1100 Words You Need to Know

abound

existing in great number

annals

historical records

automation

machine that behaves like a person

badger

to continually nag

compund

to add too

drudgery

dull, difficult work

eminent

of outstanding reputation

implore

beg for assistance

indiscriminate

carelessly chosen

interminable

unending

matron

a mature woman

paradox

seemingly self-contradictory situation

percieve

to come to have an understanding of

prognosticate

to be able to tell what will happen in the future

realm

someone's special field

replete

completely filled with

steeped

to be completely soaked in something

technology

related to science of engineering

tinge

a small amount of

voracious

desiring huge amount

"to eat humble pie"

to admit your error and apologize

"a pig in a poke"

an item you purchase without having seen; a disappointment

"a flash in the pan"

promising at the start, but then disappointing

"to pour oil on troubled waters"

to make peace; to calm someone down

acost

to greet first

adroit

clever

avid

enthusiastic

cajole

coax, wheedle

enhance

to make greater

fabricate

to make up a lie

felon

criminal

furtive

sly

gesticulate

to use lively gestures

hapless

unlucky

intrepid

courageous

irate

angry

laconic

concise, pithy

nuance

shade of difference

plethora

overabundance

pretext

an excuse

reticent

uncommunicative

rudimentary

basic, elementary

throng

great number of people

vigilant

alert

"the sword of Damocles"

any imminent danger

"Pyrrhic victory"

a too costly victory

"a wet blanket"

one who spoils the fun

"to beard the lion"

to visit and oppose a person on his own grounds

bristle

to have one's hair stand up

caustic

stinging

cessation

a pause

condolence

expression of sympathy

dupe

an easily fooled person

euphemisim

saying something in a less direct way

inadvertent

due to an oversight, negligent

incipient

jsut starting

incongruous

having inconsistent elements

infamous

evil

jostle

to push, to elbow

lackluster

lacking brightness

loathe

despise

mundane

earthly

ominous

menacing

reprimand

to scold severely

repudiate

disown, refuse to accept

stipulate

make a specific demand

tremulous

trembling

wrest

seize

"crocodile tears"

insincere tears

"to carry the day"

to win the approval of the majority

"Skid Row"

disreputable part of town, inhabited by derelicts and people

"to go up in smoke"

to come to no practical result

alacrity

quick willingness

aspirant

candidate for better job

belligerent

seeking war, hostile

belittle

speak of as unimportant

brash

insolent

castigate

punish, chastise

disdain

scorn

dregs

most worthless part

feint

pretense, sham

frenzy

frantic outburst

intimidate

to make afraid

laceration

rough cut

octogenarian

person of eighty

promulgate

make public, proclaim

pugnacious

combative

scoff

to mock

scurrilous

vulgar, using indecent language

solace

comfort

sordid

filthy, ignoble

tangible

able to be touched

"to throw down the gauntlet"

to challenge someone

"feeling no pain"

drunk

"Hobson's choice"

to have no choice at all

"to rule the roost"

to be in charge, to be master

acrimonious

caustic, bitter

admonish

to scold, warn

clandestine

hidden, secret

concur

agree