Word list 1

Group 1 Notes
Abhor hate ...................................................
Bigot narrow-minded, prejudiced person ...................................................
Counterfeit fake; false ...................................................
Enfranchise give voting rights ...................................................
Hamper hinder; obstruct ...................................................
Kindle to start a fire ...................................................
Noxious harmful; poisonous; lethal ...................................................
Placid calm; peaceful ...................................................
Remuneration payment for work done ...................................................
Talisman lucky charm ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
Abrasive rough; coarse; harsh ...................................................
Bilk cheat; defraud ...................................................
Covert hidden; undercover ...................................................
Engender cause ...................................................
storage area (like garage) for a
Hangar
plane ...................................................
Knotty complex; difficult to solve ...................................................
something subtle; a fine shade of
Nuance
meaning ...................................................
taking credit for someone else's
Plagiarism
writing or ideas ...................................................
Renown fame ...................................................
Tangent going off the main subject ...................................................

Group 3 Notes
Abasement humiliation; degradation ...................................................
Billowing swelling; fluttering; waving ...................................................
recoil in fear or servility; shrink
Cower
away from ...................................................
Enhance improve; make better or clearer ...................................................
Harangue noisy, attacking speech ...................................................
Labyrinth a maze ...................................................
Nullify to counter; make unimportant ...................................................
Plaintiff petitioner (in court of law) ...................................................
Replete full ...................................................

1
Tangible can be touched ...................................................

2
Group 4 Notes
Abrogate cancel; deny; repeal ...................................................
speech which offends religious
Blasphemy
sentiments ...................................................
Credible believable ...................................................
Enigma puzzle; mystery ...................................................
Harbingers indicators; bringers of warnings ...................................................
Labyrinthine complicated; highly convoluted ...................................................
Nuzzle cuddle; snuggle ...................................................
Plaudit statement giving strong praise ...................................................
Reprehensible shameful; very bad ...................................................
Tardy slow; late; overdue; delayed ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
Absolution forgiveness; pardon; release ...................................................
Blatant obvious ...................................................
Creditable praiseworthy ...................................................
Ensconce establish firmly in a position ...................................................
Hasten hurry; accelerate; rush ...................................................
Laceration a cut ...................................................
Obdurate stubborn ...................................................
Plausible can be believed; reasonable ...................................................
a respite; postponement of a
Reprieve
sentence ...................................................
Tawdry of little value; gaudy ...................................................

Group 6 Notes
Abstain desist; go without; withdraw ...................................................
Blighted damaged; destroyed; ruined ...................................................
Credulous gullible; ready to believe anything ...................................................
Enshroud cover ...................................................
Haughtiness arrogance; pride ...................................................
Lachrymose tearful; sad ...................................................
deliberately make something
Obfuscate
difficult to understand ...................................................
Plethora an excess ...................................................
Repudiate shun; eschew ...................................................
Tedium boredom ...................................................

3
Group 7 Notes
self denying; refraining from
Abstemious
indulging ...................................................
Blithe free-spirited; carefree ...................................................
Crepuscular active at dawn and dusk ...................................................
clear pronunciation; accent;
Enunciation
articulation ...................................................
Headstrong stubborn; willful ...................................................
Lackluster dull; monotonous; bland ...................................................
Objective unbiased; not subjective ...................................................
Pliable flexible; not stubborn ...................................................
Rescind retract; repeal ...................................................
Temper to moderate; soften ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
Abstruse difficult to understand; obscure ...................................................
1. ancient weapon (type of gun); 2.
Blunderbuss
a clumsy person ...................................................
Cringe recoil; flinch; shy away ...................................................
Envenom to cause bitterness and bad feeling ...................................................
Hedonism self indulgence; pleasure-seeking ...................................................
Laconic using few words; brief; to the point ...................................................
Oblique indirect; slanting ...................................................
Plumage feathers of a bird ...................................................
Resignation acceptance of fate ...................................................

4
 stubborn; resolute; holding firm to
Tenacious
a purpose ...................................................

Group 9 Notes
Accolade tribute; honor; praise ...................................................
Bolster support; prop up ...................................................
Cryptic puzzling; enigmatic ...................................................
Ephemeral short-lived ...................................................
Hedonist a pleasure seeker ...................................................
Lamentation expression of regret or sorrow ...................................................
Obliterate destroy; demolish; eradicate ...................................................
Plummet fall suddenly and steeply ...................................................
Resolution determination ...................................................
Tentative not certain ...................................................

5
Group 10 Notes
Acquiesce to agree to; give in to ...................................................
Bombast arrogant, pompous language ...................................................
Curtail cut short ...................................................
someone who appreciates good
Epicure
food and drink ...................................................
Heed listen to ...................................................
Lampoon ridicule; spoof ...................................................
Oblivious totally unaware ...................................................
Podium raised platform ...................................................
Resonant echoing ...................................................
Tenuous flimsy; not solid ...................................................

Word list 2
Group 1 Notes
sharp; pungent (used of smells and
Acrid
tastes) ...................................................
Boorish ill-mannered
...................................................
believing that people act only out
Cynical
of selfish motives ...................................................
Epistle a letter (form of communication)
...................................................
Heresy against orthodox opinion
...................................................
Lance spear; spike; javelin
...................................................
difficult to understand; partially
Obscure
hidden ...................................................
deeply moving; strongly affecting
Poignant
the emotions ...................................................
Respite a break; intermission
...................................................
Terse concise; to the point
...................................................

6
Group 2 Notes
Acrophobia fear of heights ...................................................
Bourgeois middle class ...................................................
Debility weakness; incapacity ...................................................
concerned with letters; through
Epistolary
correspondence ...................................................
Hiatus interruption; pause ...................................................
Languid tired; slow ...................................................
Obscured hidden; covered; buried ...................................................
Poised calm; collected; self-possessed ...................................................
Resplendent shining; glowing ...................................................
Therapeutic medicinal; curative ...................................................

7
Group 3 Notes
Acuity sharpness (mental or visual) ...................................................
Braggart someone who boasts ...................................................
Debunking exposing false claims or myths ...................................................
Epitomized typified; characterized; personified ...................................................
Hidebound rigid in opinions ...................................................
Languish decay; fade away; get weaker ...................................................
Obsequious servile; submissive ...................................................
Polemical causing debate or argument ...................................................
Restorative a tonic ...................................................
Thwart prevent; frustrate ...................................................

Group 4 Notes
Adamant forceful; inflexible ...................................................
Brawny muscular ...................................................
an athletic competition with ten
Decathlon
events ...................................................
speak ambiguously; avoid telling
Equivocate
the truth ...................................................
1. picture writing; 2. writing which
Hieroglyphics
is difficult to read or enigmatic ...................................................
Larceny theft; robbery; stealing ...................................................
Obsession a dominating concern ...................................................
Ponderous weighty; slow and heavy ...................................................
Retention preservation; withholding ...................................................
Timorous cowardly; fearful ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
Adroit skilful ...................................................
Brevity being brief ...................................................
dignified, correct behavior
Decorum
[decorous (a)] ...................................................
Err make a mistake ...................................................
Hinder obstruct ...................................................
Largess generosity ...................................................
Obsolete no longer valid ...................................................
Pontificate speak pompously or dogmatically ...................................................
restrained; holding something
Reticent
back; uncommunicative ...................................................
Tirade stream of verbal abuse ...................................................

8
9
Group 6 Notes
Adulation strong admiration; worship ...................................................
Bristle to show irritation ...................................................
Decoy lure; trap; trick ...................................................
Erratic wandering; irregular ...................................................
Histrionic theatrical; exaggerated ...................................................
Laud praise ...................................................
Obstreperous noisy and boisterous ...................................................
Portend foretell ...................................................
withdrawal; cancellation of a
Retraction
statement ...................................................
Titter giggle quietly ...................................................

Group 7 Notes
Adversity hardship ...................................................
Broach start to discuss; approach ...................................................
Deference respect ...................................................
Esoteric obscure and difficult to understand ...................................................
Hoary old ...................................................
Lavish on a grand scale; wasteful ...................................................
Obtuse mentally dull ...................................................
Portent a warning sign; omen ...................................................
Revere worship ...................................................
Tome large book ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
Advocate support ...................................................
Brusque blunt; abrupt ...................................................
Defoliate cause leaves to fall off ...................................................
Espouse promote; take up; support ...................................................
Hone sharpen; increase; whet ...................................................
Lax careless; not strict ...................................................
Obviate avoid; make unnecessary ...................................................
Poseur someone who puts on an act ...................................................
Riddled full of (usually full of holes) ...................................................
Torpid inactive; lazy; stagnant ...................................................

10
Group 9 Notes
Aesthetic concerning art or beauty ...................................................
Bulwark fortification; barricade; wall ...................................................
Defunct no longer in existence ...................................................
Etymology the study of word origins ...................................................
Hyperbole grossly exaggerated speech ...................................................
Legend 1. key to map; 2. myth or story ...................................................
Odious hateful ...................................................
Posterity future generations ...................................................
Rife common ...................................................
Torpor dormancy; sluggishness; inactivity ...................................................

Group 10 Notes
Affable friendly; social; easygoing ...................................................
Bureaucracy officialdom ...................................................
Degradation deprivation; poverty; debasement ...................................................
Eulogy praise ...................................................
a person obsessed with health;
Hypochondriac
having imaginary illnesses ...................................................
Legion in large numbers ...................................................
domineering; intrusive;
Officious
meddlesome ...................................................
Posthumous after death ...................................................
Rigor thoroughness ...................................................
Totter walk unsteadily ...................................................

11
 Word list 3
Group 1 Notes
Alacrity eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness ...................................................
Burgeon grow; flourish; put forth new shoots ...................................................
Deleterious harmful ...................................................
a polite phrase to cover something
Euphemism
unpleasant ...................................................
Hypocritical insincere ...................................................
Lethargic tired; without energy ...................................................
stare at; observe in an obvious
Ogle
manner ...................................................
Postulate hypothesize; propose ...................................................
Robust strong; healthy; tough ...................................................
Tractable obedient; dutiful; polite ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
medieval chemistry; attempt to
Alchemy
change base metal into gold ...................................................
Burnish polish ...................................................
Deliberate to think over deeply ...................................................
Euphony pleasant sounds ...................................................
Iconoclast person who opposes orthodoxy ...................................................
flippancy; joking about serious
Levity
matters ...................................................
Olfactory concerned with the sense of smell ...................................................
Potable suitable for drinking ...................................................
Rotund round ...................................................
Tranquil peaceful ...................................................

Group 3 Notes
an excuse that shows someone was
Alibi
not at a crime scene ...................................................
Buttress strengthen; support ...................................................
demarcation; explanation; definition;
Delineation
outlining ...................................................
Evacuate vacate; empty; abandon ...................................................
a personal peculiarity; something
Idiosyncrasy
unique to an individual ...................................................
Libertarian someone who opposes tyranny ...................................................
Ominous threatening ...................................................
Potent powerful; compelling; strong ...................................................
Ruminate think over something; ponder ...................................................

12
Transcribe copy ...................................................

Group 4 Notes
Allay to lessen ...................................................
the line that tells you who wrote an
Byline
article ...................................................
Demur hesitate; refuse ...................................................
Exacerbate make worse ...................................................
Ignominious shameful ...................................................
Liniment soothing lotion ...................................................
Omnipotent all-powerful ...................................................
Pragmatic practical ...................................................
Ruse trick; stratagem ...................................................
Transgress go astray; disobey; commit a sin ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
Alleviate make less severe ...................................................
Cacophony discordant loud noises ...................................................
Denounce condemn; speak out against ...................................................
Exasperated frustrated; annoyed ...................................................
shame [ignominious (a) =
Ignominy
shameful] ...................................................
Lithe flexible; supple ...................................................
Omniscient all-knowing ...................................................
practical person; one who is
Pragmatist
concerned with usefulness ...................................................
Saccharin falsely sweet ...................................................
Transient short-lived; ephemeral ...................................................

Group 6 Notes
Aloof distant; detached; cold ...................................................
Cajole coax ...................................................
Deplete use up; lessen ...................................................
very bad (something which we
Exceptionable
should object to) ...................................................
Illuminate to light up or make clear ...................................................
Livid very angry ...................................................
Onerous burdensome; hard to undertake ...................................................
Preamble introductory material ...................................................
Sacrosanct very holy; inviolable ...................................................

13
Traverse to move across ...................................................

Group 7 Notes
putting others first; being self-
Altruism
sacrificing ...................................................
Caldron huge cooking pot ...................................................
Deplore regret ...................................................
free someone from blame; pardon;
Exculpate
acquit ...................................................
Illusory deceptive; false; misleading ...................................................
person who tries to persuade
Lobbyist someone to support a particular
cause ...................................................
Onus burden ...................................................
Precarious unstable; risky ...................................................
Sagacious wise ...................................................
Trepidation fear ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
Amass accumulate ...................................................
Callow immature ...................................................
Depravity moral corruption ...................................................
Execrable very, very bad ...................................................
Immoderate excessive; extreme ...................................................
Lofty snooty; arrogant; haughty ...................................................
Opaque does not let light through ...................................................
a previous occurrence used as a
Precedent
guide ...................................................
Sage a wise person ...................................................
something of little value; knick-
Trinket
knack ...................................................

Group 9 Notes
Ambiguity uncertainty; vagueness
...................................................
Candid frank; honest
...................................................
Deprecate criticize; denounce
...................................................
scholarly explanation or
Exegesis
interpretation ...................................................
Immutable unchanging; permanent
...................................................
Longevity long life
...................................................

14
Opulent wealthy; rich; magnificent
...................................................
Precept guiding principle
...................................................
Salacious lecherous; erotic
...................................................
Trite unoriginal; dull
...................................................

15
Group 10 Notes
unclear in meaning; can be
Ambiguous
interpreted in different ways ...................................................
Candor frankness; openness ...................................................
Deride ridicule; make fun of; mock ...................................................
outstandingly good; setting a fine
Exemplary
example ...................................................
Impartial unbiased; neutral ...................................................
Loquacious talkative ...................................................
1. destine; 2. confer holy orders on
Ordain
a priest ...................................................
Precinct district of a city ...................................................
Sallow yellowish ...................................................
Trivial unimportant ...................................................

Word list 4

Group 1 Notes
lack of clarity; wavering; being
Ambivalence
undecided ...................................................
Cantankerous bad-tempered; quarrelsome ...................................................
Derogatory uncomplimentary ...................................................
Exemplify to serve as a good example ...................................................
Impecunious having no money ...................................................
Lucid clear ...................................................
Ornate highly decorated ...................................................
Precipice steep slope ...................................................
Salubrious health-giving ...................................................
shirker; someone absent without
Truant
permission ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
able to walk around (used of
Ambulatory
hospital patients) ...................................................
Capacious spacious ...................................................
Desecrate to damage or pollute a holy place ...................................................
Exhaustive complete and thorough ...................................................
Impious wicked; profane ...................................................

16
Ludicrous ridiculous; silly ...................................................
Orthodox conventional ...................................................
Precipitous done in a hurry ...................................................
something which teaches you a
Salutary
lesson; beneficial ...................................................
Truncate cut short ...................................................

Group 3 Notes
Ameliorate make better ...................................................
Capitulate surrender; give in to ...................................................
Desecration spoiling something holy ...................................................
Exonerates acquits; absolves; removes blame ...................................................
Impoverished destitute; poor ...................................................
1. Unenthusiastic; 2. neither hot
Lukewarm
nor cold ...................................................
1. turn to bone; 2. become fixed
Ossify
and rigid ...................................................
Preclude prevent or make impossible ...................................................
Sanctimonious hypocritically holy ...................................................
Tumult uproar; noise ...................................................

Group 4 Notes
Amelioration improvement ...................................................
Carping constant criticism ...................................................
Desist stop; discontinue; cease ...................................................
getting free/rid of; eliminating
Exorcism
(especially demons) ...................................................
Impromptu unrehearsed; spontaneous ...................................................
Lummox clumsy person ...................................................
Ostentatious showy ...................................................
Precocious developing early ...................................................
Sanction give approval to ...................................................
Turpitude depravity ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
Amiable friendly ...................................................
Cartographer person who makes maps ...................................................
Despondent having no hope; miserable ...................................................
refugee; emigrant; someone living
Expatriate
away from his own country ...................................................
Inadvertent not intentional ...................................................

17
Luscious juicy; moist; succulent ...................................................
Oust push out of a position ...................................................
Predecessor one who came before ...................................................
Sanguinary bloodthirsty; bloody ...................................................
Tyro novice; beginner ...................................................

Group 6 Notes
Amity friendship ...................................................
Castigate scold strongly ...................................................
Destitution hardship; poverty; misery ...................................................
Expedient convenient; practical ...................................................
Incantation chant; invocation; prayer ...................................................
Lynch assassinate; kill; illegal hanging ...................................................
Overt obvious; not hidden ...................................................
Predicament dilemma; difficult situation ...................................................
Sanguine optimistic; cheerful ...................................................
Ubiquitous found everywhere; omnipresent ...................................................

Group 7 Notes
Amorphous lacking in shape ...................................................
Catharsis purging of pent-up emotions ...................................................
Deter put off; prevent ...................................................
Expedite make faster ...................................................
Incarceration putting in prison ...................................................
Machinations plots and plans ...................................................
Overwrought worked up; in an emotional state ...................................................
Preeminent famous; outstanding ...................................................
Sardonic mocking ...................................................
Unalloyed undiluted; total ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
Analgesic medicine to combat pain ...................................................
Caucus type of private political meeting ...................................................
Deteriorate worsen; decline ...................................................
Exposition clear explanation ...................................................
Incessant without stopping ...................................................
Maelstrom whirlpool; storm in the ocean ...................................................

18
Palatable good to eat; agreeable ...................................................
Prerogative right or privilege ...................................................
Savant person with knowledge ...................................................
Unctuous oily; using excessive flattery ...................................................

Group 9 Notes
Analogous comparable ...................................................
Caustic burning ...................................................
Detrimental harmful ...................................................
Extol praise ...................................................
Incipient just beginning ...................................................
Magnanimous generous; big-hearted ...................................................
Palisade fence made of posts ...................................................
Prescient having fore-knowledge ...................................................
Scale to climb ...................................................
Undermined damaged; attacked ...................................................

Group 10
Notes
Anarchy chaos; lack of government
...................................................
Cavalcade procession of vehicles
...................................................
Devoured greedily eaten/consumed
...................................................
deport from one country back to
Extradite
the home country ...................................................
Inclination tendency; a leaning toward
...................................................
Magnate powerful businessman
...................................................
a remedy that improves but doesn't
Palliative
cure ...................................................
a feeling that something might
Presentiment
happen ...................................................
person on whom blame is placed
Scapegoat
for faults of others
...................................................
Underscore emphasize
...................................................

19
 Word list 5
Group 1 Notes
Anecdote a brief amusing story ...................................................
Celerity speed ...................................................
Dexterous skilful with hands ...................................................
Extraneous irrelevant ...................................................
Incoherent not clear ...................................................
Maladroit clumsy; unskillful ...................................................
Pallid pale ...................................................
Presumptuous assuming too much; arrogant ...................................................
Scrupulous careful; diligent; painstaking ...................................................
Unequivocal clear; obvious ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
Animosity hatred; antagonism ...................................................
Censorious disapproving; critical ...................................................
Dichotomy a division into two parts ...................................................
extend; predict on the basis of
Extrapolate
known data ...................................................
Incongruous not fitting in; out of place ...................................................
Malady illness ...................................................
Palpable easily felt; easily perceived ...................................................
Pretentious pompous; self-important ...................................................
Scrutinize examine carefully ...................................................
Unfetter set free ...................................................

Group 3 Notes
a building which is an addition to
Annex (n)
an existing building ...................................................
Censure blame ...................................................
Didactic intended to teach; instructive ...................................................
Extrinsic irrelevant; on the outside ...................................................
unimportant; insignificant;
Inconsequential
negligible ...................................................
Malediction a curse ...................................................
Panacea remedy for all ills ...................................................
Prevaricate speak misleadingly and evasively ...................................................

20
Scuttle sink ...................................................
Unfrock to remove a priest from his position ...................................................

21
Group 4 Notes
Annex (v) take possession of; seize; capture ...................................................
Cerebral intellectual ...................................................
Diffident lacking confidence ...................................................
Fallacious false ...................................................
not easily seen; subtle; not
Inconspicuous
noticeable ...................................................
Malefactor a wrong-doer ...................................................
1. example; 2. model; 3. way of
Paradigm
looking at things ...................................................
Pristine unspoiled ...................................................
an institution in which priests are
Seminary
trained ...................................................
Unprecedented never having happened before ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
something which does not fit in a
Anomaly
pattern; irregularity ...................................................
Certitude certainty ...................................................
Digress wander off the subject ...................................................
Falter hesitate; waver ...................................................
Indelible cannot be wiped out ...................................................
Malinger deliberately avoid work; shirk ...................................................
Paradox apparently contradictory statement ...................................................
Proclivity tendency towards ...................................................
Sensuous appealing to the senses ...................................................
Unscathed unharmed; intact; without a scratch ...................................................

Group 6 Notes
Antagonism hostility; strong opposition ...................................................
trickster who claims knowledge he
Charlatan
doesn't have ...................................................
Dike dam; embankment ...................................................
Fanatical obsessive; fixated ...................................................
Indifferent 1. neutral; 2. not outstanding ...................................................
person who deliberately tries to
Malingerer
avoid work ...................................................
Paragon a perfect example ...................................................
Procrastinate delay; put off ...................................................
Sentinel guard; sentry ...................................................

22
Unwitting not deliberate; unconscious ...................................................

23
Group 7 Notes
Antagonistic opposed; hostile; aggressive ...................................................
wary of; cautious about; reluctant
Chary
to give ...................................................
Dilatory slow; falling behind with one's work ...................................................
Fanaticism passion; excessive devotion ...................................................
Indigenous native to a particular area ...................................................
Malleable flexible; can be shaped ...................................................
Paramount of supreme importance ...................................................
Prodigal wasteful; extravagant ...................................................
Sequester isolate ...................................................
Upbraid scold; tell off; reprimand ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
outdated; prehistoric; very old-
Antediluvian
fashioned ...................................................
Chastises punishes ...................................................
Dilemma puzzling situation ...................................................
Fastidious overly particular; finicky ...................................................
Indolence laziness ...................................................
1. wooden hammer; 2. stick used
Mallet
for polo ...................................................
1. scrounger; 2. animal which takes
Parasite
digested food from another ...................................................
Prodigious very large ...................................................
fortunate coincidence; unsought
Serendipity
discovery ...................................................
Uproarious hilarious; hysterical; very funny ...................................................

Group 9 Notes
a book which is a collection of
Anthology
poems or stories ...................................................
Chicanery trickery ...................................................
person who dabbles in a subject
Dilettante
without serious study ...................................................
Fatuous silly; foolish ...................................................
Inductee novice; beginner ...................................................
Manipulatable Influencable ; controllable ...................................................
Parched dried up ...................................................
Profane unholy ...................................................
Serene calm; peaceful ...................................................
Upshot outcome ...................................................

24
25
Group 10 Notes
putting man at the center of one's
Anthropocentrism
philosophy ...................................................
Chimerical changeable; unstable ...................................................
Diligent hard-working ...................................................
Feasible possible and practicable ...................................................
Indulgent pampering; satisfying desires ...................................................
Marred damaged; spoiled ...................................................
Pariah an outcast from society ...................................................
Profanity swearing; cursing ...................................................
Serrated jagged; saw-like ...................................................
Urbane sophisticated; suave ...................................................

Word list 6
Group 1 Notes
Antiquated outdated; old fashioned ...................................................
Choleric easily angered ...................................................
Diorama model of a scene ...................................................
Fecund fertile ...................................................
Inebriation drunkenness; intoxication ...................................................
Marshal to gather together ...................................................
Parity equality ...................................................
Profound having deep meaning ...................................................
Servile overly submissive; groveling ...................................................
take someone's position (usually
Usurp
by force) ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
Apathetic indifferent; uninterested; lethargic ...................................................
person who records historical
Chronicler
information ...................................................
Dirge mournful song ...................................................
Felicitous apt ...................................................
Ineffable cannot be expressed in words ...................................................
pouched mammal (like a
Marsupial
kangaroo) ...................................................
narrow-minded; concerned only
Parochial
with local matters ...................................................
Profundity depth ...................................................
Skeptical doubting; not gullible ...................................................

26
Utilitarian useful ...................................................

27
Group 3 Notes
Apathy lack of interest or emotion ...................................................
Circuitous indirect ...................................................
Disapprobation disapproval ...................................................
Fervor passion; enthusiasm ...................................................
Inept incompetent; unskilled; useless ...................................................
person who believes in strict
Martinet
discipline ...................................................
a mockery; imitation for ridicule;
Parody
spoof ...................................................
Proletarian member of the working class ...................................................
Skirmish minor battle ...................................................
Utopian a believer in an ideal world ...................................................

28
Group 4 Notes
Apocryphal of doubtful origin ...................................................
using too many words; long-
Circumlocution
windedness ...................................................
to distinguish one thing from
Discern
another ...................................................
unpredictable; whimsical; easily
Fickle
swayed ...................................................
Inertia inactivity; lethargy ...................................................
person who intentionally inflicts
Masochist
pain on himself ...................................................
Parry ward off; avoid ...................................................
Prolific producing a lot ...................................................
Sluggard slow-moving; lethargic person ...................................................
Vacillate waver; hesitate ...................................................

29
Group 5 Notes
pacify; soothe; calm down; make
Appease
peace with ...................................................
Circumscribe limit ...................................................
Discord disagreement ...................................................
Finesse skill ...................................................
Inevitable cannot be avoided ...................................................
Matriarchy society governed by women ...................................................
Parsimonious economical; frugal; thrifty ...................................................
Proponents promoters; supporters ...................................................
Smelt refine an ore ...................................................
Vacuous empty; silly; meaningless ...................................................

30
Group 6 Notes
Apprehensive worried; fearful ...................................................
Circumspect cautious; considering all sides ...................................................
Discordance cacophony; harshness; jarring ...................................................
not continuous; stopping and
Fitful
starting ...................................................
Inexorable relentless ...................................................
Maverick a loner ...................................................
Parsimony stinginess; frugality; cost-cutting ...................................................
Prosaic dull; boring; ordinary ...................................................
Smorgasbord a Swedish buffet of cold dishes ...................................................
Vagrant person wandering without a home ...................................................

31
Group 7 Notes
Arable can be cultivated ...................................................
Circumvent avoid ...................................................
something which does not match
Discrepancy
up; inconsistency ...................................................
Flagrant clearly wrong ...................................................
Inexpedient not advisable ...................................................
Meager in short supply ...................................................
biased; one-sided; committed to
Partisan
one group ...................................................
Proscribe forbid ...................................................
Solace comfort for grief ...................................................
Vapid dull; uninspiring ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
Arbitrary random; for no definite reason ...................................................
Clairvoyant psychic; mystic ...................................................
to make a clear distinction; see the
Discriminate
difference ...................................................
Flamboyant showy; ornate ...................................................
perfect; flawless; cannot make
Infallible
mistakes ...................................................
Meander wander from side to side ...................................................
Pathos evoking sadness or pity ...................................................
Prosody study of versification ...................................................
Solicit to ask for; seek ...................................................
Variegated multicolored; speckled ...................................................

Group 9 Notes
obscure; known only to a few
Arcane
people ...................................................
Clamor shout; scream ...................................................
Discursiveness long windedness; indirectness ...................................................
show off; display in a showy
Flaunt
manner ...................................................
Infamous famous for something bad ...................................................
Mellow soft; melodious; ripe ...................................................
one who give support (usually
Patron
financial) ...................................................
1. lying face down; 2. be overcome
Prostration
with extreme weakness ...................................................

32
Somnambulist sleepwalker ...................................................
Vehemence violence; fervor; forcefulness ...................................................

Group 10 Notes
Archaic ancient; outdated; old fashioned ...................................................
Clandestine secret; covert; stealthy ...................................................
Disdain contempt; strong dislike ...................................................
making jokes about serious
Flippant
matters ...................................................
Infer deduce; conclude ...................................................
Menagerie collection of animals ...................................................
condescend to; behave in an
Patronize
arrogant manner towards ...................................................
main character in film, book, play
Protagonist
etc. ...................................................
Soothsayer fortuneteller ...................................................
Vehement forceful ...................................................

Word list 7
Group 1 Notes
Archetype classic example of ...................................................
Clemency mercy ...................................................
Disinterested unbiased ...................................................
Flout defy; reject ...................................................
Ingénue naïve, unsophisticated person ...................................................
Mendacious given to lying ...................................................
Paucity shortage ...................................................
Protean changeable ...................................................
Sophomoric juvenile; immature ...................................................

33
Venal corrupt; can be bribed ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
collections of old records; place of
Archives
storage of old documents ...................................................
overused expression; something
Cliché
unoriginal ...................................................
Disparage criticize; belittle ...................................................
Flustered worked-up; not calm ...................................................
Ingrate ungrateful person ...................................................
Mercenary concerned only with money ...................................................
Peccadillo minor weakness; trivial offence ...................................................
person under protection of, or
Protégé
guided by another ...................................................
Soporific inducing sleep ...................................................
Veneer surface coating ...................................................

Group 3 Notes
Articulate clear; lucid; eloquent ...................................................
Clientele customers ...................................................
Disparity an inequality ...................................................
Fly-by-night unreliable; disreputable ...................................................
Inimical hostile ...................................................
Mercurial volatile; changeable ...................................................
person who insists on strict
Pedant adherence to rules or narrow
learning ...................................................
Protocol procedure; code of behavior ...................................................
Sparse spare; bare; meager ...................................................
Venerate revere; worship ...................................................

34
35
Group 4 Notes
Artifice deception; trickery ...................................................
Coalesce come together; merge ...................................................
Dispassionate neutral; objective ...................................................
concerned with argument or
Forensic
debate (esp. for legal evidence) ...................................................
Innate inherited; inborn ...................................................
Merge come together ...................................................
Pedestrian common; mundane; banal ...................................................
Provincial unsophisticated; narrow-minded ...................................................
Specious false ...................................................
Venial minor; unimportant ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
Artisan craftsman ...................................................
Coddle pamper; fuss over; indulge ...................................................
circulating; broadcasting;
Disseminating
spreading (information) ...................................................
Fortitude bravery ...................................................
Innocuous harmless; inoffensive ...................................................
Metaphorically symbolically; figuratively ...................................................
Peerless without equal ...................................................
Prudent cautious; wise ...................................................
Speckled spotted; freckled; dotted ...................................................
Veracity truthfulness ...................................................

Group 6 Notes
Ascetic without luxuries; severely simple ...................................................
Coercion force ...................................................
Diurnal active in daytime ...................................................
Fortuitous happening by chance ...................................................
Innovate create; introduce something new ...................................................
Meticulous very careful; painstaking ...................................................
Pejorative derogatory ...................................................
Puerile childish ...................................................
Sporadic not continuous; intermittent ...................................................
Verbose talkative; long-winded; rambling ...................................................

36
Group 7 Notes
Assiduous thorough; diligent ...................................................
Cogent lucid; well argued ...................................................
1. entertain; 2. distract; 3. cause a
Divert
detour ...................................................
Fractious irritable; difficult to control ...................................................
Inscrutable mysterious; impenetrable ...................................................
Mettle courage; bravery; valor ...................................................
Pellucid transparently clear ...................................................
Punctilious paying attention to small details ...................................................
Spurious false ...................................................
Verbosity using too many words ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
Assuage to calm ...................................................
Cogitate think over something; ponder ...................................................
Docile gentle and easily lead ...................................................
Fraudulent fake; false ...................................................
Insentient unfeeling ...................................................
Milieu environment ...................................................
in a thoughtful mood; thinking
Pensive
deeply ...................................................
Purloin steal ...................................................
Stagnant still; not moving ...................................................
Vertigo dizziness ...................................................

Group 9 Notes
Astute perceptive; sharp-witted ...................................................
picture made from fragments of
Collage
other pictures ...................................................
Dogmatic having stubbornly held opinions ...................................................
Frivolous not serious ...................................................
Insipid dull; bland; boring ...................................................
Mire swamp; muddy ground ...................................................
Penury poverty ...................................................
Pusillanimous cowardly ...................................................
Staid dull; sober; serious ...................................................
Vestigial not developed ...................................................

37
Group 10 Notes
Asylum place of refuge or safety ...................................................
Collate arrange in order ...................................................
Dolt stupid person ...................................................
Frugal economical; not wasting anything ...................................................
Instigate to start; provoke ...................................................
Misanthrope hater of the rest of mankind ...................................................
Perceptive observant ...................................................
Pyromania compulsion to start fires ...................................................
Stanza section of a poem ...................................................
Vignette small sketch ...................................................

Word list 8
Group 1 Notes
person who does not believe in
Atheist
God ...................................................
local and informal (used of
Colloquial
language) ...................................................
Dotard foolish old man ...................................................
Furrow groove ...................................................
troublemaker; person who entices
Instigator
others to do something ...................................................
Misnomer wrong name ...................................................
Percipient perceptive; insightful ...................................................
Quaff drink down quickly ...................................................
Staunch loyal; faithful; dependable ...................................................
Vilification blackening someone's name ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
Atrophy waste away from lack of use ...................................................
Collusion plotting and planning ...................................................
speak slowly with words running
Drawl
together ...................................................
Furtive hidden and secret ...................................................
Insurgent a rebel ...................................................
Misogynist hater of women ...................................................
Perdition damnation ...................................................
Quagmire marsh; bog ...................................................
Stereotype fixed image ...................................................
Vindicate prove right; remove blame ...................................................

38
Group 3 Notes
Attenuate weaken ...................................................
Commandeer take possession of ...................................................
Drivel nonsense ...................................................
Futile useless; hopeless ...................................................
Interminable never-ending ...................................................
Misrepresentation deliberately deceiving ...................................................
Peremptory in a commanding manner ...................................................
Quaint picturesque ...................................................
Stevedore dockworker ...................................................
Virtuoso an accomplished musician ...................................................

Group 4 Notes
Augment increase; make bigger ...................................................
Complacent self-satisfied; smug ...................................................
Droll dryly amusing ...................................................
Galleon ancient type of sailing ship ...................................................
Intermittent sporadic; irregular ...................................................
Mitigate lessen; make less severe ...................................................
Perfidy treachery ...................................................
Quandary dilemma; puzzle ...................................................
Stifle suppress ...................................................
Virulent dangerous; harmful ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
favorable; promising to turn out
Auspicious
well ...................................................
Compliant easy to control; submissive ...................................................
1. monotonous noise (n); 2. to
Drone speak with no emotion (v); 3.male
bee ...................................................
Gambol frolic; leap; bound ...................................................
Intransigence stubbornness ...................................................
Modicum small amount ...................................................
Perfunctory superficial; cursory ...................................................
isolation to prevent the spread of
Quarantine
disease ...................................................
known for fortitude; indifferent to
Stoic
pleasure or pain ...................................................
Vital essential; alive; important ...................................................

39
Group 6 Notes
Austere severely plain ...................................................
Concatenate link together ...................................................
Dubious doubtful ...................................................
Garble distort; confuse; muddle ...................................................
Intransigent stubborn; unyielding ...................................................
Momentous very important ...................................................
nomadic; moving from place to
Peripatetic
place ...................................................
1. something that is hunted; 2.
Quarry
mine for stone ...................................................
Stoke add fuel to; strengthen ...................................................
Vitriolic corrosive; strongly attacking ...................................................

Group 7 Notes
Aversion a dislike of ...................................................
Concatenation linking into chains ...................................................
Dupe to fool someone ...................................................
Garish gaudy ...................................................
Intrepid brave ...................................................
Monotonous dull; unvarying ...................................................
Peripheral on the edge; not important ...................................................
Querulous always complaining ...................................................
Stolid impassive; dull; indifferent ...................................................
Vivacity liveliness; animation ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
Balk hinder and prevent; hesitate over ...................................................
Conciliate to bring together; end a dispute ...................................................
Dynamic lively; vibrant; energetic ...................................................
Garner gather; collect ...................................................
Inveterate habitual ...................................................
temporary prohibition or halt to
Moratorium
activity ...................................................
Perjury telling lies under oath ...................................................
Quirk oddity ...................................................
Stratagem plot; plan; trick ...................................................
Vivify enliven ...................................................

40
Group 9 Notes
Banal common; dull ...................................................
Concise stated in few words ...................................................
Ebullient very lively; cheerful; jovial; happy ...................................................
Garrulous talkative ...................................................
Invidious arousing envy ...................................................
Moribund on the point of death ...................................................
Pernicious destructive; harmful ...................................................
Ramble wander aimlessly ...................................................
Strident loud and harsh ...................................................
Vociferous noisy; loud in speech ...................................................

Group 10 Notes
Banality ordinariness; dullness ...................................................
Condescend talk down to ...................................................
Eccentric unusual; quirky; odd ...................................................
Gaunt emaciated; bony and angular ...................................................
Inviolable cannot be invaded ...................................................
Morose gloomy; bad tempered ...................................................
Persnickety fastidious; fussy ...................................................
branches; subdivisions of a
Ramifications
complex system; outcomes ...................................................
Stringent strict or severe ...................................................
dangerously unstable; evaporates
Volatile
easily ...................................................

41
 Word list 9
Group 1 Notes
Bane troublesome influence ...................................................
Condone tacitly support; overlook ...................................................
Eclectic taking things from different sources ...................................................
Genre a category; type ...................................................
Irascible easily angered ...................................................
Mundane ordinary; worldly ...................................................
Perpetuated caused to continue ...................................................
Rancor resentment; animosity; bad feeling ...................................................
Strut swagger; show off ...................................................
Voluble talkative ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
Bard poet ...................................................
Condoning overlooking; disregarding; ignoring ...................................................
Edifice building; structure; construction ...................................................
Germane relevant ...................................................
Ire anger [irate (a) = very angry] ...................................................
Munificent generous; charitable ...................................................
Perpetuity eternity ...................................................
Rant use bombastic language ...................................................
astonishing; shocking; stunning
Stupefying
into silence ...................................................
Voluminous very large; spacious ...................................................

Group 3 Notes
Bastion fortress; stronghold ...................................................
Conflagration big fire ...................................................
Efface wipe out; remove all trace of ...................................................
just growing; not developed;
Germinal
immature ...................................................
Irksome annoying; infuriating ...................................................
Mutinous very rebellious ...................................................
Personable attractive ...................................................
Ratify approve; consent ...................................................
Subpoena summons to court ...................................................
Voracious ravenous ...................................................

42
43
Group 4 Notes
Befuddle confuse ...................................................
Confound confuse ...................................................
Effigy a model of a person ...................................................
Gibbering making meaningless noises ...................................................
Ironic satiric; unexpected ...................................................
Myriad in large numbers ...................................................
Perspicacious insightful; sharp; wise ...................................................
Raucous rough and unpleasant (of sounds) ...................................................
Substantiate give supporting evidence ...................................................
Waive surrender; give up ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
Begrudge resent ...................................................
Congeal to solidify ...................................................
Effusive gushing; demonstrative ...................................................
Glacial hostile; unfriendly; cold; icy ...................................................
Irrational unreasonable; absurd ...................................................
Navigable suitable for sailing ...................................................
Perspicacity insight ...................................................
Raze destroy; demolish; tear down ...................................................
Subterfuge a trick ...................................................
Wane grow less ...................................................

Group 6 Notes
Beguile mislead; lure ...................................................
Congenital present from birth ...................................................
Egalitarianism belief in equality ...................................................
Goad prod; urge ...................................................
Irreproachable cannot be criticized; perfect ...................................................
Nebulous vague ...................................................
Pertinent relevant ...................................................
Rebuttal denial ...................................................
Subtle not obvious ...................................................
Wary hesitant; cautious ...................................................

44
45
Group 7 Notes
Belabor explain in unnecessary detail ...................................................
person with refined taste and good
Connoisseur
judgment ...................................................
Egregious outstandingly, obviously bad ...................................................
1. to annoy; aggravate; vex; 2.
Grate (v)
shred ...................................................
cannot be cancelled;
Irrevocable
unchangeable ...................................................
Nefarious wicked; immoral; disreputable ...................................................
Peruse read carefully ...................................................
Recant disclaim; retract statement ...................................................
Subversive rebellious; revolutionary ...................................................
Wax to increase; to grow ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
Beleaguer besiege; attack ...................................................
Consecrate dedicate ...................................................
Egress exit ...................................................
Gratis free of charge; without payment ...................................................
nomadic; wandering from place to
Itinerant
place ...................................................
Negate cancel; deny ...................................................
Pervasive spreading everywhere ...................................................
Recapitulate summarize ...................................................
Succinct concise ...................................................
Waylay accost; stop; approach; hinder ...................................................

Group 9 Notes
Belie contradict ...................................................
Consensus general agreement ...................................................
Eloquent fluent and persuasive in speech ...................................................
Gratuitous unwarranted ...................................................
Jaded tired; bored; worn out ...................................................
Negligence carelessness ...................................................
Petrify 1. Terrify; 2. turn to stone ...................................................
Receptacle container; vessel; holder ...................................................
someone who campaigns for
Suffragist
voting rights ...................................................
Weighty serious ...................................................

46
47
Group 10 Notes
Belittle to demean ...................................................
Conspicuous easily seen; prominent ...................................................
Elucidate make clear ...................................................
Gravity seriousness ...................................................
specialized language used by
Jargon
experts ...................................................
Neologism newly coined word ...................................................
Petulant sulky; peevish ...................................................
someone who cuts himself off from
Recluse
life ...................................................
Supercilious proud and haughty ...................................................
Whelp young dog ...................................................

Word list 10
Group 1 Notes
Bellicose war-like; aggressive ...................................................
Consummate complete; total; supremely good ...................................................
Elusive hard to pin down ...................................................
Gregarious extroverted; sociable; outgoing ...................................................
Jaundiced cynical; pessimistic ...................................................
Nettle annoy ...................................................
an event or happening (plural:
Phenomenon
phenomena) ...................................................
Recuperate get better after illness ...................................................
Superlative extremely good; the best ...................................................
Whet sharpen ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
Belligerent aggressive; ready to fight ...................................................
living or happening at the same
Contemporary
time ...................................................
Emaciated very thin; withered ...................................................
Gritty coarse; granular ...................................................
Jaunt short pleasure trip ...................................................
Niggardly miserly; stingy ...................................................
Philanthropy charity; love of mankind ...................................................
formalities; paperwork; official
Red tape
procedure ...................................................
Surly grumpy; rude ...................................................

48
Whimsical capricious; changeable ...................................................

Group 3 Notes
Bemoan complain about ...................................................
Contrite sorry ...................................................
Emancipate set free ...................................................
Guffaw sudden loud laughter ...................................................
Jeopardize put at risk; endanger ...................................................
Nomadic wandering from place to place ...................................................
Philistine uncultured person ...................................................
Redolent smelling of; giving off odors ...................................................
Surreptitious secret; sneaky; stealthy ...................................................
Willful stubborn ...................................................

Group 4 Notes
Benevolent kindly ...................................................
Contrition sorrow and repentance ...................................................
Embezzle defraud; steal ...................................................
Guile cunning; craftiness ...................................................
Jingoistic extremely patriotic; nationalistic ...................................................
an appearance of indifference;
Nonchalance
calm and composed ...................................................
Phlegmatic calm; imperturbable ...................................................
Redress put right something that was wrong ...................................................
Surreptitiously secretly; furtively; stealthily ...................................................
Wily cunning ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
Benign kindly; harmless ...................................................
Contumacious stubborn ...................................................
Embroil involve in hostility or argument ...................................................
Guileless frank; straightforward; honest ...................................................
Jocular in a joking manner ...................................................
having no special features; dull
Nondescript
and ordinary ...................................................
Pillage plunder ...................................................
Redundant unnecessary; superfluous ...................................................
Susceptible vulnerable ...................................................
Wispy flimsy; frail; delicate ...................................................

49
50
Group 6 Notes
Benignity compassion; gentleness; fondness ...................................................
Contusion a bruise ...................................................
Emerge come out; appear ...................................................
unwariness; trustfulness; being
Gullibility
easily fooled ...................................................
Jollity gaiety; happiness ...................................................
a person of no importance; not
Nonentity
famous ...................................................
Pinnacle topmost point ...................................................
Referendum public vote ...................................................
Suspect doubtful ...................................................
melancholy; pensive; expressing a
Wistful
longing for ...................................................

Group 7 Notes
leave something in one's will to be
Bequeath
given after one's death ...................................................
Conundrum a puzzle ...................................................
Emulate to imitate something admired ...................................................
Gullible easily fooled ...................................................
Jubilant ecstatic; delighted; rejoicing ...................................................
Nostalgia longing for the past ...................................................
Pious very religious ...................................................
Refute disprove ...................................................
Sybarite lover of luxury ...................................................
Zany crazy; wacky ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
Berate scold; criticize ...................................................
Conventional usual; customary; common ...................................................
Endorse give support or approval to ...................................................
Gustatory concerned with the sense of taste ...................................................
Judicious correct in judgment; wise ...................................................
Notoriety infamy; known for wrong doing ...................................................
Pivotal of central importance ...................................................
Regale entertain ...................................................
Sycophant bootlicker; flatterer ...................................................
Zeal enthusiasm ...................................................

51
Group 9 Notes
Beret type of cap ...................................................
Corpulent fat ...................................................
Endurance staying power; patience; stamina ...................................................
Hackneyed common and over-used ...................................................
Jurisprudence science or study of law ...................................................
Novel new; unusual ...................................................
Placate pacify; soothe; calm ...................................................
Relegate dismiss to a lower position ...................................................
Taciturn quiet; saying little ...................................................
Zealot fanatic ...................................................

Group 10 Notes
Bestial behaving like a beast; brutal ...................................................
Corrugated highly folded ...................................................
Enduring lasting ...................................................
Hallowed worshipped; consecrated ...................................................
Juxtapose place next to ...................................................
Novice a beginner; tyro ...................................................
harmless medicine with no effect;
Placebo
dummy medicine ...................................................
Remorse regret; sorrow; contrition ...................................................
Tactile concerned with the sense of touch ...................................................
Zenith summit ...................................................

52
 Word list 11
Group 1 Notes
Abate reduce in intensity ...................................................
renounce; swear to refrain from
Abjure
something ...................................................
words used to coax or flatter
Blandishment
[blandish (v)] ...................................................
Boor ill-mannered person [boorish (a)] ...................................................
1. high ranking church official; 2.
Cardinal
major, important ...................................................
1. slow (a); 2. to think over (v); 3. on
Deliberate
purpose (a) ...................................................
speaking ambiguously [equivocate
Equivocation
(v), equivocal (a)] ...................................................
Feckless feeble; helpless; lacking in initiative ...................................................
quality of being calm and not easily
Imperturbability
disturbed [imperturbable (a)] ...................................................
Meretricious falsely attractive; tawdry ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
prediction, looking for omens [auger
Augury
(v)] ...................................................
Boycott refuse to have dealings with ...................................................
Glib slick; superficial esp. in speech ...................................................
Incise cut into [incision (n); incisive (a)] ...................................................
Moralistic concerned with morals [moralize (v)] ...................................................
shunning; social isolation [ostracize
Ostracism
(v)] ...................................................
inclination; leaning; tendency;
Penchant
predilection ...................................................
Rarefy make less dense [rarefaction (n)] ...................................................
Repine fret; be discontented ...................................................
Stipulate specify [stipulation (n)] ...................................................

Group 3 Notes
Diaphanous transparent; thin and delicate ...................................................
pretended attack; a move intended
Feint
to deceive ...................................................
Inured hardened; habituated ...................................................
Mettlesome spirited [mettle (n)] ...................................................
Puissance power ...................................................

53
Recondite obscure ...................................................
Stygian very dark ...................................................
Touting advertising; supporting [tout (v)] ...................................................
skill, expertise [virtuoso (n); virtuosi
Virtuosity
(n.pl)] ...................................................
Volubility excessive talkativeness [voluble (a)] ...................................................

Group 4 Notes
punctuation mark signifying
Caret
omission ...................................................
adjacent; touching; abutting
Contiguous
[contiguity (n)] ...................................................
Damp (used of vibration) reduce in extent ...................................................
Ellipsis omission of essential words ...................................................
wiping out; complete destruction
Extirpation
[extirpate (v)] ...................................................
behaving or dressing like a dandy;
Foppish
excessively concerned with fashion ...................................................
Gaffe blunder; social mistake ...................................................
Hortatory encouraging; exhorting ...................................................
expressing great scorn [opprobrium
Opprobrious
(n)] ...................................................
Recumbent reclining; lying down ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
able to use both left and right hands
Ambidextrous
equally well ...................................................
Culpability guilt [culpable = blameworthy] ...................................................
Discernment judgment; perceptiveness ...................................................
Encomium praise ...................................................
Inveigle coax; cajole; wheedle; entice ...................................................
Minatory threatening ...................................................
turned to bone; become rigid
Ossified
[ossification (n)] ...................................................
measure depth of (v); exact (a.
Plumb
slang) ...................................................
most typical; the perfect example of
Quintessential
[quintessence (n)] ...................................................
Runic mysterious; magical ...................................................

54
Group 6 Notes
accumulation of matter; growth
Accretion produced by adding from the
outside ...................................................
occurring in the wrong time period
Anachronistic
[anachronism (n)] ...................................................
long lasting (often used for diseases
Chronic
in which case the opposite is acute) ...................................................
Churlishness rudeness; ill-mannered behavior ...................................................
mob leader (who appeals to base
Demagogue instincts) [demagogy/demagoguery
(n)] ...................................................
daring; audacity (has a negative
Effrontery
connotation) ...................................................
story or incident in peaceful or ideal
Idyll
setting [idyllic (a)] ...................................................
interval between reigns or
Interregnum
governments ...................................................
Nugatory of minor significance; futile ...................................................
job which pays salary but requiring
Sinecure
little effort ...................................................

Group 7 Notes
electroplated; coated with thin layer
Anodized
of metal ...................................................
expressed tersely [aphorism (n) =
Aphoristic
short statement; maxim] ...................................................
orthodox [canon (n) = set of
Canonical
accepted works] ...................................................
Commensurate equal in significance ...................................................
Dexterity skill, esp. with hands [dexterous (a)] ...................................................
Extant still in existence (opposite of extinct) ...................................................
Impugned challenged; called into question ...................................................
Probity uprightness; honesty ...................................................
Raconteur person who relates a story ...................................................
Solicitous kindly; expressing care and concern ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
Amalgamate join; consolidate [amalgamation (n)] ...................................................
Baleful evil ...................................................
Coerce force [coercion (n); coercing (a)] ...................................................
Inchoate undeveloped; nascent ...................................................

55
Iniquitous evil; unjust [iniquity (n)] ...................................................
Libertine dissolute person; prodigal ...................................................
Millinery hats and hat-making ...................................................
Natty neat; dapper; smart ...................................................
Occluded obscured; blocked ...................................................
Sidereal of or related to stars ...................................................

Group 9 Notes
Avaricious greedy for money ...................................................
Extirpate wipe out totally ...................................................
peaceful and happy; calm (esp. of
Halcyon
summer weather) ...................................................
1. to lean to one side; 2. to write in
List (v)
order ...................................................
Maudlin sad; sentimental; inclined to weep ...................................................
Refulgent glowing; radiant ...................................................
below the threshold of
Subliminal
consciousness ...................................................
Testiness irritability; irascibility [testy (a)] ...................................................
Vituperate attack bitterly ...................................................
1. carve with knife; 2. reduce step
Whittle
by step ...................................................

Group 10 Notes
ridicule (v); cartoon intended to
Caricature
ridicule (n) ...................................................
bowl with holes used to drain
Colander
vegetables etc. ...................................................
bulky; difficult to carry [encumber =
Cumbersome
to burden] ...................................................
Dispatch 1. send (v); 2. speed; celerity (n) ...................................................
Epistemology theory of knowledge ...................................................
Froward stubborn; wayward; disobedient ...................................................
Supine lying flat on one’s back ...................................................
exhibiting primitive, or ancestral,
Throwback
traits ...................................................
Untoward unexpected ...................................................
true to life; giving the appearance of
Verisimilar
reality ...................................................

56
 Word list 12
Group 1 Notes

Abysmal very deep; very bad ...................................................

Approbation approval [opp. disapprobation] ...................................................
Bent (n) inclination; aptitude ...................................................
Cadge get by begging ...................................................
Debacle disaster ...................................................
Extemporize speak without preparation or ...................................................
rehearsal [extemporaneous (a)]

Incumbents occupiers of a job or position ...................................................

Lambaste attack verbally ...................................................
Noisome disgusting ...................................................
Pastiche work (usually artistic) which ...................................................
imitates, or is composed of parts
taken from varied sources

Group 2 Notes
Arboreal living in trees; concerned with trees ...................................................
Centrifuge device to separate substances by ...................................................
spinning them at high speed
Cloistered isolated ...................................................
Disabuse make someone aware of an error in ...................................................
thinking
Engendering causing; bringing into being ...................................................
[engender (v)]
Intemperate excessive; immoderate ...................................................
[intemperance (n)]
Lugubrious sad; gloomy ...................................................
Nonplussed confused ...................................................
Pedagogy science of education; teaching ...................................................
Satiate satisfy; fill completely [satiable (a); ...................................................
satiation (n)]

Group 3 Notes
Artless without effort; without trickery; ...................................................
simple
Comeliness beauty; prettiness [comely (a)] ...................................................
Doff take off (esp. of a hat) ...................................................
Don put on (esp. of clothes) ...................................................

57
Erudition learning; scholarly knowledge ...................................................
[erudite (a)]
Plaintive sad; mournful ...................................................
Suborn bribe ...................................................
Tendentious dogmatic; biased ...................................................
Tortuous indirect; winding ...................................................
Verbiage excessive or meaningless ...................................................
wordiness

Group 4 Notes

Atonement making amends for sin or crime ...................................................

[atone (v)]
Complaisance flexibility; willingness to please ...................................................
[complaisant (a)]
Daguerreotype forerunner of the photograph ...................................................
Fawn behave in a sycophantic way; grovel ...................................................
[fawning (a)]
Gregariousness sociability; liking for crowds ...................................................
[gregarious (a)]
Nascent emerging; newly formed ...................................................
Paean praise; tribute (esp. in song) ...................................................
Reproof scolding; criticism [reprove (v)] ...................................................
Scurvy 1. disease due to lack of vitamin C; ...................................................
2. contemptible; rascally

Tutelary serving as a guardian [tutelage (n)] ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
Abscission cutting; process causing leaves to ...................................................
fall off
Contentious causing argument [contention (n); ...................................................
contend (v)]
Debilitating weakening [debilitate (v)] ...................................................
Foible quirk; minor weakness ...................................................
Importune beg; solicit [importunate (a)] ...................................................
Pertain be relevant to [pertinent (a)] ...................................................
Slew glut; excess ...................................................
Toady sycophant; flatterer ...................................................
Torrid hot and steamy ...................................................
Veracious true [veracity (n)] ...................................................

58
Group 6 Notes
Asperity using harsh or critical tone ...................................................
Blowhard boastful person ...................................................
Disingenuous crafty ...................................................
Evanescent short-lived [evanescence (n)] ...................................................
Intangible cannot be touched; abstract ...................................................
[intangibility (n)]
Labile changing rapidly; unstable ...................................................
Malapropism use of similar sounding but incorrect ...................................................
word
Posture (v) to put on an act ...................................................
Proximate immediate; nearest ...................................................
Pugnacious aggressive, ready to fight ...................................................
[pugnacity (n)]

Group 7 Notes
Foreshadowed indicated a future event ...................................................
[foreshadow (v)]
Gaucherie awkwardness [gauche (a)] ...................................................
Heterodox unorthodox ...................................................
Inscrutability quality of being difficult to ...................................................
comprehend [inscrutable (a)]
Limerick short amusing poem ...................................................
Mannered stylized; pretentious ...................................................
Pluck (n) courage ...................................................
Sedulous persevering; eager and thorough ...................................................
Syllogism type of logical reasoning ...................................................
Vicissitude unexpected change in fortune or ...................................................
circumstances

Group 8 Notes

Acolyte disciple; follower or attendant ...................................................

Admonitory scolding [admonition (n)] ...................................................
Caprices whimsies; fancies ...................................................
Cornucopia symbol (horn filled with fruit etc.) ...................................................
denoting natural abundance

Deferential showing respect [deference (n); ...................................................

defer (v)]
Intractability stubbornness; resistance ...................................................
[intractable (a)]
Luminary eminent person ...................................................

59
Minion underling; servant ...................................................
Undergird support; strengthen ...................................................
Vitiate weaken; sap energy ...................................................

Group 9 Notes
Coterie clique; small group with common ...................................................
interests
Denigrate decry; criticize; belittle ...................................................
Empirical found by experiment or practice ...................................................
Gainsay contradict ...................................................
Hyperbole exaggeration [hyperbolic (a)] ...................................................
Modest 1. bashful; unpretentious; 2. not ...................................................
excessive
Prolixity wordiness [prolix (a)] ...................................................
Rebus puzzle in which pictures give clues ...................................................
Sere withered; old ...................................................
Vulpine like a fox [compare with bovine ...................................................
(cow-like); porcine (pig-like), etc.]

Group 10 Notes

Corroborate give supporting evidence ...................................................

[corroboration (n)]
Exacerbated made worse [exacerbate (v); ...................................................
exacerbation (n)]
Exact (v) to demand; extort ...................................................

Faddish whimsical; following a fashion ...................................................

Hapless unlucky ...................................................
Misconstrue put a wrong interpretation on ...................................................
something
Perennial long-lasting ...................................................

Rent torn (past participle of the verb to ...................................................

rend)
Shard fragment of pottery ...................................................
Xenophobe person afraid of foreigners ...................................................

60
 Word list 13
Group 1 Notes
made less severe [alleviation (n);
Alleviated
alleviate (v)] ...................................................
1. punctuation mark; 2. appeal to
Apostrophe someone not present (a figure of
speech) ...................................................
roman soldier (commander of a
Centurion
company of 100 soldiers) ...................................................
softening (a); something which
Emollient
softens (n) ...................................................
Fusillade long burst of gunfire ...................................................
infallibility; inability to make
Inerrancy
mistakes [inerrant (a)] ...................................................
1. chop into small pieces; 2. walk
Mince with tiny steps, 3. speak in an
affected manner ...................................................
medical term meaning to examine
Palpate
with the hands ...................................................
Platitude unoriginal, obvious saying ...................................................
1. (v) to argue about minor
matters; to play on words when
Quibble
finding fault; 2. (n) a minor verbal
point in an argument ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
slight fear; sense of something
Apprehension
unfavorable ...................................................
Conniving cunning; scheming [connive (v)] ...................................................
Derision mockery [deride (v)] ...................................................
Epigram short, witty saying ...................................................
Lassitude lack of energy; weariness ...................................................
over-insistent on matters of book-
Pedantic
learning [pedant (n)] ...................................................
branch of science concerned with
Phenomenology things as they are perceived; not
directly derived from theory ...................................................
1. hurried (a); 2. insoluble product
Precipitate of a reaction in chemistry (n), 3. to
instigate or speed up an action (v) ...................................................
go back on promise or retract
Renege
statement ...................................................
slight fear; sense of something
Apprehension
unfavorable ...................................................

61
Group 3 Notes
Armada fleet of ships ...................................................
slow person who falls behind
Dawdler
others [dawdle (v)] ...................................................
something worthless; impurities
Dross
left after refining ...................................................
Expiate atone; make amends for ...................................................
1. chop roughly; 2. person who
Hack writes to earn money, 3. hired
horse ...................................................
Prone 1. vulnerable to; 2. horizontal ...................................................
Propensity tendency; inclination ...................................................
Scabbard cover for a sword ...................................................
Skiff small boat ...................................................
1. shadow; 2. offence; sense of
Umbrage
injury ...................................................

Group 4 Notes
dabbling esp. in the arts [dilettante
Dilettantism
(n) = person who dabbles] ...................................................
Enervate weaken ...................................................
having evil intentions [malevolence
Malevolent
(n)] ...................................................
Neophyte new convert; tyro ...................................................
speech praising someone;
Panegyric
laudatory words ...................................................
Presage forewarn of; indicate ...................................................
Serration jagged edge ...................................................
1. minor (a); 2. perceived insult (v)
Slight
and (n) ...................................................
1. weed; 2. allowance made for
Tare
container when weighing ...................................................
Unprepossessing unattractive ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
Aberration deviation from the normal ...................................................
Cant insincere talk ...................................................
Disinter dig up [opposite inter = bury] ...................................................
1. front elevation of building, 2.
Façade
false appearance or demeanor ...................................................
hindering [impede (v); impediment
Impeding
(n)] ...................................................
Lacuna gap; missing part [plural = lacunae] ...................................................
united in purpose; forming a single
Monolithic
unit ...................................................
Pied multicolored ...................................................

62
Roster list of names ...................................................
Seemly appropriate (of behavior); decorous ...................................................

63
Group 6 Notes
1. something similar; 2. output
Analogue
proportional to input (engineering) ...................................................
piece of music at the end of a
Coda musical work; finale; final part of
document ...................................................
Commingle mix ...................................................
ambiguous; open to interpretation
Equivocal
[equivocate (v), equivocation (n)] ...................................................
capable of making mistakes
Fallible
[fallibility (n)] ...................................................
Hallow respect; worship ...................................................
Indigence poverty ...................................................
material used for writing on before
Papyrus
paper was invented ...................................................
1. annoyance (n); 2. to stimulate
Pique
interest; to annoy (v) ...................................................
1. liquid inside plants (n); 2. to
Sap
drain; to undermine (v); 3. a fool (n) ...................................................

Group 7
Notes
mediator; person appointed to
Arbitrator
judge a dispute [arbitrate (v)] ...................................................
to see (esp. at a distance); catch
Descry
sight of ...................................................
Facetious not intended to be taken seriously
...................................................
unseemly; inappropriate (of
Indecorous
behavior) ...................................................
Proliferate grow and spread [proliferation (n)]
...................................................
Scotch (v) to prevent; stop; disable
...................................................
1. supporting rod (n); 2. to walk in
Strut
an arrogant manner; show off (v) ...................................................
Toy (v) to play with
...................................................
Usury lending money at high interest rates
...................................................
Wag (n) a witty person
...................................................

64
65
Group 8 Notes
reappearance of ancestral traits;
Atavism
regression [atavistic (a)] ...................................................
Filibuster delaying tactics ...................................................
Gambit opening move; transaction ...................................................
Mitigation making less severe [mitigate (v)] ...................................................
Obligate compulsory ...................................................
Predilection leaning; interest; talent ...................................................
appease; try to gain favor
Propitiate
[propitiation (n)] ...................................................
Stanch to stop ...................................................
Travesty parody; ridiculous error ...................................................
Waft drift smoothly (v); whiff; smell (n) ...................................................

66
Group 9 Notes
Forage search for food ...................................................
1. walk in an ungainly way; 2.
Lumber
timber (wood) ...................................................
1. think; meditate (v); 2. a source
Muse of inspiration (n) [in mythology, a
goddess who gives inspiration] ...................................................
Prescience foreknowledge ...................................................
Prune 1. to trim; 2. a dried plum ...................................................
Ready (used of wit) quick ...................................................
Resolve firmness (n) ...................................................
Squalid dirty and demeaning ...................................................
made dirty or impure [opposite
Sullied
unsullied; sully (v)] ...................................................
worship; respect [venerable (a),
Veneration
venerate (v)] ...................................................
Group 10 Notes
Demur object; hesitate to accept ...................................................
Duplicity cunning; deception; double dealing ...................................................
Exigency urgent matter; pressing need ...................................................
offer strong objections;
Expostulate
remonstrate ...................................................
Gossamer delicate; filmy; like gauze ...................................................
Inefficacious ineffective ...................................................
Pine 1. type of evergreen tree; 2. grieve ...................................................
narrow-minded; excessively
Prudish concerned with morals [prudery
(n), prude (n)] ...................................................
Quixotic impractically idealistic ...................................................
Stipple cover with dots of paint etc. ...................................................
Word list 14

Group 1 Notes
1. damage to skin caused by
Abrasion scraping; 2. process of scraping or
rubbing [abrade (v)] ...................................................
Adumbrate outline; indicate ...................................................
concerned with thinking or
Cognitive
perceiving [cognition (n)] ...................................................
Deign condescend ...................................................
Fervid passionate ...................................................
1. bitterness (bad feeling); 2.
Gall confidence; 3. abnormal growth on
a plant ...................................................
Levee 1. raised bank of a river; 2. ...................................................
morning reception held by a

67
 monarch

Preternatural unnatural; abnormal ...................................................

Quell suppress ...................................................
Score (n) written form of music ...................................................

Group 2
Notes
Abut to adjoin
...................................................
Consternation worry and concern
...................................................
Gavel judge’s hammer
...................................................
right to sell property held as a
Lien
security; legal hold on job etc. ...................................................
remarks deviating from the main
Parenthesis point [parentheses are round
brackets in punctuation] ...................................................
vigorous; having well-developed
Sinewy
muscles [a sinew is a tendon] ...................................................
Steep (v) to soak in water
...................................................
to plug; press loose matter down
Tamp tightly (e.g. pack explosives into a
hole) ...................................................
1. hazarding; risking; putting
forward; 2. going somewhere
Venturing
[venturesome means courageous
or willing to take risks] ...................................................
1. twisted or bent to one side; 2.
Wry
dryly humorous ...................................................

68
Group 3 Notes
Arduous hard ...................................................
kill or destroy a large part of
Decimated
(originally one tenth) ...................................................
1. grow feathers; 2. leave nest
Fledge [fledgling (n) = an inexperienced
person or a baby bird] ...................................................
Gouge cut or dig out ...................................................
Picayune insignificant; of little value ...................................................
fascinating [to rivet literally means
Riveting to fix metal plates using metal
pins] ...................................................
Soliloquy solo speech ...................................................
person who requests or begs for
Supplicant
something [supplicate (v)] ...................................................
supernatural; going beyond normal
Transcendental
experience [transcendent (a)] ...................................................
Veritable true; genuine [verity (n)] ...................................................

69
Group 4 Notes
talking down to someone
Condescension
[condescending (a)] ...................................................
Divest remove; take off ...................................................
Eddy circular current ...................................................
Epaulet shoulder decoration ...................................................
Fallacy wrong idea [fallacious (a)] ...................................................
1. decorative border with tassels
Fringe
(n); 2. to form an edge (v) ...................................................
to make light; modify; cause bread
Leaven
to rise using yeast etc. ...................................................
1. to talk down to; condescend; 2.
Patronize
to be a customer of ...................................................
1. eminent; 2. protruding; 3.
Prominent
obvious ...................................................
Statute law [statutory (a)] ...................................................
Group 5 Notes
Antipathy hatred ...................................................
Aver affirm ...................................................
Expatiate speak or write at great length ...................................................
Flag (v) 1. to lose energy; 2. to signal ...................................................
1. tool used to thresh grain; 2. to
Flail thresh (separate grain from chaff);
3. to wave arms about wildly ...................................................
Indicted accused (of crime) ...................................................
laze around; hang out (when used
Loll
of the tongue) ...................................................
Malign slander ...................................................
Secure (v) 1. to fix firmly; 2. to obtain ...................................................
Talon long pointed nail or claw ...................................................

70
Group 6 Notes
Abeyance state of inactivity; disuse ...................................................
1. take away weapons; 2. win over
Disarm
to one’s side [disarming (a)] ...................................................
1. complex and detailed (a); 2. to
Elaborate
expand on (v) ...................................................
1. stir up; 2. bathe with hot liquids
Foment
(medical) ...................................................
maneuvering; struggling to get
Jockeying
ahead of others [jockey (v)] ...................................................
Minutiae small details ...................................................
Rue regret [rueful (a)] ...................................................
Somatic concerned with the body ...................................................
holding back; limiting the supply (of
Stinting
supplies/money etc.) [stint (v)] ...................................................
Temperate moderate ...................................................

Group 7 Notes
Allure 1. attraction (n); 2. to attract (v) ...................................................
treat with substance such as tar to
Caulk
make water-tight ...................................................
1. person enlisted compulsorily into
Conscript the armed forces; 2. (v) to enlist
compulsorily ...................................................
Desultory aimless; inconsistent in effort ...................................................
poem concerned with death; praise
Elegy
of a dead person ...................................................
Fallow uncultivated ...................................................
Forbearing tolerant [forbear (v); forbearance (n)] ...................................................
political domination; complete
Hegemony
authority ...................................................
Improbity lack of honesty or integrity ...................................................
Qualm hesitation or fear ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
Assay 1. try; 2. assess purity ...................................................
someone excessively patriotic
Chauvinist
[chauvinism (n)] ...................................................
separate; discontinuous (not to be
Discrete confused with discreet - prudent;
diplomatic] ...................................................
71
Enlist 1. sign up for the army; 2. obtain ...................................................
made up; false; manufactured
Fabricated
[fabricate (v); fabrication(n)] ...................................................
1. attack loudly in words; denounce
Fulminate
thunderously; 2. explode noisily ...................................................
Hawser thick rope or cable ...................................................
agree with; complement; match up
Jibe with (in British usage jibe means
mock) ...................................................
1. an equal; 2. to stare at; 3.
Peer
nobleman ...................................................
one who is strict about rules or
Stickler
details ...................................................

Group 9 Notes
closure; terminating a debate by
Cloture
voting ...................................................
Congruent matching [congruency (n)] ...................................................
Dally waste time; flirt ...................................................
Dissemble avoid the truth ...................................................
Dote be excessively fond of [doting (a)] ...................................................
1. wandering; 2. wrong; 3. straying
Errant
from accepted standards ...................................................
Fervent passionate ...................................................
Stomach (v) to tolerate ...................................................
Synapse junction between two nerve cells ...................................................
Undercutting offering a lower price; undermining ...................................................

Group 10 Notes
Arson deliberate, criminal starting of fires ...................................................
Carrion dead flesh; carcasses ...................................................
Intelligible can be understood ...................................................
Ironclad cannot be altered; firm ...................................................
fluff; soft material used to cover
Lint
wounds ...................................................
assumed attitude of superiority;
Pretension
arrogance ...................................................
Pundit expert ...................................................
Pyre ceremonial fire ...................................................
Sate satisfy ...................................................
type of musical rhythm with missed
Syncopation
beats ...................................................

72
 Word list 15

Group 1 Notes
worn away; eroded [abrade (v);
Abraded
abrasion (n)] ...................................................
Apposite fitting; suitable ...................................................
tirade; violent denunciation; stream
Diatribe
of criticism ...................................................
Gerontocracy government by the aged ...................................................
Maculated spotted ...................................................
Quisling traitor ...................................................
thoroughness; perseverance
Sedulity
[sedulous (a)] ...................................................
Seine type of fishing net ...................................................
Tender to offer ...................................................
Waffle talk nonsense ...................................................

Group 2 Notes
Burlesque 1. comic play; 2. lampoon ...................................................
Exemplar model type [exemplary (a)] ...................................................
art of preaching and giving
Homiletics
sermons ...................................................
challenge; question someone’s
Impugn
honor etc. ...................................................
Incubus encumbrance; nightmarish thing ...................................................
Lope run with long strides ...................................................
Macerate chop into tiny pieces ...................................................
Nostrum remedy ...................................................
Saw 1. tool for cutting; 2. wise saying ...................................................
Sibyl prophetess ...................................................

Group 3 Notes
Brook 1. small stream; 2. tolerate ...................................................
Emboss decorate with a raised design ...................................................
Eschew shun; avoid ...................................................
Limpid transparently clear ...................................................
Liturgy form of worship ...................................................

73
Nexus connection ...................................................
instrument to measure distance
Odometer
covered ...................................................
Purchase 1. grip; 2. buy ...................................................
Quotidian daily; routine ...................................................
Seminal essential; formative ...................................................

Group 4 Notes
amazed; wide-eyed with
Agog
enthusiasm ...................................................
Amortize pay off a debt in installments ...................................................
Curmudgeon grumpy person ...................................................
Dormancy state of inactivity ...................................................
Efficacy effectiveness ...................................................
phrase used as a label or to
Epithet
express the essential nature of ...................................................
Figurehead symbol of power; nominal leader ...................................................
Fracas fight; disturbance ...................................................
Jamb door post ...................................................
to squeeze; obtain by application
Milk
of pressure ...................................................

Group 5 Notes
Chorales simple hymns ...................................................
Dissonance discord; disagreement ...................................................
Frieze decorative border ...................................................
Gist essence; main point ...................................................
Latent hidden; real but undeveloped ...................................................
Partiality bias ...................................................
walking slowly and heavily;
Plodding
uninspired ...................................................
Rekindle relight; revive ...................................................
Symphony type of musical composition ...................................................
Tarnished made dull; spoil (reputation) ...................................................

Group 6 Notes
1. damaged or put in doubt (esp.
of reputation); 2. reached an
Compromised
agreement by giving up part of a
claim ...................................................
Drabness dullness ...................................................
Endow give gift; provide with money etc. ...................................................

74
Esoterica obscure details ...................................................
Falters hesitates ...................................................
Prattle mindless talk ...................................................
1. prohibiting; 2. exorbitantly
Prohibitive
expensive ...................................................
conservative; one who insists on
Purist
correct forms of language etc. ...................................................
Quack charlatan; fake ...................................................
Taunt mock; tease ...................................................

Group 7 Notes
Arresting (a) attracting attention; striking ...................................................
extended gunfire to cover an
Barrage attack; dam across river; deluge or
information etc. ...................................................
Chantey type of song sung by sailors ...................................................
concerned with iron or its
Ferrous
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 ...................................................

Group 8 Notes
person who disagrees [dissidence
Dissident
(n)] ...................................................
Enigmatic puzzling [enigma (n)] ...................................................
Foolhardy reckless [foolhardiness (n)] ...................................................
Homogeneity evenness; uniformity ...................................................
1. represent something as a
Personification
person; 2. a concrete example of ...................................................
1. surface deposit on teeth or in
Plaque artery etc.; 2. decorative plate or
sign ...................................................
Plausibility believability [plausible (a)] ...................................................
resistance; ability to spring back
Resilience
[resilience (a)] ...................................................
set of three (literary works etc.);
Trilogy
tetralogy = set of four ...................................................
Vagary something unaccountable; freak ...................................................

75
76
Group 9 Notes
corridor; passageway (esp.
Aisle
between rows of seats) ...................................................
Discountenance disallow ...................................................
Imperative must be obeyed ...................................................
Indigent poor; needy [indigence (n)] ...................................................
Nadir lowest point ...................................................
mental state characterized by
Paranoia
delusions or excessive fear ...................................................
Prudence caution; wisdom ...................................................
revival from unconsciousness
Resuscitation
[resuscitate (v)] ...................................................
Shirk avoid (esp. work) ...................................................
Teetotalism total abstinence from alcohol ...................................................

77
Group 10 Notes
soothing ointment or anything
Balm
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 ...................................................
examination or survey conducted in
Reconnaissance
advance [reconnoiter (v)] ...................................................
left-handed (or counterclockwise)
Sinistral
[dextral - right handed] ...................................................
Tempers moderates ...................................................
Undermine subvert; attempt to overthrow ...................................................

78