Magoosh Basic IV

altruism

noun: the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others

assail

verb: attack in speech or writing

assuage

verb: make something intense less severe

augment

verb: enlarge or increase; improve

banish

verb: expel from a community, residence, or location; drive away

benign

adj: kind

adj: (medicine) not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive

buck

verb: resist

commendable

adj: worthy of high praise

conducive

adj: making a situation or outcome more likely to happen

contemptuous

adj: scornful, looking down at others with a sneering attitude

cornucopia

noun: an abundant supply of something good

credence

noun: belief in something

debase

verb: reduce the quality or value of something

derisive

adj: abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule

detrimental

adj: (sometimes followed by “to”) causing harm or injury

egotist

noun: a conceited and self-centered person

elaborate

adj: marked by complexity and richness of detail

verb: explain in more detail

empathetic

adj: showing understanding and ready comprehension of other people’s states and emotions

euphoria

noun: a feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elation

facetious

adj: cleverly amusing in tone

fickle

adj: liable to sudden unpredictable change, esp. in affections or attachments

genial

adj: agreeable, conducive to comfort

genteel

adj: marked by refinement in taste and manners

glib

adj: (of a person) speaking with ease but without sincerity

grovel

verb: show submission or fear

hamstrung

verb: made ineffective or powerless

illicit

adj: contrary to or forbidden by law

impeccable

adj: without fault or error

inadvertent

adj: happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally

irresolute

adj: uncertain how to act or proceed

jargon

noun: a characteristic language of a particular group

lucid

adj: (of language) transparently clear; easily understandable

martial

adj: suggesting war or military life

perennial

adj: lasting an indefinitely long time; eternal; everlasting

perpetuate

verb: cause to continue

pertinent

adj: having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand

precedent

noun: an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time

pristine

adj: unspoiled, untouched (usu. for nature)

adj: immaculately clean and unused

rankle

verb: gnaw into; make resentful or angry

sentimental

adj: effusively or insincerely emotional, especially in art, music, and literature

smattering

noun: a slight or superficial understanding of a subject; a small amount of something

spurn

verb: reject with contempt

surly

adj: inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace

tawdry

adj: tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddy

tumult

noun: a state of chaos, noise and confusion

uncompromising

adj: not making concessions

unruly

adj: (of persons) noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline; unwilling to submit to authority

urbane

adj: showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience

vacuous

adj: devoid of intelligence, matter, or significance

whimsical

adj: determined by impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason