wizened (adj.)
wrinkled from aging
corrode (v.)
to eat into; destroy gradually, as by a chemical process
florid (adj.)
flushed with rosy color; overdecorated
enervate (v.)
to weaken
rash (adj.)
showing boldness or haste without judgment
dogma (n.)
a specific set of ideas or beliefs, especially religious or asserted to be absolutely true
germane (adj.)
fitting and appropriate
tinge (n.)
a faint coloring; a trace amount
addendum (n.)
a supplement; something added at end of book or document
auspicious (adj.)
showing signs of a favorable outcome; marked by favorable circumstances
epicure (n.)
one with refined tastes, especially in food and wine
quintessence (n.)
a pure substance or essence of something
placebo (n.)
a substance, often presented as a medicine, that has an effect because of a patient’s expectations rather than because of an active ingredient
blanch (v.)
to turn pale
exhaustive (adj.)
thorough
ascribe (v.)
to attribute to a specific source
hazard (n.)
a risk of being harmed; something that presents such a risk
ruminate (v.)
to ponder at length
demagogue (n.)
a leader who obtains power by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the people
burgeon (v.)
to sprout or grow rapidly
lank (adj.)
long and slender; lean
revert (v.)
to return to a former condition
repudiate (v.)
to reject as invalid or untrue
nomad (n.)
one who has no permanent home
contempt (n.)
a feeling that something is low or disgusting
dubious (adj.)
causing doubt; questionable
berate (v.)
to scold severely and at length
verbose (adj.)
wordy
abash (v.)
to embarrass
incontrovertible (adj.)
impossible to dispute
prudent (adj.)
marked by careful planning
imminent (adj.)
impending; threatening; likely to happen
loquacious (adj.)
very talkatibe
brittle (adj.)
rigid; likely to break
aptitude (n.)
an inherent capacity for learning, understanding, or performing
mishap (n.)
an unlucky or unfortunate accident
omnibus (adj.)
including or dealing with many items at once
omnibus (n.)
a volume or reprinted works of a single author or of reprinted works on a single theme
stipend (n.)
a fixed and regular payment
recapitulate (v.)
to summarize; to paraphrase
conviction (n.)
a strong belief or opinion
paradox (n.)
a statement or situation that appears contradictory
prognosticate (v.)
to predict
preclude (v.)
to make impossible; to prevent the occurrence of
rampant (adj.)
unrestrained
nemesis (n.)
one who inflicts justified or great punishment; a source of harm or ruin
tautology (n.)
needless repetition of an idea in different words (for example, “widow woman”); a statement that is logically true no matter what (for example, the committee’s term shall last one year or until it ends)
paragon (n.)
an example of perfection
stringent (adj.)
imposing strict standards of performance; constricted
livid (adj.)
extremely angry; discolored, as from a bruise; pale, ashen
enmity (n.)
the bitter attitude or feelings of an enemy or of mutual enemies
insolent (adj.)
boldly disrespectful in speech or behavior; impertinent; impudent
arrogant (adj.)
having more pride and self-importance than is proper
slipshod (adj.)
marked by carelessness or casual attention to detail; sloppy
voracious (adj.)
devouring; extremely hungry
embark (v.)
to set off on a long trip
found (v.)
to establish; to set up on a firm basis
parry (v.)
to deflect an attack
purse (v.)
to contract into wrinkles of folds; to pucker
convoke (v.)
to call together in a meeting
lurch (v.)
to sway or tip abruptly to one side; to stagger
vim (n.)
energy; enthusiasm
pristine (adj.)
remaining in a pure state
anathema (n.)
someone or something that is hated
tortuous (adj.)
winding, twisted
clamor (n.)
a loud and continuous noise
frivolous (adj.)
of little importance
perfunctory (adj.)
done without care or interest or merely as a form or routine
buttress (adj.)
to prop up or support
faculty (n.)
a natural ability to do something
malodorous (adj.)
smelling very bad
elaborate (adj.)
detailed; carefully thorough
elaborate (v.)
to develop with care or at greater length
turgid (adj.)
excessively ornate or complex in style; swollen, as from fluid
modest (adj.)
limited in amount, extent, etc.
ascertain (v.)
to discover with certainty, as through examination
rescind (v.)
to take back or cancel
prodigious (adj.)
wonderful; amazing; very big
saccharine (adj.)
overly or sickeningly sweet
wary (adj.)
cautious; on guard
umbrage (n.)
offense or resentment (used with “take”)
segregate (v.)
to separate into groups or parts
august (adj.)
inspiring awe or admiration, especially because of high rank or character
discreet (adj.)
careful about what one says or does; circumspect; done, said, or placed so as to attract little notice
intimate (v.)
to make known subtly; to hint
rouse (v.)
to wake or provoke
morsel (n.)
a small piece, especially of food
cacophony (n.)
a harsh, jarring sound
disinterested (adj.)
free from bias
girth (n.)
the distance around something; circumference
skew (v.)
to place at an angle; to cause bias in or distort
skew (adj.)
asymmetric; distorted or biased
toxic (adj.)
poisonous; dangerous
verity (n.)
a widely-accepted truth
incoherent (adj.)
not sticking together; not logically connected
impetus (n.)
an impelling or originating force
increment (n.)
an increase in quantity
increment (v.)
to increase
dismay (v.)
to destroy courage or resolution; to cause to los enthusiasm, to disillusion
assimilate (v.)
to take in as one’s own; to absorb; to adapt or adjust to the customs, etc. of a group