College Panda 301-400

swath

a long strip or area of something

dabble

to try an activity in a casual way

earnest

sincere and serious

vitality

life, energy, and strength

mimic

to imitate or copy (someone’s actions or words)

agitate

1) to make someone troubled or nervous 2) to campaign for something in public

practical

likely to succeed or be effective in real circumstances, relating to actual experience rather than knowledge only

ominous

suggesting something unpleasant will happen

dominion

1) control over a country or people 2) the land that belongs to a ruler

pretense

a false display, an attempt to deceive

egocentric

thinking only of oneself; self

exploit

to make full use of (a resource), to use (a person) in an unfair or selfish way

comprise

to consist of or to be made up of

plight

a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation

exemplify

to be a typical example of something

momentous

very important (in reference to a decision or event)

reverberate

to continue to be heard; to echo repeatedly

paternal

behaving or feeling as a father does toward his child

lament

to express sadness and regret about something

mediation

the process by which someone tries to end a disagreement by helping the two sides to talk about and agree on a solution

miser

someone who has a great desire to possess money and hates to spend it

supple

bending or able to be bent easily; not stiff; flexible

oblivious

not aware of what is happening around you

sullen

silent and unpleasant; depressed; gloomy

imperative

1) extremely important or urgent 2) something that needs to be done immediately

reminisce

to talk about the past with pleasure

tranquil

calm, quiet, and peaceful

cleave

to cut or split into at least two parts

reluctance

an unwillingness to do something

misgiving

a feeling of doubt, uncertainty, or worry about a future event

sparse

small in number, often spread over a large area; scarce

progenitor

originator, creator, founder

absurd

ridiculous or completely unreasonable

premise

an idea or theory on which a statement or action is based; an assumption

scrutinize

to examine someone or something very carefully

supplemental

added to something else in order to improve it or complete it

poignant

causing a feeling of sadness

obscure

not known to many people, difficult to understand

ancestral

belonging to or inherited from one’s ancestors

gregarious

fond of company; sociable

exert

to use power or the ability to make something happen

vigorous

strong, healthy, and full of energy

entreat

to ask someone sincerely or anxiously to do something

desolation

a state of complete emptiness or destruction

notorious

famous for something bad

induce

1) to persuade someone to do something 2) to cause something to happen

pompous

feeling that one is better or more important than other people

disparage

to criticize someone or something in a way that shows a lack of respect

intact

complete and in the original state; not damaged

verdict

an opinion or judgment

mundane

ordinary and dull

spur

to encourage an activity or development, to cause something to develop faster

sentinel

a guard whose job is to stand and keep watch

convey

to make (an idea or feeling) known or understandable to someone; to communicate

render

to cause someone or something to be in a particular state

manifest

to show something clearly, through signs or actions

continuum

a continuous sequence; a range

redress

to correct a wrong

underscore

to emphasize the importance of something

enfeeble

to make someone or something very weak

disdain

dislike of someone or something that one feels does not deserve respect

flatter

to praise someone in order to please him or her

posterity

all future generations of people

sustain

to strengthen or support; to keep alive

sheer

1) not mixed with anything else; pure or complete 2) very large

assess

to judge the quality or importance of something

artisan

a person who does skilled work with his or her hands

subtle

not loud, bright, noticeable, or obvious

repudiate

to refuse to accept something or someone; to reject

meander

to follow a route that is not straight or direct

effectual

successful in producing the intended results

meager

very small in amount or number

tedious

boring, slow, and tiring

calibrate

to carefully measure or adjust

potent

powerful, persuasive, or effective

conducive

providing the right conditions for something to happen or exist; to help bring about

reserved

tending to keep feelings or thoughts private; quiet

medley

a mixture of different things

advocate

1) to support an idea 2) a person who publicly supports an idea

undulate

to move with a smooth wavelike motion

magnitude

1) the great size or importance of something 2) the extent or degree of something

aggrandize

to make someone more powerful or important

pummel

to hit someone or something repeatedly

timid

easily frightened; shy

bias

an unfair personal opinion that influences your judgment

refine

to improve something by making small changes

oscillate

to swing back and forth

esteem

respect and admiration for someone

displace

to force something or someone out of its usual or original place

pulpit

a raised platform in a church from which the preacher speaks

ingenious

clever, original, and inventive (in reference to a person)

constitute

to be the parts that form something

insatiable

impossible to satisfy

volition

the power to make one’s own decisions

relish

to like or enjoy something

facilitate

to make (an action or process) possible or easier

threshold

the level or point at which something starts

reform

to make changes in something in order to improve it

sneer

to make a facial expression that shows disapproval or disrespect

profound

1) intense, extreme 2) requiring deep thought