through walls, pulverizing them. This power to knock over and destroy anything in its path can also be traced to the original juggernaut, a word that comes to us via Hindi. A juggernaut was a large temple vehicle—and when I mean large I mean humongous—under which followers of Krishna would supposedly throw themselves.
Today, the word juggernaut doesn’t necessarily include any grisly sacrifices, but refers to any large force that cannot be stopped.
Napoleon was considered a juggernaut, until he decided to invade Russia in winter; within weeks his once seemingly indomitable army was decimated by cold and famine. |
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Term
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Definition
adjective causing horror or disgust. "the town was shaken by a series of grisly crimes"
The act of killing grisley bears in japan would be a grisly crime here. |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
impossible to subdue or defeat.
"a woman of indomitable spirit"
Napoleon was considered a juggernaut, until he decided to invade Russia in winter; within weeks his once seemingly indomitable army was decimated by cold and famine. |
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Term
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Definition
Schadenfreude is one of those words that at first glance may seem gratuitous. After all, do we really need a word that literally translates from the German as harm-joy? Unfortunately, a twisted quirk of human nature is that we can sometimes take joy in the suffering of others. Luckily, German has provided us a word to use if we ever see someone cackling sardonically at the suffering of others.
Harm-Joy
From his warm apartment window, Stanley reveled in schadenfreude as he laughed at the figures below, huddled together in the arctic chill. |
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Term
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Definition
To run amuck is to run about frenzied. While this word comes to us via Malay, you don’t have to live on the Malaysian peninsula to witness people running amuck.
Wherever the bowl-cut teen-idol went, his legions of screaming fans ran through the streets amuck, hoping for one glance at his boyish face. |
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Term
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Definition
| outcast; The once eminent scientist, upon being inculpated for fudging his data, has become a pariah in the research community. |
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Term
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Definition
A nabob is a wealthy, influential person. This word also comes from Hindi, and was originally used by Indians to describe a wealthy British person living in India. While it is not as common as pundit and pariah, nabob applies to many living here in the U.S., though I don’t think it a good idea to call Donald Trump a nabob to his face.
When I move to africa, i might be considered a nabob relative to the bucolic families of Luma. |
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Term
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Definition
This word comes from Swahili and means master. The word was originally from Arabic, and meant father.
i..e masterful sir
Noun
(plural bwanas)
- (slang) Big boss, important person. Not always used as a favorable term
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Term
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Definition
Translated literally from German, zeitgeist means “time-ghost”. In terms of an actual definition, zeitgeist means spirit of the times.
Each decade has its own zeitgeist—the 1990’s was a prosperous time in which the promise of the American Dream never seemed more palpable. The zeitgeist of the 2000’s was a curious admixture of fear and frivolity; when we were not anxious over the state of the economy and the world, we escaped into reality T.V. shows, either those on popular networks or the ones we would create ourselves on YouTube.
Time-Ghost - Spirit of the Times |
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Term
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Definition
This word literally means cold-blooded. It is defined as calmness and poise, especially in trying situations.
Emerick remained in a state of Sangfroid as the ninjas prepared to attack.
Despite the scornful stares from entrenched aristocrats, the parvenu walked blithely about the palace grounds, maintaining his sangfroid and demurring to enter into the melees that the snobbish were so fond of baiting arrivistes into. |
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Term
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Definition
This is a person who has recently acquired wealth, and has therefore risen in class.
Jean-Michel was no parvenu, however some people living this-this lifestyle certainly came upon abundance after their right father entrusted them with wealth.
Despite the scornful stares from entrenched aristocrats, the parvenu walked blithely about the palace grounds, maintaining his sangfroid and demurring to enter into the melees that the snobbish were so fond of baiting arrivistes into. |
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Term
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Definition
Demur is a verb. It means to object.
Demur should not be confused with demure, which as an adjective means coy. They both come from around the time of the Norman Conquest (though the Anglophiles may have demurred to use either).
Despite the scornful stares from entrenched aristocrats, the parvenu walked blithely about the palace grounds, maintaining his sangfroid and demurring to enter into the melees that the snobbish were so fond of baiting arrivistes into. |
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Term
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Definition
(especially with reference to a woman) making a pretense of shyness or modesty that is intended to be alluring.
"she treated him to a coy smile of invitation" |
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Term
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Definition
This word is a synonym with parvenu. It came into the language much more recently, circa 1900.
noun
an ambitious or ruthlessly self-seeking person, especially one who has recently acquired wealth or social status.
Despite the scornful stares from entrenched aristocrats, the parvenu walked blithely about the palace grounds, maintaining his sangfroid and demurring to enter into the melees that the snobbish were so fond of baiting arrivistes into. |
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Term
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Definition
verbformal
it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something; it is incumbent on.
"it behooves any coach to study his predecessors" |
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Term
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Definition
noun
a confused fight, skirmish, or scuffle.
"several people were hurt in the melee"
Despite the scornful stares from entrenched aristocrats, the parvenu walked blithely about the palace grounds, maintaining his sangfroid and demurring to enter into the melees that the snobbish were so fond of baiting arrivistes into. |
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Term
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Definition
adjective
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.
"a blithe disregard for the rules of the road"
Despite the scornful stares from entrenched aristocrats, the parvenu walked blithely about the palace grounds, maintaining his sangfroid and demurring to enter into the melees that the snobbish were so fond of baiting arrivistes into. |
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adjective
1.
erring or straying from the proper course or standards.
"he could never forgive his daughter's errant ways"
This word looks like it got jumbled up while I was typing. Believe it or not, lagniappe is not the result of errant fingers on my part, but comes to us from Louisiana. |
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This word looks like it got jumbled up while I was typing. Believe it or not, lagniappe is not the result of errant fingers on my part, but comes to us from Louisiana. In Cajun country, in the 19th Century, a
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lagniappe was any unexpected gift. By no means a common GRE word, if lagniappe happens to show up on the test, then consider it an unexpected gift. |
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noun
1.
a thing of little value or importance.
"we needn't trouble the headmaster over such trifles"
synonyms: unimportant thing, trivial thing, triviality, thing of no importance, thing of no consequence, bagatelle, inessential, nothing; More
2.
BRITISH
a cold dessert of sponge cake and fruit covered with layers of custard, jelly, and cream.
verb
1.
treat (someone or something) without seriousness or respect.
"he is not a man to be trifled with" |
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Picayune would make for a good 2,000-dollar jeopardy clue, one which would probably read something like this:
“Don’t trifle with us–this word comes from Cajun country via France and refers to a 19th century coin of little value.”
“What is picayune?”, would be the correct answer (thanks, Alex!).
Derived from Cajun via Provencal France, picayune refers not only to a coin but also to an amount that is trifling or meager. It can also refer to a person who is petty. Therefore, if I’m being picayune, I’m fussing over some trivial point. |
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adjective
əˈprōprēət/
1.
suitable or proper in the circumstances.
"a measure appropriate to a wartime economy"
synonyms: suitable, proper, fitting, apt, right; More
verb
əˈprōprēˌāt/
1.
take (something) for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission.
"his images have been appropriated by advertisers"
synonyms: seize, commandeer, expropriate, annex, arrogate, sequestrate, sequester, take over, hijack More
2.
devote (money or assets) to a special purpose.
"there can be problems in appropriating funds for legal expenses" |
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noun
a dog of no definable type or breed.
"a lovable mongrel puppy"
synonyms: cross-bred, of mixed breed, half-breed, interbred, mixed
"a mongrel bitch"
any other animal resulting from the crossing of different breeds or types.
synonyms: cross-breed, cross, mixed breed, half-breed; More
offensive
a person of mixed descent. |
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verb
gerund or present participle: confounding
1.
cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations.
"the inflation figure confounded economic analysts"
synonyms: amaze, astonish, dumbfound, stagger, surprise, startle, stun, throw, shake, discompose, bewilder, bedazzle, baffle, mystify, bemuse, perplex, puzzle, confuse; More
2.
mix up (something) with something else so that the individual elements become difficult to distinguish.
"'nuke' is now a cooking technique, as microwave radiation is confounded with nuclear radiation"
Im confounded |
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verb
leave (a personal estate or one's body) to a person or other beneficiary by a will.
"an identical sum was bequeathed by Margaret"
synonyms: leave to, leave in one's will to, hand on/down to, will to, make over to, pass on to, entrust to, grant to, transfer to; More
pass (something) on or leave (something) to someone else.
"he is ditching the unpopular policies bequeathed to him" |
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: an explanation of where a word came from : the history of a word
: the study of word histories |
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No, this word does not pertain to a large salamander named Gerry – though I suppose it could. Gerrymander is actually far more interesting than that.
Elbridge Gerry was the vice president of James Madison, the 4th president of the United States. Elbridge had an interesting idea. To get elected a president had to win a certain number of districts. So Elbridge came up with the following plan: if he partitioned a city in a certain way he could ensure that the president would win the majority of the votes from that district.
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The end result was a city that was split up into the oddest arrangement of districts. And can you guess what a map of the city, gerrymandered, looked like? Yep, a salamander.
Today the use of gerrymander hasn’t changed too much, and refers to the manipulation of boundaries to favor a certain group. |
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If you remember reading Homer’s Iliad, you may remember Hector, a muscular, daunting force (some of you may more vividly recall Eric Bana from the movie Troy). As people were intimidated around Hector, it makes sense that the word ‘hector’ means to bully or intimidate.
The boss’s hectoring manner put off many employees, some of whom quit as soon as they found new jobs. |
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Like Hector, Pollyannaish comes from fiction. However, in this case we are dealing with a relatively recent work, that of Eleanor Porter who came up with a character named Pollyanna. Pollyanna was extremely optimistic and so it is no surprise that Pollyannaish means extremely optimistic.
Even in the midst of a lousy sales quarter, Debbie remained Pollyannaish, never losing her shrill voice and wide smile, even when people hung up on her. |
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noun (not sure if gre)
a series of words said as a magic spell or charm.
"an incantation to raise the dead"
synonyms: chant, invocation, conjuration, magic spell/formula, charm, hex, enchantment, mojo; More
the use of words as a magic spell.
"there was no magic in such incantation" |
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Many have heard this word, and some may even have a visceral reaction to the word. However, this word is actually misused. A chauvinist is not a male who chugs beers, watches too much football, and demeans women. That would be a male chauvinist. So what is a chauvinist, unadorned by any adjective?
Well, Nicolas Chauvin, a one-time recruit in Napoleon’s army, used to go about town, thumping his chest about how great France was. In its modern day incantation, chauvinism can also mean anyone who thinks that their group is better than anybody else’s group. You can have male chauvinists, political party chauvinists, and even female chauvinists. |
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Interestingly, there is another eponym for literature that has a very similar meaning: Panglossian. Derived from Dr. Pangloss from Voltaire’s Candide, Panglossian carries a negative connotation, implying blind optimism.
Despite the fact that his country had been marred by a protracted civil war, Victor remained ever Panglossian, claiming that his homeland was living through a Golden Age. synonym - Pollyannaish but positive connotation |
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King Pyrrhus had the unfortunate luck of going up against the Romans. Some would say that he was actually lucky in that he actually defeated the Romans in the Battle of Asculum. Pyrrhic was perhaps more ambivalent, quipping, “One more such victory will undo me.”
So any win that comes at so great a cost that it is not even worth it is a pyrrhic victory.
adjective
(of a victory) won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor. |
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By day, Franz Kafka filed papers at an insurance office, and by night churned out dark novels, which suggested that the quotidian world of the office was actually far more sinister. Mainly, his novels were known for the absurd predicaments of their main characters (who often went by nothing more than a single initial).
Today, we have the word Kafkaesque, that refers to the absurdity we have to deal with living in a world of faceless bureaucracies. So next time you are put on hold for three hours and then volleyed back in forth between a dozen monotone-voice employees, think to yourself, hey this is Kafkaesque. |
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Don Quixote is perhaps one of the most well-known characters in all of literature. I suppose there is something heartbreaking yet comical at a man past his prime who believes he is on some great mission to save the world. In fact, Don Quixote was so far off his rocker that he thought windmills were dragons.
As a word that means somebody who mistakes windmills for dragons would have a severely limited application, quixotic has taken the broader meaning of someone who is wildly idealistic. It is one thing to want to help end world hunger; it is another to think you can do so on your own. The latter would be deemed quixotic. |
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noun
a wine bottle with a capacity four times larger than that of an ordinary bottle. |
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Mary Magdalene was the most important female disciple of Jesus. After Jesus had been crucified, she wept at his tomb.
From this outward outpouring of emotion, we today have the word maudlin. Whereas Mary’s weeping was noble, maudlin has taken on a negative connotation. A person who is maudlin cries in public for no good reason, and is oftentimes times used to describe one who’s tried to finish a jeroboam alone, and now must share with the stranger sitting next to them all of his deepest feelings. |
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noun
self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.
"Diana passed the test with aplomb" |
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This is definitely one of my favorite eponyms. While the provenance is nowhere nearly as interesting as those of other eponyms, the word perfectly describes a lapse that any of us is capable of making, especially those studying for the GRE.
Ms. Malaprop was a character in a play The Rivals by the largely forgotten George Sheridan. She was known for mixing up similar sounding words, usually to comic effect. Indeed, she would utter the words with complete aplomb that those listening were unsure if she’d even mixed up words in the first place. Her favorite Spanish dance was the flamingo (note: the dance in question is the flamenco; a flamingo is a salmon-colored bird known both for its elegance and tackiness).
GRE malapropisms aren’t quite so silly as Ms. Malaprop mixing up a bird and a Spanish dance, but I’ll do my best. See if you can spot the GRE malapropisms below.
The graffiti artist was indicated for defecating the church with gang signs.
Picasso was a protein artist, able to mix elements of African art with the oven guard. |
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adjectivedated
complete, utter.
"what arrant nonsense!"
This man was Viktor Quisling. For arrant perfidy, he has been awarded the eponym quisling, which means traitor. |
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We’ve all heard of the Nazis. Some of you may have even heard of the Vichy government, which was a puppet regime set up by the Nazis in France during WWII. Few of us, however, know that Germany also tried to turn Norway into a puppet regime. In order for Germany to take over Norway, it needed an inside man, a Norwegian who would sell his country out for the Nazis.
This man was Viktor Quisling. For arrant perfidy, he has been awarded the eponym quisling, which means traitor. |
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betrayal of trust.
This man was Viktor Quisling. For arrant perfidy, he has been awarded the eponym quisling, which means traitor. |
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Okay, I cheated a little on this one. Byzant was not a medieval philosopher (nor an industrious ant). The word ‘byzantine’ is not derived from a person’s name, but from Byzantium, an ancient city that was part of the Byzantine Empire (the word can also refer to the empire itself). Specifically, Byzantium was known for the intricate patterns adorning its architecture. Bulbous domed turrets were emblazoned with ornate latticing (think of the towers on a Russia church).
The modern usage of byzantine refers not to architecture per se, but to anything that is extremely intricate and complex. It actually carries a negative connotation.
Getting a driver’s license is not simply a matter of taking a test; the regulations and procedures are so byzantine that many have found themselves at the mercy of the DMV. |
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Like many late 18th Century scientists, Luigi Galvani was fascinated with electricity (you may recall a certain Ben Franklin who had a similar penchant). Galvani’s breakthrough came a little more serendipitously than playing with metal in lightning storms—he noticed that an electric current passing through a dead frog’s legs made those legs twitch. This observation sparked—pardon the pun—a series of connections: could it be that electric shock could cause muscles to twitch?
Today, galvanize can mean to shock but in a different sense than through raw electricity. To galvanize is to shock or urge somebody/something into action.
The colonel’s speech galvanized the troops, who had all but given up. |
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adjective
1.
(of a person or their behavior) unconventional and slightly strange.
"my favorite aunt is very eccentric" |
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adjective
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1.
expressing contempt or disapproval.
""permissiveness" is used almost universally as a pejorative term"
"his remarks were considered too pejorative for daytime radio"
As we have all been convinced that everything we say must be politically correct. we must watch what we say so as not to have pejorative meanings.
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adjective
1.
habitually or characteristically accepting or tolerant of something, as social behavior orlinguistic usage, that others might disapprove or forbid.
Tolerant: A permissive nod
2.
granting or denoting permission :
a permissive nod.
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