GRE Word List 15
Group 1
| Abraded | worn away; eroded [abrade (v); abrasion (n)] |
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| Apposite | fitting; suitable |
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| Diatribe | tirade; violent denunciation; stream of criticism |
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| Gerontocracy | government by the aged |
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| Maculated | spotted |
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| Quisling | traitor |
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| Sedulity | thoroughness; perseverance [sedulous (a)] |
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| Seine | type of fishing net |
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| Tender | to offer |
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| Waffle | talk nonsense |
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Group 2
| Burlesque | 1. comic play; 2. lampoon |
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| Exemplar | model type [exemplary (a)] |
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| Homiletics | art of preaching and giving sermons |
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| Impugn | challenge; question someone’s honor etc. |
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| Incubus | encumbrance; nightmarish thing |
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| Lope | run with long strides |
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| Macerate | soften or break up by soaking; weaken |
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| Nostrum | remedy |
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| Saw | 1. tool for cutting; 2. wise saying |
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| Sibyl | prophetess |
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Group 3
| Brook | 1. small stream; 2. tolerate |
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| Emboss | decorate with a raised design |
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| Eschew | shun; avoid |
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| Limpid | transparently clear |
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| Liturgy | form of worship |
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| Nexus | connection |
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| Odometer | instrument to measure distance covered |
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| Purchase | 1. grip; 2. buy |
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| Quotidian | daily; routine |
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| Seminal | essential; formative |
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Group 4
| Agog | amazed; wide-eyed with enthusiasm |
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| Amortize | pay off a debt in installments |
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| Curmudgeon | grumpy person |
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| Dormancy | state of inactivity |
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| Efficacy | effectiveness |
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| Epithet | phrase used as a label or to express the essential nature of |
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| Figurehead | symbol of power; nominal leader |
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| Fracas | fight; disturbance |
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| Jamb | door post |
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| Milk | to squeeze; obtain by application of pressure |
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Group 5
| Chorales | simple hymns |
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| Dissonance | discord; disagreement |
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| Frieze | decorative border |
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| Gist | essence; main point |
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| Latent | hidden; real but undeveloped |
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| Partiality | bias |
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| Plodding | walking slowly and heavily; uninspired |
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| Rekindle | relight; revive |
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| Symphony | type of musical composition |
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| Tarnished | made dull; spoil (reputation) |
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Group 6
| Compromised | 1. damaged or put in doubt (esp. of reputation); 2. reached an agreement by giving up part of a claim |
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| Drabness | dullness |
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| Endow | give gift; provide with money etc. |
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| Esoterica | obscure details |
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| Falters | hesitates |
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| Prattle | mindless talk |
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| Prohibitive | 1. prohibiting; 2. exorbitantly expensive |
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| Purist | conservative; one who insists on correct forms of language etc. |
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| Quack | charlatan; fake |
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| Taunt | mock; tease |
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Group 7
| Arresting (a) | attracting attention; striking |
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| Barrage | extended gunfire to cover an attack; dam across river; deluge or information etc. |
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| Chantey | type of song sung by sailors |
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| Ferrous | concerned with iron or its compounds |
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| Manipulative | scheming |
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| Orate | speak in a pompous manner |
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| Psychosis | severe mental disturbance |
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| Savor | enjoy |
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| Table (v) | put down for future discussion |
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| Underwrite | give guarantee, insure |
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Group 8
| Dissident | person who disagrees [dissidence (n)] |
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| Enigmatic | puzzling [enigma (n)] |
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| Foolhardy | reckless [foolhardiness (n)] |
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| Homogeneity | evenness; uniformity |
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| Personification | 1. represent something as a person; 2. a concrete example of |
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| Plaque | 1. surface deposit on teeth or in artery etc.; 2. decorative plate or sign |
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| Plausibility | believability [plausible (a)] |
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| Resilience | resistance; ability to spring back [resilience (a)] |
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| Trilogy | set of three (literary works etc.); tetralogy = set of four |
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| Vagary | something unaccountable; freak |
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Group 9
| Aisle | corridor; passageway (esp. between rows of seats) |
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| Discountenance | disallow |
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| Imperative | must be obeyed |
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| Indigent | poor; needy [indigence (n)] |
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| Nadir | lowest point |
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| Paranoia | mental state characterized by delusions or excessive fear |
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| Prudence | caution; wisdom |
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| Resuscitation | revival from unconsciousness [resuscitate (v)] |
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| Shirk | avoid (esp. work) |
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| Teetotalism | total abstinence from alcohol |
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Group 10
| Balm | soothing ointment or anything soothing [balmy (a)] |
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| Calibrate | mark an accurate scale on a device |
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| Cataclysmic | violently disruptive [cataclysm (n)] |
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| Impropriety | inappropriate behavior |
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| Pith | center; soft part of stem; essence |
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| Primordial | present from the beginning of time |
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| Reconnaissance | examination or survey conducted in advance [reconnoiter (v)] |
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| Sinistral | left-handed (or counterclockwise) [dextral - right handed] |
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| Tempers | moderates |
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| Undermine | subvert; attempt to overthrow |
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