Abasement, humiliation; degradation

Abeyance, state of inactivity; disuse

Abraded, worn away; eroded [abrade (v); abrasion (n)]
Abrogate, cancel; deny; repeal
Abscission, cutting; process causing leaves to fall off
Abstemious, self denying; refraining from indulging
Abstruse, difficult to understand; obscure
Abut, to adjoin
Accolade, tribute; honor; praise
Accretion, accumulation of matter; growth produced by adding from the outside
Acolyte, disciple; follower or attendant
Acquiesce, to agree to; give in to
Acrid, sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes)
Acrophobia, fear of heights
Admonitory, scolding [admonition (n)]
Adulation, strong admiration; worship
Adumbrate, outline; indicate
Affable, friendly; social; easygoing
Agog, amazed; wide-eyed with enthusiasm
Alacrity, eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness
Aloof, distant; detached; cold
Amalgamate, join; consolidate [amalgamation (n)]
Amortize, pay off a debt in installments
Anodized, electroplated; coated with thin layer of metal
Anthology, a book which is a collection of poems or stories
Aphoristic, expressed tersely [aphorism (n) = short statement; maxim]
Apocryphal, of doubtful origin
Apposite, fitting; suitable
Approbation, approval [opp. disapprobation]
Arboreal, living in trees; concerned with trees
Asperity, using harsh or critical tone
Assay, 1. try; 2. assess purity
Assiduous, thorough; diligent
Atavism, reappearance of ancestral traits; regression [atavistic (a)]
Baleful, evil
Belabor, explain in unnecessary detail
Beleaguer, besiege; attack
Belie, contradict
Bemoan, complain about
Benignity, compassion; gentleness; fondness
Bilk, cheat; defraud
Blandishment, words used to coax or flatter [blandish (v)]
Blighted, damaged; destroyed; ruined
Blunderbuss, 1. ancient weapon (type of gun); 2. a clumsy person
Bombast, arrogant pompous language
Boorish, ill-mannered
Bristle, to show irritation
Brusque, blunt; abrupt
Bulwark, fortification; barricade; wall
Burgeon, grow; flourish; put forth new shoots
Burlesque, 1. comic play; 2. lampoon
Burnish, polish
Buttress, strengthen; support
Byline, the line that tells you who wrote an article
Callow, immature
Canonical, orthodox [canon (n) = set of accepted works]
Cant, insincere talk
Capacious, spacious
Caprices, whimsies; fancies
Caret, punctuation mark signifying omission
Carping, constant criticism
Carrion, dead flesh; carcasses
Caulk, treat with substance such as tar to make water-tight
Caustic, burning
Chantey, type of song sung by sailors
Chicanery, trickery
Chimerical, changeable; unstable
Choleric, easily angered
Chorales, simple hymns
Churlishness, rudeness; ill-mannered behavior
Circuitous, indirect
Cogitate, think over something; ponder
Colander, bowl with holes used to drain vegetables etc.
Collage, picture made from fragments of other pictures
Collate, arrange in order
Complaisance, flexibility; willingness to please [complaisant (a)]
Concatenate, link together
Concatenation, linking into chains
Conflagration, big fire
Consternation, worry and concern
Contiguous, adjacent; touching; abutting [contiguity (n)]
Contrite, sorry
Contrition, sorrow and repentance
Contumacious, stubborn
Corrugated, highly folded
Crepuscular, active at dawn and dusk
Daguerreotype, forerunner of the photograph
Dawdler, slow person who falls behind others [dawdle (v)]
Decathlon, an athletic competition with ten events
Defoliate, cause leaves to fall off
Deign, condescend
Deleterious, harmful
Demur, hesitate; refuse
Descry, to see (esp. at a distance); catch sight of
Desecrate, to damage or pollute a holy place
Destitution, hardship; poverty; misery
Diaphanous, transparent; thin and delicate
Diatribe, tirade; violent denunciation; stream of criticism
Diffident, lacking confidence
Dike, dam; embankment
Dilettante, person who dabbles in a subject without serious study
Dilettantism, dabbling esp. in the arts [dilettante (n) = person who dabbles]
Diorama, model of a scene
Disabuse, make someone aware of an error in thinking
Discordancy, cacophony; harshness; jarring
Discrete, separate; discontinuous (not to be confused with discreet - prudent; diplomatic]
Discursiveness, long windedness; indirectness
Disinter, dig up [opposite inter = bury]
Diurnal, active in daytime
Doff, take off (esp. of a hat)
Don, put on (esp. of clothes)
Dotard, foolish old man
Dote, be excessively fond of [doting (a)]
Drivel, nonsense
Dross, something worthless; impurities left after refining
Ebullient, very lively; cheerful; jovial; happy
Eddy, circular current
Effigy, a model of a person
Effrontery, daring; audacity (has a negative connotation)
Emboss, decorate with a raised design
Emollient, softening (a); something which softens (n)
Encomium, praise
Enervate, weaken
Enshroud, cover
Envenom, to cause bitterness and bad feeling
Epaulet, shoulder decoration
Epicure, someone who appreciates good food and drink
Epistle, a letter (form of communication)
Epistolary, concerned with letters; through correspondence
Equivocate, speak ambiguously; avoid telling the truth
Esoterica, obscure details
Etymology, the study of word origins
Euphony, pleasant sounds
Exceptionable, very bad (something which we should object to)
Exculpate, free someone from blame; pardon; acquit
Execrable, very; very bad
Exegesis, scholarly explanation or interpretation
Exemplar, model type [exemplary (a)]
Exigency, urgent matter; pressing need
Expiate, atone; make amends for
Expostulate, offer strong objections; remonstrate
Extant, still in existence (opposite of extinct)
Extemporize, speak without preparation or rehearsal [extemporaneous (a)]
Extirpate, wipe out totally
Extirpation, wiping out; complete destruction [extirpate (v)]
Extol, praise
Faddish, whimsical; following a fashion
Fallow, uncultivated
Falters, hesitates
Fastidious, overly particular; finicky
Fawn, behave in a sycophantic way; grovel [fawning (a)]
Fecund, fertile
Felicitous, apt
Ferrous, concerned with iron or its compounds
Fitful, not continuous; stopping and starting
Fledge, 1. grow feathers; 2. leave nest [fledgling (n) = an inexperienced person or a baby bird]
Fly-by-night, unreliable; disreputable
Foible, quirk; minor weakness
Foppish, behaving or dressing like a dandy; excessively concerned with fashion
Fracas, fight; disturbance
Frieze, decorative border
Froward, stubborn; wayward; disobedient
Fulminate, 1. attack loudly in words; denounce thunderously; 2. explode noisily
Furrow, groove
Fusillade, long burst of gunfire
Gainsay, contradict
Gall, 1. bitterness (bad feeling); 2. confidence; 3. abnormal growth on a plant
Garble, distort; confuse; muddle
Garish, gaudy
Gaucherie, awkwardness [gauche (a)]
Germinal, just growing; not developed; immature
Gerontocracy, government by the aged
Gibbering, making meaningless noises
Glacial, hostile; unfriendly; cold; icy
Glib, slick; superficial esp. in speech
Gossamer, delicate; filmy; like gauze
Grate (v), 1. to annoy; aggravate; vex; 2. shred
Guffaw, sudden loud laughter
Guileless, frank; straightforward; honest
Gustatory, concerned with the sense of taste
Hackneyed, common and over-used
Halcyon, peaceful and happy; calm (esp. of summer weather)
Hallow, respect; worship
Hapless, unlucky
Haughtiness, arrogance; pride
Hawser, thick rope or cable
Hidebound, rigid in opinions
Histrionic, theatrical; exaggerated
Hoary, old
Homiletics, art of preaching and giving sermons
Hortatory, encouraging; exhorting
Hypochondriac, a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses
Idyll, story or incident in peaceful or ideal setting [idyllic (a)]
Impecunious, having no money
Imperturbability, quality of being calm and not easily disturbed [imperturbable (a)]
Importune, beg; solicit [importunate (a)]
Improbity, lack of honesty or integrity
Impugn, challenge; question someones honor etc.
Inchoate, undeveloped; nascent
Incubus, encumbrance; nightmarish thing
Indecorous, unseemly; inappropriate (of behavior)
Indelible, cannot be wiped out
Inerrancy, infallibility; inability to make mistakes [inerrant (a)]
Ingnue, nave, unsophisticated person
Iniquitous, evil; unjust [iniquity (n)]
Intemperate, excessive; immoderate [intemperance (n)]
Interregnum, interval between reigns or governments
Intrepid, brave
Inured, hardened; habituated
Inveigle, coax; cajole; wheedle; entice
Jamb, door post
Jaundiced, cynical; pessimistic
Jibe, agree with; complement; match up with (in British usage jibe means mock)
Jollity, gaiety; happiness
Knotty, complex; difficult to solve
Laceration, a cut
Lachrymose, tearful; sad
Laconic, using few words; brief; to the point
Lacuna, gap; missing part [plural = lacunae]
Lambaste, attack verbally
Lampoon, ridicule; spoof
Languid, tired; slow
Largess, generosity
Lassitude, lack of energy; weariness
Leaven, to make light; modify; cause bread to rise using yeast etc.
Levee, 1. raised bank of a river; 2. morning reception held by a monarch
Levity, flippancy; joking about serious matters
Libertine, dissolute person; prodigal
Lien, right to sell property held as a security; legal hold on job etc.
Liniment, soothing lotion
Lint, fluff; soft material used to cover wounds
Lithe, flexible; supple
Liturgy, form of worship (rite/ceremony)
Livid, very angry
Lofty, snooty; arrogant; haughty
Loll, laze around; hang out (when used of the tongue)
Lope, run with long strides
Lugubrious, sad; gloomy
Lummox, clumsy person
Macerate, chop into tiny pieces
Maculated, spotted
Maelstrom, whirlpool; storm in the ocean
Malady, illness
Malapropism, use of similar sounding but incorrect word
Malingerer, person who deliberately tries to avoid work
Martinet, person who believes in strict discipline
Maudlin, sad; sentimental; inclined to weep
Maverick, a loner
Menagerie, collection of animals
Mercurial, volatile; changeable
Mettlesome, spirited [mettle (n)]
Millinery, hats and hat-making
Minatory, threatening
Mince, 1. chop into small pieces; 2. walk with tiny steps, 3. speak in an affected manner
Mire, swamp; muddy ground
Misanthrope, hater of the rest of mankind
Modicum, small amount
Moribund, on the point of death
Munificent, generous; charitable
Mutinous, very rebellious
Nadir, lowest point
Nascent, emerging; newly formed
Natty, neat; dapper; smart
Neologism, newly coined word
Nettle, annoy
Niggardly, miserly; stingy
Noisome, disgusting
Nondescript, having no special features; dull and ordinary
Nonplussed, confused
Nostrum, remedy
Nugatory, of minor significance; futile
Nuzzle, cuddle; snuggle
Obdurate, stubborn
Oblique, indirect; slanting
Obviate, avoid; make unnecessary
Occluded, obscured; blocked
Officious, domineering; intrusive; meddlesome
Ogle, stare at; observe in an obvious manner
Opaque, does not let light through
Opprobrious, expressing great scorn [opprobrium (n)]
Opulent, wealthy; rich; magnificent
Ossified, turned to bone; become rigid [ossification (n)]
Ossify, 1. turn to bone; 2. become fixed and rigid
Overwrought, worked up; in an emotional state
Paean, praise; tribute (esp. in song)
Palisade, fence made of posts
Palliative, a remedy that improves but doesn't cure
Palpate, medical term meaning to examine with the hands
Panegyric, speech praising someone; laudatory words
Papyrus, material used for writing on before paper was invented
Paragon, a perfect example
Parched, dried up
Pastiche, work (usually artistic) which imitates, or is composed of parts taken from varied sources
Peccadillo, minor weakness; trivial offence
Percipient, perceptive; insightful
Perfunctory, superficial; cursory
Peripatetic, nomadic; moving from place to place
Persnickety, fastidious; fussy
Perspicacious, insightful; sharp; wise
Perspicacity, insight
Phlegmatic, calm; imperturbable
Picayune, insignificant; of little value
Pine, 1. type of evergreen tree; 2. grieve
Pique, 1. annoyance (n); 2. to stimulate interest; to annoy (v)
Pith, center; soft part of stem; essence
Placid, calm; peaceful
Plaudit, statement giving strong praise
Pliable, flexible; not stubborn
Plodding, walking slowly and heavily; uninspired
Plumage, feathers of a bird
Polemical, causing debate or argument
Ponderous, weighty; slow and heavy
Pontificate, speak pompously or dogmatically
Portent, a warning sign; omen
Poseur, someone who puts on an act
Potable, suitable for drinking
Prattle, mindless talk
Precept, guiding principle
Precipice, steep slope
Precipitous, done in a hurry
Precocious, developing early
Predilection, leaning; interest; talent
Presage, forewarn of; indicate
Presentiment, feeling that something might happen
Preternatural, unnatural; abnormal
Prevaricate, speak misleadingly and evasively
Probity, uprightness; honesty
Prodigious, very large
Prolixity, wordiness [prolix (a)]
Propitiate, appease; try to gain favor [propitiation (n)]
Proscribe, forbid
Prosody, study of versification
Prudish, narrow-minded; excessively concerned with morals [prudery (n), prude (n)]
Psychosis, severe mental disturbance
Puissance, power
Punctilious, paying attention to small details
Purchase, 1. grip; 2. buy
Purloin, steal
Pusillanimous, cowardly
Pyre, ceremonial fire
Pyromania, compulsion to start fires
Quaff, drink down quickly
Quandary, dilemma; puzzle
Quarry, 1. something that is hunted; 2. mine for stone
Querulous, always complaining
Quisling, traitor
Quixotic, impractically idealistic
Quotidian, daily; routine
Raconteur, person who relates a story
Rarefy, make less dense [rarefaction (n)]
Raucous, rough and unpleasant (of sounds)
Rebus, puzzle in which pictures give clues
Recondite, obscure
Recumbent, reclining; lying down
Redolent, smelling of; giving off odors
Refulgent, glowing; radiant
Relegate, dismiss to a lower position
Remuneration, payment for work done
Replete, full
Repudiate, shun; eschew
Rescind, retract; repeal
Reticent, restrained; holding something back; uncommunicative
Rife, common
Riveting, fascinating [to rivet literally means to fix metal plates using metal pins]
Ruminate, think over something; ponder
Saccharin, falsely sweet
Sacrosanct, very holy; inviolable
Salacious, lecherous; erotic
Sallow, yellowish
Salubrious, health-giving
Salutary, something which teaches you a lesson; beneficial
Sap, 1. liquid inside plants (n); 2. to drain; to undermine (v); 3. a fool (n)
Sate, satisfy
Sedulity, thoroughness; perseverance [sedulous (a)]
Sedulous, persevering; eager and thorough
Seine, type of fishing net
Seminal, essential; formative
Sequester, isolate
Sere, withered; old
Serrated, jagged; saw-like
Serration, jagged edge
Sibyl, prophetess
Sidereal, of or related to stars
Sinecure, job which pays salary but requiring little effort
Sinistral, left-handed (or counterclockwise) [dextral - right handed]
Slew, glut; excess
Slight, 1. minor (a); 2. perceived insult (v) and (n)
Smorgasbord, a Swedish buffet of cold dishes
Somatic, concerned with the body
Sophomoric, juvenile; immature
Soporific, inducing sleep
Sparse, spare; bare; meager
Staid, dull; sober; serious
Stanch, to stop
Staunch, loyal; faithful; dependable
Stevedore, dockworker
Stipple, cover with dots of paint etc.
Stolid, impassive; dull; indifferent
Strident, loud and harsh
Strut, 1. supporting rod (n); 2. to walk in an arrogant manner; show off (v)
Strut, swagger; show off
Stygian, very dark
Suborn, bribe
Subterfuge, a trick
Suffragist, someone who campaigns for voting rights
Supercilious, proud and haughty
Supine, lying flat on ones back
Supplicant, person who requests or begs for something [supplicate (v)]
Surly, grumpy; rude
Sybarite, lover of luxury
Syllogism, type of logical reasoning
Syncopation, type of musical rhythm with missed beats
Taciturn, quiet; saying little
Tamp, to plug; press loose matter down tightly (e.g. pack explosives into a hole)
Tare, 1. weed; 2. allowance made for container when weighing
Tawdry, of little value; gaudy
Teetotalism, total abstinence from alcohol
Temper, to moderate; soften
Tendentious, dogmatic; biased
Tenuous, flimsy; not solid
Terse, concise; to the point
Testiness, irritability; irascibility [testy (a)]
Titter, giggle quietly
Toady, sycophant; flatterer
Torpid, inactive; lazy; stagnant
Torpor, dormancy; sluggishness; inactivity
Totter, walk unsteadily
Trepidation, fear
Trite, unoriginal; dull
Truant, shirker; someone absent without permission
Turpitude, depravity
Tutelary, serving as a guardian [tutelage (n)]
Tyro, novice; beginner
Umbrage, 1. shadow; 2. offence; sense of injury
Unalloyed, undiluted; total
Unctuous, oily; using excessive flattery
Underwrite, give guarantee, insure
Unfetter, set free
Unfrock, to remove a priest from his position
Untoward, unexpected
Vagary, something unaccountable; freak
Vagrant, person wandering without a home
Variegated, multicolored; speckled
Venial, minor; unimportant
Verbiage, excessive or meaningless wordiness
Vicissitude, unexpected change in fortune or circumstances
Vignette, small sketch
Virtuosity, skill, expertise [virtuoso (n); virtuosi (n.pl)]
Virtuoso, an accomplished musician
Vitiate, weaken; sap energy
Vitriolic, corrosive; strongly attacking
Vivacity, liveliness; animation
Vivify, enliven
Volubility, excessive talkativeness [voluble (a)]
Voluble, talkative
Voracious, ravenous
Waft, drift smoothly (v); whiff; smell (n)
Wag (n), a witty person
Wane, grow less
Waylay, accost; stop; approach; hinder
Whelp, young dog
Whittle, 1. carve with knife; 2. reduce step by step
Wistful, melancholy; pensive; expressing a longing for
Wry, 1. twisted or bent to one side; 2. dryly humorous