elite prep vocab 501-600

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wizened

wrinkled from aging

florid

to eat into; destroy gradually, as by a chemical process

enervate

to weaken

rash

showing boldness or haste without judgement

dogma

a specific set of ideas or beliefs, esp. religious or asserted to be absolutely true

germane

fitting and appropriate

tinge

a faint coloring; a trace amount

addendum

a supplement; something added at end of book or document

auspicious

showing signs of a favorable outcome; marked by favorable circumstances

epicure

one with refined tastes, esp. in food and wine

quintessence

a pure substance or essence of something

blanch

to turn pale

ascribe

to attribute to a specific source

demagogue

a leader who obtains power by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the people

burgeon

to sprout or grow rapidly

lank

long and slender; lean

repudiate

to reject as invalid or untrue

berate

to scold severly and at length

incontrovertible

impossible to dispute

prudent

marked by careful planning; discreet

loquacious

very talkative

mishap

an unlucky or unfortunate accident

omnibus

including or dealing with many items at once; a volume of reprinted works of a single author or of reprinted works on a single theme

recapitulate

to summarize; to paraphrase

conviction

a strong belief or opinion

prognosticate

to predict

preclude

to make impossible; to prevent the occurrence of

rampant

unrestrained

tautology

needless repetition of an idea in different words (e.g., “widow woman”); a statement that is logically true no matter what (e.g., the commitee’s term shall last one year or until it ends)

paragon

an example of perfection

stringent

imposing strict standards of performance; constricted

enmity

the bitter attitude or feelings of an enemy or of mutual enemies

insolent

boldly disrespectful in speech or behavior; impertinent; impudent

found

to establish; to set up on a firm basis

purse

to contract into wrinkles or folds; to pucker

convoke

to call together in a meeting

lurch

to sway or tip abruptly to one side; to stagger

vim

energy, enthusiasm

anathema

someone or something that is hated

tortuous

winding; twisted

clamor

a loud and continuous noise

frivolous

of little importance

perfunctory

done without care or interest or merely as a form or routine

faculty

a natural ability to do something

malodorous

smelling very bad

turgid

excessively ornate or complex in style; swollen, as from fluid

ascertain

to discover with certainty, as through examination

prodigious

wonderful; amazing; very big

saccharine

overly or sickeningly sweet

umbrage

offense or resentment (used with "take")

august

inspiring awe or admiration, esp. because of high rank or character

intimate

to make known subtly; to hint

morsel

a small piece, esp. of food

disinterested

free from bias

girth

the distance around something; circumference

verity

a widely-accepted truth

impetus

an impelling or originating force

dismay

to destroy courage or resolution; to cause to lose enthusiasm, to disillusion