The “Princeton — Review ADAM ROBINSON and JULIAN FLEISHERAJNO6 2 WORD SMART NOTE: The word lists are in alphabetical order, not in the order of the recording. ALL OR NOTHING owe sum, a total; a combination, a collection: 2. ATTRITION — n. a gradual loss; natural or accepted decrease in number and size [DEARTH — n. a lack, a scarcity FRUGAL — adj. economical, penny-pinching FRUGALITY — rn. thriftiness MINUSCULE — adj. tiny, very small MUNIFICENT — adj. generous, lavish MUNIFICENCE — n. generosity, charity 7 NOMINAL — adj. insignificant or small, in name only 8 PARSIMONY — n. stinginess PARSIMONIOUS — adj. stingy, miserly 9 PAUCITY — n. scarcity, insufficiency 10 PENURY — /n. poverty 11 PLETHORA — n. a great deal, an excess 12 PRODIGIOUS — adj. enormous, extraordinary 13. PRODIGY — n. a gifted child 14 PROLIFERATE — v. to spread or grow rapidly PROLIFERATION — n. an increase in number; 3 rapid spread PROLIFIC — adj. very productive, fruitful, fertile 15 SQUANDER — v. to waste Bw ou 1 LOVE YOU ATE YOU 16 ACRID — adj. inging, or caustic ACRIMONIOUS — adj. bitter: hurtful and nasty ACRIMONY — n. bitterness, harshness 17 ADULATION — n. wild or excessive admiration. ra 48. AFFINITY —n. attraction; sympathy; kinship; similarityANOS 19 ALACRITY — n. cheerful eagerness; briskness; readiness to respond 20 ANTIPATHY — rn. a firm dislike ANTIPATHETIC — adj. hostile, antagonistic 21 BANE — nr. poison; torment; cause of harm BANEFUL — adj. destructive; poisonous 2 CONFLUENCE — n. a flowing together, a convergence. 23 DERIDE — ¥. to ridicule or laugh at contemptuously DERISION — n. contempt; mockery DEROGATORY — adj. disapproving; degrading 4 NARCISSISM — n, an abiding love of oneself NARCISSISTIC — adj. conceited, self-centered 5. NIHILISM — n. a belief that there are no values, morals, or goodness in the world NIHILIST — n, someone who doesn't believe in any objective standards of right and wrong ANNIHILATE — v. to completely destroy 26 PREDILECTION — n. a natural preference 27 PRUDENT — adj. having foresight; being careful or wise 28 RANCOR — n. bitter, long-lasting ill will or resentment RANCOROUS — adj. showing bitterness or animosity 29 REVERE — v. to respect highly, to honor 30 VILIFY — v. to say vile things about, to defame VILIFICATION — rn. denigration, slander p n THE NAUGHTY AND THE NICE 31 ACERBIC — adj. bitter, sour, severe ACERB — adj. bitter, sour, severe (synonym of ACERBIC) ACERBITY — n. bitterness 32 AFFABLE — adj. easy to talk to, pleasant AFFABILITY — n. graciousness, friendliness _ 33. ALTRUISM — n. selflessness, generosity, serving others without expectation of person gain ALTRUISTIC — adj. charitable, selfless BUILDING A MORE EDUCATED VOCABULARY 3ANOS6 4 WORD SMART 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 at 4 43 44 8 46 4 g ALTRUIST — 1. a benefactor AMIABLE — adj. friendly, genuinely likeable (often used to describe a relationship) AVUNCULAR — adj. kindly, like an understanding uncle BELLIGERENT — adj. combative, quarrelsome, warlike; n. a combatant BELLERIGERENCE — n. aggression, animosity CAUSTIC — adj. corrosive, burning like acid CHICANERY — n. deceitful, underhanded behavior (especially legal or political) CONGENIAL — adj. agreeably suitable, pleasant GENIAL — adj. pleasing, kind, sympathetic, helpful CONGENITAL — adj. hereditary, inborn, natural CONTENTIOUS — adj. argumentative, quarrelsome CYNIC — nr. one who deeply distrusts human nature, pessimist CYNICAL — adj. suspicious and negative CYNICISM — nr. distrust, grumpiness, pessimism GREGARIOUS — adj. sociable, outgoing, friendly INSIDIOUS — adj. treacherous and sneaky LARGESS — n. generosity on a big scale, as well as the gift itself PEJORATIVE — adj. negative and disparaging PHILANTHROPY — n. love of humankind as expressed by the willingness to do good deeds PHILANTHROPIC — adj. benevolent, charitable, generous PHILANTHROPIST — n. humanitarian MISANTHROPY — n. a hatred or distrust of humankind MISANTHROPIC — adj, hatred; dislike, or distrust of humankind VITRIOL — n. sulfurie acid; something caustic or severe I9 effect VITRIOLIC — adj. nasty; burning like acidOMLS8 Od THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT 1 ABRIDGE — v. to shorten, to condense ABRIDGED — adj. shortened, condensed ABRIDGMENT — n. a shortened or condensed form of a book, speech, etc. ‘ AUGMENT — v, to make bigger, to add to, to increase AUGMENTATION — n. an enlargement, an expansion BREVITY — n. briefness ‘CHRONIC — adj. constant; lasting a long time (usually associated with something negative and undesirable) CIRCUITOUS — adj. roundabout, rambling, indirect CIRCUMLOCUTION — n. an indirect or evasive expression; wordiness CIRCUMLOCUTORY — adj. indirect, wordy, vague ‘CONCISE — adj. brief and to the point CONCISION — n. briefness, succinctness 8 COPIOUS — adj. abundant, plentiful 9 CURTAIL — v. to shorten, to cut short 10 LACONIC — adj. using few words (almost to the point of rudeness) 11 PERFUNCTORY — adj. careless and without enthusiasm 12 PONDEROUS — adj. so massive as to be clumsy or heavy; so long as to be dull (speeches, ideas) 13 PROFUSE — adj. flowing; extravagant PROFUSION — n. an excess, an abundance 14 PROTRACT — v. to prolong, to lengthen PROTRACTED — adj. extended, prolonged 15. PROVISIONAL — adj. conditional, temporary, tentative 16 TERSE — adj. using no unnecessary words, very succinct TERSENESS —n. briefness, succinctness on BY ON ~ THE MIGHTY AND THE MEEK 17 ACQUIESCE — v. to comply passively; to assent quietly; to agree BUILDING A MORE EDUCATED VOCABULARY 5OMLS 6 WORD SMART 18 9 20 2 22 24 25 2 & 2 28 2 8 30 31 32 ACQUIESCENCE — n. consent, submission ALLOCATE — v. to distribute; to assign; to allot APPREHENSIVE — adj. anxious or worried (from feeling powerless) APPREHENSION — n. a sense of fear or hesitation ASCENDANCY — n. supremacy, domination [ASCENDANT — adj. superior, dominant AUTOCRATIC — adj. ruling with absolute authority; extremely bossy [AUTOCRACY — n. a system run by a person with absolute authority CAPITULATE — v. to give up or give in, to surrender (CHAGRIN — rn. humiliation; embarrassed disappointment CHAGRINED — adj. mortified, humiliated CHASTISE — v. to punish, to discipline DAUNT — v. to make fearful, to intimidate DAUNTING — adj. intimidating UNDAUNTED, DAUNTLESS — adj. confident; fearless courageous; determined, resolute DEFERENCE — n. submissiveness to another's will DEFER — v. to submit, to refer; to detain, to postpone DEFERENTIAL — adj. considerate, respectful DEMAGOGUE — n. a manipulative leader, a rabble-rouser DIFFIDENT — adj. timid, lacking self-confidence, shy, unassuming IMPERIAL — adj. regal, stately (like an emperor or empire) IMPERIOUS — adj. bossy, arrogant, overbearing SERVILE — adj. submissive, like a servant, slavish SERVILITY — n. submissiveness SUPERCILIQUS — adj. haughty and patronizing 3 SYCOPHANT — n. a self-serving flatterer, one who is servile t people with power SYCOPHANTIC — adj. fawning, ingratiatingOMLS5 YOU HELP ME, THEN YOU HURT ME 33 3 35 36 & 37 38 39 a1 4 8 4 & 4 45 £ a ai as 49 ADMONISH — v. to warn; to express disapproval ADMONISHMENT — n. warning, caution, censure ALLEVIATE — v. to relieve (usually temporarily or incompletely) AMELIORATE — v. to imprave, to make more tolerable ANGUISH — n. agonizing physical, mental, or emotional pain; v, to suffer APPEASE — v. to soothe or pacify by giving in APPROBATION — n, approval, praise DISAPPROBATION —n. disapproval, objection CONTRITE — adj. admitting guilt, remorseful CONTRITION — n. guilt, regret, repentance DEBILITATE — v. to weaken, to cripple DEBILITY — n. weakness, disability DEBILITATING — adj. weakening, injurious REPARATION — n. compensation, a payback REPRISAL — nr. military action taken in revenge for another; the act of taking “an eye for an eye” REPROACH — v. to scold (usually from disappointment), to blame, to disgrace IRREPROACHABLE — adj. blameless; flawless, impeccable RESPITE — n. a period of rest or relief SALUTARY — adj. healthful, curative, remedial SANGUINE — adj. cheerful; optimistic, hopeful SANGUINARY — adj. bloodthirsty; bloody SUBJUGATE — v. to subdue; to dominate, to enslave \VENERATE — v. to revere, to treat as holy (especially because of great age) A VENERABLE — adj. worthy of being esteemed, praiseworthy VEX —v. to annoy, to pester; to confuse VEXATION — n. aggravation, nuisance, annoying puzzlement BUILDING A MORE EDUCATED VOCABULARY 7aauHLs © WORD SMART eG) TRUE OR FALSE APOCRYPHAL — adj. of doubtful authenticity; fictitious, mythical ARTIFICE — n. a clever trick; cunning, guile AXIOM — 1. a self-evident rule or truth, a widely accepted saying BELIE — v. to contradict, to give a false impression of CONTRIVED — adj. artificial, labored, forced DEFINITIVE — adj. conclusive, providing the last word DELUDE — v. to deceive, to trick DELUSION — n. a fantasy, a misconception 8 DUPLICITY — n, the act of being two-faced or double-dealing, a deception DUPLICITIOUS — adj. double-crassing, underhanded, deceitful MENDACIOUS — adj. lying, dishonest MENDACITY — n. deceit, falsehood 10 POSTULATE — n. something accepted as true without proof; v. to present an idea as truth 11 PRECEPT — r. a tule to live by; a principle establishing behavior 12 PREMISE — n. an assumption or basis for a conclusion 13 PUTATIVE — adj. commonly accepted, supposed, or reputed (but not proven) 14 SPURIOUS — adj. false beyond a doubt, fake 15 VERACITY — n. truthfulness 16 VERISIMILITUDE — n. the appearance of truth, similarity to reality wn Nome © FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS —_—— 17 ANOMALY — n, irregularity, abnormality, deviation ANOMALOUS — adj. abnormal, unconventional 18 APOTHEOSIS — n. ideal, the perfect or divine version 19 AWRY — adj. off course; twisted to one side 20 BANAL — agj. unoriginal, ordinary, dull BANALITY — n. triteness, an unoriginal statement 21 CONSUMMATE — adj. perfect, complete, supreme: v. to finish, to completeASaYHLS = 8 23 2 = 2 2 & 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 DEGENERATE — v. to break down, to deteriorate aa — Nn. a person whose behavior has declined EMPIRICAL — adj. based on experience or observation EXEMPLIFY — v. to illustrate by example: to serve as a good example EXEMPLAR — n. an ideal model EXEMPLARY — adj. outstanding and worthy of imitation GRATUITOUS — adj. unprovoked, unsolicited; uncalled for and freely given out (in a negative sense) GRATUITY — n, a tip, a reward IDIOSYNCRASY — n. a peculiarity or eccentricity specific to one person or thing IDIOSYNCRATIC — adj. peculiar, eccentric INANE — adj. silly or senseless INANITY — n. silliness, shallowness, idiocrasy PROFOUND — adj. deep, meaningful PROFUNDITY — n. depth, the quality of being profound QUIXOTIC — adj. romantic or idealistic to a foolish degree REPLETE — adj. completely filled, abounding REPLETION — n, saturation; abundance SACROSANCT —adj. sacred, untouchable, unassailable SINGULAR — aqj. unique, extraordinary, exceptional, strange SINGULARITY — n. a unique occurrence; the quality of being unique a SUBLIME — adj. awe-inspiring, extremely high, lofty, and majestic SUBLIMITY — n. magnificence, divinity SUBLIMINAL — adj. subconscious SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW 34 35 36 BEGET — v. to give birth to, to create; ADAGE — n. an old saying, a familiar bit of wisdom ANTECEDENT — n. an earlier, more primitive model (person or it * adj. preceding, going before thing) for that which came after; adj. Pre deg See BUILDING A MORE EDUCATED VOCABULARY 9BROACH — ¥. to bring up a subject (usually a delicate one); nan ornamental clasp or pin (also spelled brooch) 38 CONVENTIONAL — adj. common, customary, unexceptional CONVENTION — n. a custom, or practice; an assembly, @ conference 39 NOVEL — adj. new and original; n. a work of fiction NOVELTY — n. originality, uniqueness (also a souvenir or trinket) 3 40 PRECEDENT — n. an earlier, similar example of someone or something UNPRECEDENTED — adj. not done or known before; entirely new 41 PRECURSOR —n. a forerunner, a predecessor 42 PROVIDENT — adj. prepared for and providing for the future IMPROVIDENT — aqj. negligent; wasteful; failing to provide 43 for the future 44 RENAISSANCE — n. a rebirth; a revitalization REPLENISH — v. to fill again, to resupply, to restore 4S REPLENISHMENT — n. 4 refill, a replacement of stock 46 RUDIMENTARY — adj. basic, crude; unformed or undeveloped RUSTIC — adj. rural, lacking in urban comforts, primitive; 47 n.an unsophisticated country person 48 SPAWN — v. to produce a great number; to bring forth VESTIGE — n. a last remaining trace VESTIGIAL — adj. like a vestige, pertaining to an earlier form or function VISIONARY — n. a dreamer, a person with impractical goals or & 49 ideas about the future; adj. idealistic and usually impractical cD "4 @ Avone on TOGETHER a oO 1 ASCETIC — adj. monklike, practicing self-denial; n.a hermit, a monklike person iC AESTHETIC — adj. artistic; of or relating to beauty w 2 ASSIMILATE — v. to take in, to absorb, to learn thoroughly ASSIMILATION — n. incorporation; absorption 3 AUTONOMOUS — adj. independent, self-governing 10 WORD SMARTanods AUTONOMY — n. freedom, independence CELIBACY — n. abstinence from sex CELIBATE — adj. chaste, abstaining from sex; n. one who practices self-denial CHARISMA — n. the ability to attract followers or inspire loyality; personal magnetism CHARISMATIC — agj. alluring, charming, having charisma CHASM — n. a deep, gaping hole; a gorge COALESCE — v. to come together as one, to fuse, to unite COALITION — n. a group of people with a common purpose (often a political one) COLLUSION — n. a conspiracy; a secret cooperation COMPLACENT — adj. self-satisfied, overly contented with oneself COMPLEMENT — v. te complete; to be the perfect counterpart; n. a perfect counterpart or supplement COMPLIMENT — \. to praise, to flatter; n. an expression of praise COMPLICITY — n, participation in wrang-doing, the act of being an accomplice 12 CONSONANT — adj. harmonious, in agreement DISSONANT — adj. inharmonious, discordant COVENANT — rn. a solemn oath or pledge; a contract (frequently has religious connotations) | 14 POLARIZE — v. to break into opposing factions or groupings 45 RECIPROCAL — adj. mutual, shared; interchangeable RECIPROCATE — v. to repay or return in kind RECIPROCITY — n. mutual agreement 16 RECLUSIVE — adj. withdrawn from society RECLUSE — n. a hermit, a loner 17 SEQUESTER — v. to set or keep apart NOW YOU SEE NOW YOU DON'T 18 ABSTRACT — adj. theoretical; not concrete 19 ABSTRUSE — adj. difficult to understand s soe Som 1 BUILDING A MORE EDUCATED VOCABULARY "AMBIGUOUS — adj. unclear in meaning, capable of being interpreted in different ways AMBIGUITY — n. a lack of clarity; something that can be interpreted in different ways BEMUSED — adj. confused, bewildered MUSE — v. to think 22 BLATANT — adj. unpleasantly loud or obvious; glaring (refers to speech) 23 CANDOR — n. honesty, truthfulness ‘CANDID — adj. honest, straightforward 24 CONJECTURE — v. to guess based on little evidence; n. a speculation, a guess, an assumption 25 CRYPTIC — adj. mystifying, mysterious, puzzling 26 DELINEATE — v. to describe accurately; to draw an outline 27 DISCERN — v. to have insight; to see things clearly; to differentiate DISCERNMENT — n. acumen, perception DUBIOUS — adj. full of doubt, uncertain DuBIETY — n. doubt, skepticism 29 FLAGRANT — adj. glaringly bad; notorious, scandalous (refers to what you see and do) 30 LUCID — adj. clear, easy to understand 31. MANIFEST — adj. visible, evident; v. to exhibit, to show; MANIFESTATION — n. a visible showing, an indication 32. OSTENTATIOUS — adj. excessively conspicuous, showed off 33 RECONDITE — adj. hard to understand (refers to difficult or scholarly language) 34 SALIENT — adj. jutting out; conspicuous, striking 2 3 2 ynods 2 8 THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME = 35 CAPRICIOUS — adj. whimsical; quick te change one’s mind or stance; unpredictable CAPRICE — n. a whim, an impulse 42 WORD SMARTanosds 36 3 3 & 39 40 4 42 43 44 45 46 4 48 4 50 51 3 DOCTRINAIRE — adj. stubbornly committed to a faith or idea no matter how impractical it may be; n. an unrealistic theorist: a fanatic " DOGMATIC — agj. stubbornly asserti oan fea i are eee of unproven ideas IMMUTABLE — adj. unchangeable MUTABLE — adj. adaptable MERCURIAL — adj. emotionally unpredictable, rapidly changing in mood METAMORPHOSIS — n. a magical change in appearance; a sudden and striking change METAMORPHOSE — v. to change, to transform PROSELYTIZE — v. to attempt to convert someone from one religion or belief to another QUALIFY — v. to modify, to change; to restrict QUALIFICATION — rn. modification; restriction UNQUALIFIED — adj. complete; unrestricted REDUNDANT — adj. unnecessarily repetitive, excessive REDUNDANCY — n. repetitiveness, excess, superfluity STAGNATION — n. motionlessness, inactivity STAGNATE — v. to stop moving, to become inactive STAGNANT — adj. dormant, idle, immobile STATIC — adj. stationary, sti unchanging STEADFAST — adj. unwaveringly loyal and faithful TENACIOUS — adj. persistent, stubborn TENACITY — n. determination, perseverance TORPOR — n. sluggishness; inactivity; apathy TORPID — adj. apathetic; inert TRANSIENT — adj. temporary oo VACILLATE — v, to waver back and forth; to be indecisive VICISSITUDE — n. a change in fortune, an upheaval BUILDING A MORE EDUCATED VOCABULARY 13AAISS 14 WORD SMART oe PARK ANDO RIDE CARYATID — n. a supporting column sculpted in the form of a woman CELERITY — n. speed, rapidity COFFLE — n. a group of animals or prisoners chained together ina line CUNCTATION — n. a delay or procrastination DIASPORA — n. the spreading of a people from one central location to points across the globe 6 GAD —v. to move about from one place to another in search of amusement GALLIVANT — v. to go from place to place for fun or pleasure HEGIRA — n. a journey from one place to a better or more desirable place IN SITU — adj. or adv. describing something which is still in its original place or occurs in its ori al position 10 INERT — adj. unmoving, still; (chemically) having no active compounds 11, LANGUOROUS — adj. still or unmoving in a dreamy way; sluggish, listless 12 MOTILE — adj, capable of spontaneous movement 13 PEREGRINATION — n. a journey 14 PERIPATETIC — adj. walking or traveling about 15 PHLEGMATIC — adj. not easily excited or caused to move, calm, apathetic 16 QUAGMIRE — n. a bog or area of ground which is wet and boggy and yields under foot: a difficult and complicated situation ~ we 0 SHADOWS AND LIGHT 17 CHTHONIC — adj. pertaining to the underworld; describing supernatural beings who live below the surface of the earth 18 DIADEM — n. a sparkling crown or tiaraAAS 19 20 2 22 23 24 25 26 a 28 2 3 32 DIAPHANOUS — adj. sheer, clear, almost transparent IMPRECATE — v. to curse INSCRUTABLE — adj. yielding little or no information; difficult to understand; mysterious LAPIDARY — nr. a diamond cutter; adj. related to diamond cutting LUCENT — adj. glowing, giving off light MISCREANT — n. a troublemaker, an evildoer NEFANDOUS — adj. so terrible as to be unspeakable OBFUSCATE — v. to make unclear; to bewilder or confuse RAKEHELL — n. an evil person; a licentious man RESPLENDENT — adj. shining brilliantly, gleaming, radiant, splendid SCINTILLATING — adj. giving off sparks; brilliant TENEBROUS — adj. dark, gloomy THAUMATURGY — n. performance of miracles or magic THEODICY — n. a defense of God's goodness despite the existence of evil BUILDING A MORE EDUCATED VOCABULARY 15LIVING LANGUAGE © and 1993 and 1997 by TPR Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved, Published in the United States by Random House, Inc Living Language ia a re trademark of Random House, Ine. Compact Disc Digital Audio 0-609-B1109-6 Recorded by The Sun Group, New York, N.Y. and Paul Ruben Productions, Inc. Voices: Julian Fleisher, Jennifer Jay Myers, Kevin Shumway, Madelon Thomat, Eliza Fess, Paul Ruben Thanks to all at The Princeton Review, Villard Books, The Sun Group, and Living Language.