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