WWW List 21-23

equivocate

to hedge

superfluous

unnecessary

bilateral

two-sided

unilateral

one-sided

circumspect

cautious

commensurate

of like measure

malevolence

evil intent

neophyte

beginner

misanthropist

people hater

bellicose

war like

anthropomorphic

man-shaped

captious

fault-finding

neologism

new word

malediction

a curse

incredulous

not believing

omniscient

all knowing

monomania

obsession with one thing

specious

false

excoriate

verbally flog

prototype

first model

xenophobia

fear of foreigners

benediction

blessing

amorphous

shapeless

preponderance

bulk

magnamimous

great-minded

mollify

make soft

ichthyologist

fish scientist

polyglot

multi-linguist

diaphanous

semitransparent

somniferous

bringing sleep

sinecure

an easy lucrative job

soliloquy

speech to oneself

adherent

supporter

abjure

renounce

caustic

burning

confluence

a flowing together

depose

topple from power

egomania

self-obsession

egregious

blatant

analgesic

painkiller

chiromancy

palm reading

oligarchy

government by a few

intractable

stubborn

intransigent

not compromising

perfidious

treacherous

perspicuous

brilliantly clear

ingenuous

innocent and naive

circumlocution

talking in circles

gregarious

sociable

discursive

rambling

egocentric

self-centered

tangible

touchable

demagogue

corrupt politician

preclude

foreclose

cryptologist

code breaker

ethnocentrism

racial or cultural prejudice

pedagogue

teacher

recant

retract

revoke

cancel

pugnacious

combative

incisive

sharp

diatribe

abusive criticism

anomaly

abnormality

enumerate

to list

circumscribed

limited

intercede

mediate

disputatious

argumentative

loquacious

talkative

abrogate

annul

prescience

foreknowledge

sacrosanct

sacred

androgynous

masculine and feminine

acronym

initials-name

congenital

at birth

cacophony

bad noise