List 1
adjacent---near; next to; alongside
alight---to get down from, step down from; dismount, land
barren---bare; not productive; desolate; arid
disrupt---to break up; disturb; upset
dynasty---a powerful family or group of rulers that maintains its position of
power for a long time
foretaste---an advance indication, sample, or warning
germinate---to begin to grow, come into being
humdrum---ordinary, dull, routine; monotonous, uneventful
hurtle---to rush violently, dash headlong, speed, fling
insinuate--to suggest or hint slyly, imply
List 2
interminable---endless, so long as to seem endless
interrogate---to ask questions, examine by questioning
recompense---to pay back, to give a reward
resume--(accent marks over e's)--a brief summary; a short written account of
one's education, work experience, or qualifications for a job
trickle---to flow or fall by drops; dribble; drizzle; drip
trivial---not important, minor; ordinary
renovate---to repair, restore to good condition, make new again
sullen---silent or brooding because of ill humor or anger; grumpy, surly
truce---a pause in fighting, temporary peace
vicious---evil, bad; spiteful; wicked, malicious, savage
List 3
available--ready for use; at hand
cater---to satisfy the needs of; pamper, gratify
customary---usual, expected, routine
dissuade---to persuade not to do something
entrepreneur---a person who starts up and takes on the risk of a business
firebrand---a piece of burning wood; hothead, agitator; emotional person
hazard---risk, peril (v) to expose to danger or harm
homicide--the killing of one person by another; manslaughter, murder
indifference---a lack of interest or concern
indignant---filled with resentment or anger over something unjust
List 4
pelt---to throw a stream of things; bombard, shower, pepper
plague----an easily spread disease causing a large number of deaths
poised---balanced; calm, controlled; self-confident; ready
regime--a government in power; a period of rule
retard---to make slow, delay, hold back
transparent---allowing light to pass through; clear
unscathed---wholly unharmed, not injured; unhurt, sound
indispensable---absolutely necessary; essential; crucial
lubricate---to apply oil or grease; to make smooth or easier to use
mutual---shared, felt, or shown equally by two or more; two-sided
List 5
animated---full of life; energetic
brood---(n)a family of young animals, especially birds; (v) to think over in
a worried, unhappy way
culminate---to reach a high point of development; to end
downright---thoroughly
drone--- (n) a loafer, idler; a buzzing or humming sound (v) to make a
buzzing sound
goad---to drive or urge on
indulge---to give in to a wish or desire; coddle; pamper
ingredient---one of the materials in a mixture
literate---able to read and write; educated
loom---to come into view; emerge, hover
List 6
luster---the quality of giving off light, brightness, glitter, shine
miscellaneous---mixed, of different kinds, assorted
oration---a public speech for a formal occasion
peevish---complaining, cross, irritable; crabby, cranky, testy
seethe---to boil or foam; to be excited or disturbed
singe---to burn slightly
unique---one of a kind; unusual
upright---vertical, straight; good, honest
verify---to establish the truth; to prove
yearn---to have a strong and earnest desire; crave, long for, want
List 7
alliance---a joining together for a common purpose
bewilder---to puzzle completely, confuse
buffoon---a clown, a stupid person
controversial---arousing argument, dispute or disagreement
dishearten---to discourage
fruitless---unsuccessful, useless
hostile---unfriendly, warlike, aggressive
inflammable---easily set on fire; easily angered
inflict---to give or cause something unpleasant
malignant---deadly, extremely harmful, evil
List 8
mortify---to hurt someone's feelings deeply; to cause humiliation
orthodox---traditional; customary; in agreement with generally accepted
beliefs or ways of doing things
procure---to obtain through special effort; gain; acquire
scurry---to run quickly, scamper, hurry
sodden---soaked with liquid or moisture; drenched, waterlogged
spirited---full of life; courageous
virtual---so close as to be equivalent to the real thing
void---completely empty; vacant, bare
wayward---disobedient, willful; unpredictable
wince---to draw back suddenly, as though in pain or fear
List 9
anecdote---a short account of an incident in someone's life
consolidate---to combine, unite; make solid or firm; strengthen
counterfeit---an imitation designed to deceive; false, phony, bogus
docile---easily taught, led, or managed; obedient
dominate---to rule over by strength or power; control
entreat---to beg, implore
fallible---capable of being wrong, mistaken; imperfect
fickle---liable to change very rapidly; inconstant
fugitive---one who flees or runs away; deserter
grimy---very dirty, covered with dirt or soot
List 10
iota---a very small part or quantity
maul---to beat or knock about, handle roughly
potential---possible, about to happen
radiant---shining, bright; glowing, brilliant
rural---relating to farm areas and life in the country
substantial---large, important, major
tactful---skilled in handling difficult situations or people
tamper---to interfere with; mess with; fool with
ultimate---last, final; most important or extreme
uncertainty---doubt
List 11
anonymous---unnamed, unknown
browse---to read casually; to window-shop; skim
dupe----a person easily tricked or deceived; to fool, mislead
dynamic---active, energetic, forceful
eradicate---to root out,get ride of , destroy completely
frustrate---to prevent from accomplishing a purpose; disappoint
grim---frightful, savage, cruel, fierce
inimitable---not capable of being copied or imitated
makeshift---a temporary substitute for something else
marginal---only barely good; borderline
List 12
pending---waiting to be settled
prescribe---to order for medical purposes; recommend
preview---something seen in advance
prominent---standing out so as to be easily seen
quaint---odd or old-fashioned in a pleasing way
reluctant---unwilling; hesitant; holding back
scrimp---to handle very economically or stingily
snare---to trap; catch
utmost---greatest, highest; maximum, supreme, best
vengeance---punishment in return for an injury or a wrong; revenge
List 13
amiss---faulty, imperfect, not as it should be
brawl---a noisy quarrel or fight
detest---to hate, despise, abhor
domestic---not foreign; native to a country; household
flagrant---extremely bad; outrageous
flaw---a slight fault; imperfection
fledgling---an inexperienced person, beginner; a young bird about to leave the
nest
fluster---to make or become confused or nervous
foremost---most important, leading, primary
momentum---the force or speed with which something moves
List 14
notable---striking, remarkable; impressive
nurture---care for, train, raise
paradox---a riddle, enigma; a self-contradictory statement that on closer
examination proves true (example: "I am disturbed by the paradox of
impoverished people in the richest land on Earth.")
perjury---the act of swearing to a lie; false witness
presume---to take for granted, take upon oneself; trespass
prior---earlier, former, previous
proficient---skilled, expert, able
salvo---a burst of gunfire or cannon shot, often as a salute; a verbal attack
vigilant---wide-awake, alert, watchful
wrath---intense anger; rage, fury, ire
List 15
abnormal---not usual, not typical, strange; freakish
capsize---to turn bottom side up; overturn
catastrophe---a large-scale disaster, misfortune, or failure
decrease---to become or make less; reduce
disputatious---inclined to argue; argumentative
eject---to drive or throw out; expel; kick out
flourish---to grow, thrive; prosper
incentive---a reason for doing something; motive
insubordinate---disobedient, rebellious
legible---easily read
List 16
nub---the heart of a matter
onslaught---a violent attack; assault
ordain---to order or command; establish by law
outstrip---to get ahead of, do better than
pervade---to spread throughout
prudent---cautious, careful, showing good sense
quench---to put out, extinguish
remnant---a small part remaining behind; leftover, fragment
simultaneous---happening or existing at the same time
swerve---to turn aside sharply; veer
List 17
accelerate--to speed up
bystander---one who looks on or observes
canvass---go over in detail; survey
casual---informal; accidental; showing little concern
downtrodden---treated unfairly and cruelly oppressed; mistreated
entice---to attract, tempt
erode---to wear away gradually, eat away
flounder---to thrash about in a clumsy or ineffective way
graphic---lifelike, vivid; colorful
gruesome---horrible, revolting; ghastly; gory
List 18
melancholy---sad, gloomy, unhappy, depressed, dejected
ordeal---a difficult or painful experience
parch---to make dry and thirsty; dehydrate
persist---to continue steadily in a course of action
puny---of less than normal strength or size; pint-sized; small, weak
quibble---to avoid a point by twisting words or raising minor objections;
(n) a petty objection
ratify---to approve, confirm
regal---royal, kinglike; majestic
stifle---to smother, prevent from breathing; to hold back or choke off
vital---having life, living; necessary to life
List 19
bellow---to make a sound similar to that of a bull; roar
beneficiary---one who benefits from something; a person who is left many or
other property in a will.
botch---to repair or patch poorly; make a mess of
clutter---to fill or cover in a disorderly way; litter
dilapidated---falling apart or ruined, run-down
dismantle---to take apart; to strip of something
farce---a play filled with ridiculous or absurd happenings
futile---not successful; useless; ineffective
grueling---very tiring, calling for extreme effort
hospitable---offering friendly or generous treatment to guests; gracious
List 20
lair--the home or den of a wild animal; any hideout
lavish--overly generous; excessive
morbid---in an unhealthy mental state, extremely gloomy
notorious---widely known because of bad conduct; disgraceful
pamper---to allow too many privileges, be too generous and easygoing toward
parasite---an organism that lives in or on another organism; one who lives off
another person
shirk---to avoid or get out of doing work
surplus---an amount beyond what is required, excess
timidity---the state of being easily frightened
veto---the power to forbid or prevent; to prohibit or reject; turn down
List 21
adequate---sufficient, enough
ajar--partly open
dialogue---a conversation between two or more people
emblem---a symbol, sign, token, badge
gigantic---huge, giant, immense
havoc---very great destruction, ruin
hearth---the floor of a fireplace; chimney corner
implore---to beg; entreat; pray
infamous---very wicked; disgraceful
innumerable---too many to count, without number
List 22
lax---not strict; not tense, relaxed
mar---to spoil, disfigure; damage
misdemeanor---a crime or offense that is less serious than a felony; any minor
misbehavior or conduct
mull---to think about; consider
narrative---a story, detailed report
overture---an opening move toward action; a proposal or offer
pact--an agreement, treaty
stalemate---a situation in which further action by either of two opponents is
impossible
vindictive---bearing a grudge, feeling or showing a strong tendency toward revenge
wilt---to become limp and drooping (as a flower)
List 23
abound--to be plentiful; overflow with
braggart---a boaster; boastful in a loud, annoying way
cache---a hiding place; stockpile
clarification---the act of making clear or understandable
despondent---sad, without hope, discouraged
embezzle---to steal property entrusted to one's care
heartrending---causing mental pain or grief
leisurely---unhurried, taking plenty of time; slow, relaxed
lethargic---unnaturally sleepy; lazy, sluggish
malady---a sickness, illness, ailment
List 24
mellow---ripe, well-matured; gentle, pleasant
nomadic---wandering, moving about from place to place
piecemeal---gradually; bit by bit
quest---a search, hunt; pursuit
random---by chance, not planned or prearranged; haphazard
rant---to speak wildly and noisily; rave, fume
reinforce---to make stronger with new materials or support; bolster
seclusion---isolation from others; solitude
status---situation, recognition; rank or standing in society
turmoil---a state of great confusion or disorder; mental strain; chaos
