GRE VOCAB

euphemism

A mild or indirect word or expression used in place of one that may be considered harsh or offensive.

endemic

A disease or condition regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.

desiccate

To remove the moisture from something, typically through drying.

idiosyncrasy

A characteristic or habit that is peculiar to an individual.

vim

energy and enthusiasm

kindle

to ignite or inspire

molt

to shed old skin or feathers periodically

antipathy

strong dislike

ossify

to turn to bone; to become rigid

potentate

a powerful person

solecism

gramatical error

attenuate

to weaken, to reduce in force

aggregate

to bring together into one

abstemious

to not be greedy or self-indulgent

castigation

to severely punish

paradox

contradicting oneslef, but still holds some truth

intrepid

fearless

implacable

to angered to the point where you cannot be swayed

inert

powerless

sully

to dirty

Mar

deface or stain something

flout

treated something with disdain especailly rules

multifarious

many different things

lumber

to move heavily or sluggishly

demur

to hesitate or object

dubutante

a young woman making an introduction into society, typically wealthy

propitiate

to try and get into someone’s good graces

Toady

someone whose overly nice to the point that its fake

bombastic

talking with pompousness but at its core the words are empty

Impermeable

not allowing anything to get through whether its fluids or emotions

jargon

language associated with a specific trade or a specific group of people

sardonic

someone who is characterized by being scornful or nasty mocking

monastic

almost living like a monk

pervade

to spread throughout all parts of something; to fill

dyspeptic

grumpy, irritable, gloomy about life, pessimistic

assuage

to relieve (your pain)

vernal

pertaining or appearing to spring, youthlike

recondite

little known or difficult subject matter

quiescent

being quiet or still, state of inactivity

coagulate

to turn from liquid to something thicker; to thicken

archaic

very old or old-fashioned

innocuous

a statement or question that is not harmful or offensive (innocent)

subpoena

a legal summons ordering someone to go to court

quibble

a small objection or criticism

parley

a conference between opposing sides in a dispute

decorum

behavior in keeping with good taste, etiquette

gouge

to make a hole or dig with an object; to overcharge

lucid

plain, obvious, undertstandable, evident, clear speech, sane

derivative

piece of art or artist copying another artist, negative connotation

solicitous

showing interest of concern about someone or something

husband

to manage with careful economy, to conserve

monotony

a lack of variety in interest, very boring in uniformity

placate

to bring peace, to make someone less mad or angry, appease

confound

to cause surprise or confusion on someone who is expecting something very different or to mix words

peripatetic

travelling from place to place

turgid

swollen, congested, filled up to bursting point or bombastic language

obstinate

to be stubborn no matter what

diaphanous

partially see through, light, delicate, translucent

puerile

childlessly silly, immature

précis

concise summary

pathogenic

capable of producing disease

venerable

someone who is little older and is respected in their profession, revered

dilatory

slow to act or even intending to cause a delay, time wasting (often used with politicians)

admonish

to warn or repremend someone, scold

ingratiate

to carry favor with someone who is likely above you in some manner, toady

lachrymose

tearful, extremely sad, someone prone to weeping

euphony

the quality of being pleasing to the ear, nice sounding

polyglot

a person to knows and uses several languages (three or more )

larceny

to steal

obdurate

stubborn no matter what, obstinate

panegyric

a public speech or writing in parise of something or someone, similar to a eulogy

rococo

a style of architecture or furniture that is elaboratly decorated

Bolster

to support, to strengthen or proper up

plastic

looking or tasting artificial, fake

luminous

full of light, bright or shining

symbiosis

two organisms living together and benefiting from each other

sublime

lofty langauge, beautiful or outstanding, almost heavenly

apostate

always a person who leaves or renounces their religion, political belifes, or some other principles

pithy

concise, expressive but without using many words

dilettante

a person who has some interest in some type of art but doesn’t commit or have much knowledge about it, amateur

Abscond

to leave quickly and secretly (used when someone does something bad and is trying to get away)

Delineate

to trace the outline or to represent something in pictures

Relegate

to send or put in an inferior, place or condition, moving down in positions

Felicitous

well chosen ot suited to the circumstances: pleasing or fortunate

livid

incredibly angry or furious

axiom

a universally accepted rule

discerning

showing or having good judgment

striated

striped, striked or furrowed

latent

something that is dormant inside something or someone

listless

lacking energy and don’t want to do anything

circumspect

unwilling to take risks, weary

inundate

to flood someone with too many things

Precipitate

to cause an event to happen suddenly (negative connotation)

Aerie

a large nest of a bird of prey

Ambivalent

having mix feelings or controdicting ideas about someone or something

Gambol

to run or jump about in a playful way

knell

the sound of a bell ringing slowly (usually associated with death)

palatial

looking like a palace

lethargic

lacking enegery, tired

oscillate

to move or swing back and forth; swing between opinions of beliefs