abaselower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make lose self-respect abashembarrass abatesubside or moderate abbreviateshorten abdicaterenounce; give up aberrantabnormal or deviant aberrationdeviation from the normal; mental disorder abetassist usually in doing something wrong; encourage abeyancesuspended action abhordetest; hate abjectwretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology abjurerenounce upon oath ablutionwashing abnegationrenunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation abolishcancel; put an end to abominabledetestable; extremely unpleasant abominateloathe; hate aboriginalbeing the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine abortiveunsuccessful; fruitless abrasiverubbing away; tending to grind down abridgecondense or shorten abrogateabolish abscissioncutting off; separation absconddepart secretly and hide absolutecomplete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism absolvepardon abstainrefrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote; abstemioussparing in eating and drinking; temperate abstinencerestraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote abstracttheoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational abstruseobscure; profound; difficult to understand abusivecoarsely insulting; physically harmful abutborder upon; adjoin abysmalbottomless abyssenormous chasm; vast bottomless pit academicrelated to a school; not practical or directly useful accedeagree acceleratemove faster accessibleeasy to approach; obtainable accessoryadditional object; useful but not essential thing acclaimapplaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drug has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise acclimateadjust to climate or environment; adapt acclivitysharp up slope of a hill; OP. declivity accoladeaward of merit; strong praise and approval accommodateoblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging accomplicepartner in crime accordagreement accostapproach and speak first to a person accoutreequip; N. accoutrement accretiongrowth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete accruecome to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual acerbitybitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid aceticvinegary acidulousslightly sour ; sharp; caustic acknowledgerecognize; admit acmepeak; pinnacle; highest point acousticsscience of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in acquiesceassent; agree passively; comply without protest acquittaldeliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct in a specified manner acridbitter ; sharp; bitterly pungent acrimoniousstinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior acrophobiafear of heights actuarialcalculating; pertaining to insurance statistics actuarysomeone who advises insurance companies actuatemotivate; activate; cause to act acuitysharpness acumenmental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen acutesharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain adagewise saying; proverb adamanthard; inflexible adaptmake or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel. addendumaddition; appendix to book; something that is added addictioncompulsive habitual need addlemake or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten addressdirect a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech adeptexpert at; very skilled adherestick fast; be a devoted follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyalty adherentsupporter; follower adjacentadjoining; neighboring; close by adjunctsomething attached to but holding an inferior position adjurationsolemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly adjutantstaff officer assisting the commander; assistant admonishwarn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove adorndecorate adroitskillful adulationflattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved adulteratemake impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted substances adventarrival adventitiousaccidental; casual; happening by chance adversaryopponent; enemy adversegoing against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile adversitygreat hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event advertrefer advocacysupport; active pleading on behalf of someone or something advocatespeak in favor of; support ; urge; plead for aegisshield; protection; defense aerienest of a large bird of prey aestheticartistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful ; CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics affableeasily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly affectedartificial; pretended affidavitwritten statement made under oath affiliationjoining; associating with affinityfeeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages affirmationpositive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination afflictionstate of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on affluenceabundance; wealth affrontinsult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally agapeopen mouthed agendaitems of business at a meeting agglomerationcollection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. agglomerate: jumbled mass; heap aggrandizemake greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement aggregatesum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars aghastfilled with great surprise or fear; horrified agilitynimbleness; ability to move quickly agitatestir up; disturb agnosticone who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality agoghighly excited; intensely curious agrarianpertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform alacritycheerful promptness without reluctance alchemymedieval chemistry alcovenook; recess aliasan assumed name esp. by a criminal ; ADV. alias alienatemake unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of alimentarysupplying nourishment alimonypayments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce allaycalm; pacify allegestate without proof allegianceloyalty allegorystory, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable alleviaterelieve alliterationrepetition of beginning sound in poetry allocateassign; set apart for a particular purpose alloymixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other metals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness alluderefer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference allureentice; attract; tempt alluvialpertaining to soil deposits left by running water aloftupward; high up in the air aloofapart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV. altercationnoisy quarrel altruisticunselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism amalgamcombination of different things; mixture of metals used for filling holes in teeth amalgamatecombine; unite in one body amasscollect amazonfemale warrior ambidextrouscapable of using either hand with equal ease ambienceenvironment; atmosphere; Ex. restaurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature ambiguousunclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation ambivalencethe state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions amblewalking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly ambrosiafood of the gods ambulatoryable to walk ameliorateimprove amenableobedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests amendcorrect; change ; generally for the better amenitiesconvenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies amiableagreeable; lovable; warmly friendly amicablepeaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement amisswrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV. amityfriendship; peaceful relationship as between nations amnesialoss of memory amnestypardon amokin a state of rage; Ex. run amok amoralnonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong amorousmoved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances amorphousformless; lacking shape or definition amphibianable to live both on land and in water; N. amphitheateroval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena ampleenough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space amplifyincrease in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph amputatecut off part of body; prune amuletcharm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck anachronisman error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic analgesiccausing insensitivity to pain; N. analogouscomparable; similar analogysimilarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things anarchistperson who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority anarchyabsence of governing body; state of disorder anathemasolemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize ancestryfamily descent; ADJ. ancestral anchorsecure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage ancillaryserving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N. anecdoteshort story of an amusing or interesting event anemiacondition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic anestheticsubstance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia anguishacute pain; extreme suffering angularsharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded ; bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner animadversioncritical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval animatedlively; spirited animosityactive enmity animushostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition annalsrecords arranged in yearly parts; history annealreduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling annexattach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate into a larger existing political unit ; N: building added to a large one annihilatedestroy annotatecomment; make explanatory notes annuityyearly allowance annulmake void anodynedrug that relieves pain or trouble; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement anointconsecrate; put oil on anomalousabnormal; irregular anomalyirregularity anonymitystate of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous antagonismhostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in opposition to the protagonist antecedeprecede antecedentspreceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background antediluvianantiquated; extremely ancient anthemsong of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem anthologybook of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus anthropoidmanlike; resembling a human being; N. anthropologiststudent of the history and science of humankind anthropomorphichaving human form or characteristics anticlimaxletdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting antidoteremedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles antipathyaversion; dislike or opposition antiquatedobsolete; old-fashioned; outdated antisepticsubstance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ. antithesiscontrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical anviliron block used in hammering out metals apathylack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic apeimitate or mimic apertureopening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light apextip; summit; climax; highest point aphasialoss of speech due to injury or illness aphorismpithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic apiarya place where bees are kept aplombpoise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence apocalypticprophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse apocryphalwidely believed but untrue apogeehighest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee apoliticalhaving an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs apologistone who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia apoplexystroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain apostateone who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy apothecarydruggist; pharmacist apothegmpithy, compact saying apotheosiselevation to godhood; an ideal example of something appalldismay; shock deeply apparitionghost; phantom appeasepacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement appellationname; title appendattach applicationdiligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself appositeappropriate; fitting appraiseestimate value of; N. appraisal appreciatebe thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference apprehendarrest ; dread; perceive; N. apprehension apprehensivefearful; discerning appriseinform approbationapproval appropriateacquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate appurtenancessubordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing aproposwith reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos the present situation; ADJ. ADV. aptitudefitness; talent aquilinecurved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose arablefit for growing crops; Ex. arable land arbiterperson with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position to make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware arbitraryunreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler arbitrateact as judge arboretumplace where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited arcadea covered passageway usually lined with shops arcaneesoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener arch-chief; first; Ex. archbishop archaeologystudy of artifacts and relics of early mankind archaicantiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N. archetypeprototype; primitive pattern archipelagogroup of closely located islands archivespublic records; place where public records are kept ardorheat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent arduoushard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work argotslang; speech spoken by only a small group of people ariaoperatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio ariddry; barren; unproductive aristocracyhereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat armadafleet of warships aromaticfragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell arraigncharge in court; indict arraymarshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array arrearsbeing in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done arrhythmiclacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia arrogancepride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important arroyogully; narrow channel formed by rainwater arsenalstorage place for military equipment articulateeffective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints artifactsobject made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced artificedeception; trickery artisana manually skilled worker artlesswithout guile; open and honest ascendancycontrolling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant ascertainfind out for certain; make certain asceticpracticing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism ascriberefer; attribute; assign asepticpreventing infection; having a cleansing effect ashenash-colored; deadly pale asininestupid; Ex. asinine remarks askancewith a sideways or indirect look ; Ex. look askance at askewcrookedly; slanted; at an angle asperitysharpness; roughness; severity ; Ex. asperities of a Russian winter aspersionslanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on aspirantseeker after position or status aspireseek to attain ; long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership assailassault assayanalyze ; evaluate assentagree; accept; N. assessment assertstate strongly or positively; demand recognition of ; make a claim to ; Ex. assert one's independence assiduousdiligent assimilateabsorb; take into the body and digest it; understand completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous assuagemake less severe; ease or lessen ; satisfy ; soothe assumptionsomething taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume assurancefirm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in front of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make certain to happen; make feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one's own ability; showing certainty asteroidsmall planet astigmatismeye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism astralrelating to the stars astringentbinding; causing contraction ; harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism astronomicalenormously large or extensive astutewise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage asunderinto parts; apart; V. sunder asylumplace of refuge or shelter; protection asymmetricnot identical on both sides of a dividing central line atavismresemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic atheisticdenying the existence of God; N. atheism atonemake amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for atrocitybrutal deed; ADJ. atrocious atrophywasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle attentivealert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration attenuatemake thin; weaken attesttestify; bear witness attributeessential quality; V: ascribe; explain attritionrubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition atypicalnot normal; not typical audaciousdaring; bold; N. audacity auditexamination of accounts of a business; official examination; V. augmentincrease; add to auguryomen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of augustimpressive; majestic aureolesun"s corona; halo; bright circle of light auroralpertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis auspiciousfavoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices austereforbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk"s austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity authenticateprove genuine authoritariansubordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another"s will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father authoritativehaving the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive autocratichaving absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy automatonmechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself autonomousself-governing; N. autonomy autopsyexamination of a dead body; postmortem; V. auxiliaryoffering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant avalanchegreat mass of falling snow and ice avaricegreediness for wealth avengetake vengeance for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy. averstate confidently; declare as true aversereluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work aversionfirm dislike avertprevent; avoid; turn away ; Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight. aviaryenclosure for birds; large cage avidgreedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity avocationsecondary or minor occupation avowdeclare openly; N. avowal avuncularof or like an uncle awesolemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome awlpointed tool used for piercing awrydistorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry. axiomself-evident truth requiring no proof azuresky blue babblechatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N. bacchanaliandrunken badgerpester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal badinageteasing conversation; banter; joking talk bafflefrustrate; perplex baitharass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals balefulevil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look balkstop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate ballastheavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast balmsomething that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees balmysoft and mild ; fragrant banalhackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; cliched bandydiscuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with banepoison; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous banteringjoking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter barbsharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark bardpoet barefacedshameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie baroquehighly ornate barragebarrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism barristercounselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar barterertrader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money baskluxuriate; take pleasure in warmth bastionstronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism batelet down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate baubletrinket; cheap jewel; trifle bawdyindecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd beatificgiving or showing bliss; blissful beatitudeblessedness; state of great happiness bedizendress with vulgar finery bedragglewet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled beelinedirect quick route befuddleconfuse thoroughly begetfather; become the father of; produce; give rise to begrudgeenvy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn"t begrudge him his success. beguiledeceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile behemothhuge creature; something of monstrous size or power beholdenobligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude behoovebe suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do. belaborharp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically belateddelayed beleaguerbesiege or attack ; harass; beset beliecontradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure. belittledisparage; depreciate bellicosewarlike belligerentquarrelsome bemoanlament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of bemusedconfused; lost in thought; preoccupied benedictionblessing benefactorgift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose beneficentkindly; doing good beneficialhelpful; useful; advantageous beneficiaryperson entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will benefitadvantage; anything that brings help, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits benevolentgenerous; charitable; having a wish to do good benignkindly; favorable; not malignant ; Ex. benign tumor benisonblessing bentdetermined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination bequeathleave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest beratescold strongly bereaveddeprived of bereavementstate of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft bereftdeprived of ; lacking berserkmad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited beseechbeg; plead with besetharass or trouble from all directions; hem in besiegesurround with armed forces; harass ; annoy continually besmirchsoil; defile; make dirty bestialbeastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel bestowconfer betokensignify; indicate; be a sign of betraybe unfaithful; reveal ; Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety. betrothbecome engaged to marry bevylarge group; Ex. a bevy of starlets bicameraltwo-chambered as a legislative body bickerquarrel biennialevery two years bifurcateddivided into two branches; forked bigotrystubborn intolerance bilioussuffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated bilkswindle; cheat billowingswelling out in waves; surging bivouactemporary encampment; camp without tents; V. bizarrefantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional blanchbleach; whiten; make white or pale blandsoothing or mild ; agreeable; causing no trouble or offense blandishmentflattery blareloud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light blasebored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored blasphemyirreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blaspheme; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege blatantextremely obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy bleakcold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing blightedsuffering from a disease; destroyed blithegay; joyous bloatedswollen or puffed as with water or air blowhardtalkative boaster; braggart bludgeonclub; heavy-headed weapon; V. bluffpretense ; deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured blundererror; stupid mistake blurtutter impulsively from nervousness or excitement blusterblow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale bodeforeshadow; portend boguscounterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview bohemianunconventional boisterousviolent; rough; noisy bolstersupport; reinforce boltdoor bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off; fasten ; gobble down bombardmentattack ; V. bombard bombasticpompous; using inflated language boonblessing; benefit; something very helpful boorishrude; insensitive bouillonclear beef soup bountifulgenerous; graciously generous; showing bounty bourgeoismiddle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions bovinecowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm bowdlerizeexpurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler brackishsomewhat saline braggadocioboasting braggartboaster; bragger brandishwave around ; flourish bravadoswagger; assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery brawnhuman muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness brazeninsolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence breachbreaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V. breadthwidth; extent brevityconciseness; shortness of duration brindledtawny or grayish with streaks or spots bristlingrising like bristles; showing irritation brittlehard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation broachintroduce as a subject; moot; open up brocaderich, figured fabric brochurepamphlet broochornamental clasp; pin brooktolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream browbeatbully; intimidate browsegraze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually bruntmain impact or shock ; Ex. brunt of the argument brusqueblunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice buccaneerpirate bucolicrustic; pastoral buffetstrike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that"s been set buffooneryclowning bugaboobugbear; object of baseless terror bulliongold and silver in the form of bars bulwarkstrong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends bunglemismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior buoyantable to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market bureaucracyoverregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic burgeongrow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon burlesquegive an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly burnishmake shiny by rubbing; polish buttresssupport; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress buxomfull-bosomed; plump; jolly cabalsmall group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests cachehiding place; V. cacophonousdiscordant; inharmonious; N. cacophony: unpleasant mixture of loud sounds cadavercorpse; dead human body cadaverouslike a corpse; pale cadencerhythmic rise and fall ; beat; regular beat of sound; rhythm cajolepersuade by praise or false promise; coax; wheedle calamitydisaster; misery calculateddeliberately planned; likely caldronlarge kettle caliberability; quality; diameter of the inside of a round cylinder; Ex. work of very high caliber calligraphybeautiful writing; excellent penmanship calloushardened; unfeeling; without sympathy for the sufferings of others; unkind callowyouthful; immature; inexperienced calorificheat-producing; N. calorie calumnymalicious misrepresentation; slander camaraderiegood-fellowship; CF. comrade cameoshell or jewel carved in relief; star"s special appearance in a minor role in a film canardunfounded false rumor; exaggerated false report candorfrankness; open honesty; ADJ. candid caninerelated to dogs; doglike cankerany ulcerous sore; ulcer; any evil; CF. cancer cannyshrewd in money matters; thrifty cantinsincere speech or expression of piety; jargon of thieves; special words used by a particular group of people cantankerousill-humored; irritable cantatastory set to music to be sung by a chorus canterslow gallop; V. CF. trot cantodivision of a long poem canvassdetermine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N. capaciousspacious capacitymental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president capillaryhaving a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity capitulatesurrender; give up all resistance capricewhim; sudden change of mind without any real cause capriciousunpredictable; fickle captiontitle; chapter heading; text under illustration captiousfaultfinding; too critical carafeglass water bottle; decanter carapaceshell covering the back caratunit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold carcinogeniccausing cancer; N. carcinogen cardinalchief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather than order cardiologistdoctor specializing in ailments of the heart careenlurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger caricaturedistortion; burlesque carillona set of bells capable of being played carnagedestruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals carnalfleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body carnivorousmeat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore carousaldrunken revel; V. carouse carpingpetty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble carrionrotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture cartographermap-maker cascadesmall waterfall casteone of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige castigationpunishment; severe criticism or disapproval casualtyserious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle cataclysmdeluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change catalystagent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis catapultslingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult cataractgreat waterfall; eye abnormality catastrophecalamity ; disaster catcallshout of disapproval or displeasure ; boo; V. catechismbook for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize categoricalwithout exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute catharsispurging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art catharticpurgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ. catholicuniversal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes caucusprivate meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston caulkmake watertight causalimplying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality causticburning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless cauterizeburn with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection cavalcadeprocession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry cavaliercasual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight cavilquibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily cedeyield to ; surrender formally; N. cession celerityspeed; rapidity celestialheavenly celibateabstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy censoroverseer of morals ; person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V. censoriousseverely critical censureblame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval centaurmythical figure, half man and half horse centigradedenoting a widely used temperature scale centrifugalradiating; departing from the center centrifugemachine that separates substances by whirling them centripetaltending toward the center centurionRoman army officer cerebralpertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum cerebrationthought; working of the brain ceremoniousmarked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy certitudecertainty cessationstoppage cessionyielding to another; ceding chafewarm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N. chaffworthless products of an endeavor; husk separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff chaffingbantering; joking chagrinannoyance and disappointment; vexation chalicegoblet; consecrated cup chameleonlizard that changes color in different situations championsupport militantly; fight for; N: person who fights for or supports strongly chaoticin utter disorder charismadivine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism charlatanquack; pretender to knowledge charycautious; unwilling to take risks; sparing or restrained about giving; OP. bold chaseornament a metal surface by indenting; follow rapidly to catch chasmabyss; very deep crack chassisframework and working parts of an automobile; framework to which components are attached chastemorally pure; virginal; abstaining from illicit sexual acts; modest; simple ; not highly decorated; austere chastendiscipline; punish in order to correct; CF. castigate chastisepunish as by beating; criticize severely chauvinistblindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin checkstop motion; curb or restrain checkeredmarked by great changes in fortune; with many changes of fortune; CF. checked: having a pattern of squares cherubicangelic; innocent-looking; N. cherub; CF. seraph: winged angel of the highest order chicanerytrickery; deception chidescold; rebuke chimericalfantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; N. chimera: unreal fancy; fire-breathing female creature chiselswindle or cheat; N: wedgelike tool for cutting chivalrouscourteous; faithful; brave; N. chivalry cholerichot-tempered; bad-tempered; irritable; easily angered; CF. cholera choreographyart of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances chortlechuckle with delight; N. chroniclong established as a disease chroniclereport; record churlishboorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo ciliatedhaving minute hairs; CF. cilium; CF. cilia: eyelash ciphernonentity; worthless person or thing; zero; secret code; V. circletsmall ring; band of gold, silver, jewel, etc. circuitousroundabout circumlocutionindirect or roundabout expression circumscribelimit; confine; draw a line around circumspectprudent; cautious; acting after careful thought circumventoutwit; defeat by behaving more cleverly; outsmart; baffle; avoid; get around cisternreservoir or water tank citadelfortress citequote; commend; Ex. cited for bravery in an official record civilhaving to do with citizens; not military or religious; courteous and polite; Ex. married in a civil ceremony; Ex. civil strife/disorder/law; N. civility; CF. civic clairvoyanthaving foresight; fortune teller; N. clairvoyance clamberclimb by crawling with difficulties; scramble clamorloud continuous noise; continuous demand or complaint made by a large number of people; V: make a clamor; express continually and loudly; ADJ. clamorous clandestinesecret clangorloud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging clapperstriker of a bell clarionshrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times claustrophobiafear of being locked in claviclecollarbone cleavesplit or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven cleftsplit clemencydisposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement clichephrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. cliched clientelebody of customers climacticrelating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic climeclimate cliquesmall exclusive group of people cloistermonastery or convent cloutgreat influence ; hard blow with fist cloyingdistasteful ; excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess coagulatecongeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant coalescecombine; fuse; N. coalescence coalitionpartnership; league; union of separate political parties codaconcluding section of a musical or literary composition coddletreat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs codicilsupplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will codifyarrange as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs coercionuse of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce coevalliving at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age cogtooth projecting from a wheel cogentconvincing cogitatethink over; ponder cognatehaving a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N. cognitivehaving to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing cognizanceknowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware cohabitlive together coherestick together cohesiontendency to keep together cohortsgroup of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander coiffurehairstyle coinmake coins; invent or fabricate ; N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented coincidencethe chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental colanderutensil with perforated bottom used for straining collaboratework together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy collagework of art put together from fragments collateexamine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order collateralsecurity given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters collationa light meal; collating colloquialpertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression colloquyinformal discussion; conversation collusionconspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude colossalhuge colossusgigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance comatosein a coma; extremely sleepy combustibleeasily burned; N. CF. combustion comelyattractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance comestiblesomething fit to be eaten comeuppancedeserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke comitycourtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations commandeertake for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes commemorativeremembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp commensurateequal in extent; of the same size commiseratefeel or express pity or sympathy for commodiousspacious and comfortable communalheld in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune compactagreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement compatibleharmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together compellingoverpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one's attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel compendiumbrief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious compensatorymaking up for; repaying compilationlisting of information in tabular or book form; compiling compileassemble; gather; accumulate; make from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary complacencyself-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent complaisanttrying to please; obliging; willing to please others complementcomplete; consummate; make perfect; N. complementaryserving to complete something complianceconformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield; disposition to yield to others; V. comply compliantreadily acting in accordance with a rule, order, or the wishes or others; yielding; conforming to requirements complicityparticipation; involvement componentelement; ingredient comportbear one's self; behave; Ex. comport oneself; N. comportment composuremental calmness compoundcombine; produce by combining; increase; make worse by adding to or increasing; exacerbate; Ex. compound an error; ADJ: consisting of two or more parts; N: combination of two or more parts; area enclosed by a wall containing a group of buildings; Ex. factory compound; CF. complex comprehensivebroad; including a lot or everything; thorough; inclusive compressforce into less space; squeeze; contract; put into fewer words; N: thick mass of cloth pressed to part of the body to stop bleeding or swelling, reduce fever, etc. compriseinclude; consist of compromiseadjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of; put into danger, disrepute, or a dishonorable position; Ex. compromise one's principle; N. compunctionremorse; strong uneasiness caused by guilt computereckon; calculate concatenatelink as in a chain concavehollow; curved inwards; OP. convex concedeadmit; acknowledge as being true ; yield; grant; Ex. concede a goal conceitvanity or self-love; too high opinion of one's own value; extravagant metaphor concentrichaving a common center conceptionbeginning; forming of an idea; fertilization; V. conceive: form an idea in the mind; devise; become pregnant; CF. inception concertedmutually agreed on; done together by agreement; Ex. concerted effort; CF. in concert: working together concessionan act of yielding; conceding; something conceded; point, right, etc. given unwillingly; privilege of maintaining a business in a certain place; Ex. oil concessions in the North sea; CF. concessionaire conciliatoryreconciling; soothing; V. conciliate: reconcile; soothe; win the friendly feelings concisebrief and compact conclaveprivate secret meeting conclusivedecisive; ending all debate concoctprepare by mixing or combining; make up in concert; devise so as to deceive; Ex. concoct an elaborate excuse for being late; N. concoction concomitantthat which accompanies; Ex. Deafness is a frequent concomitant of old age; ADJ: existing or happening together with something else concordharmony; accord concuragree; coincide; happen at the same time concurrenthappening at the same time; in agreement condescendbestow courtesies with a superior air; descend to the level of one considered inferior condignadequate; severe and well deserved condimentsseasonings; spices condoleexpress condolences; N. condolence: sympathy for someone who has experienced great sorrow condoneoverlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse conducivehelpful; contributive; V. conduce; Ex. conduce to/towards conduitaqueduct; passageway for fluids confidanttrusted friend confineshut in an enclosed space; restrict; keep within limits; N. confinement confiscateseize; take possession of by official order ; commandeer conflagrationgreat fire confluenceflowing together; the place where two rivers flow together; crowd; gathering together conformityharmony; agreement with established rules or customs; similarity; Ex. behave in conformity with; V. conform: be similar; act in agreement; comply; Ex. conform to the rule; CF. conformance confoundconfuse; puzzle congealfreeze; coagulate congenialpleasant; friendly; in agreement with one's tastes and nature; Ex. congenial weather congenitalexisting at birth conglomerationmass of material sticking together congruencecorrespondence of parts; harmonious relationship; CF. congruity congruentin agreement; harmonious; corresponding; coinciding exactly; CF. congruous coniferpine tree ; cone-bearing tree; ADJ. coniferous; CF. deciduous; CF. evergreen conjecturesurmise; guess; V. conjugalpertaining to marriage conjurecause to appear by magic; summon by magical power; practice magic ; evoke; conjure up: bring into the mind; Ex. The magician conjured a rabbit out of his hat. connivancepretense of ignorance of something wrong; assistance; permission to offend; V. connive: feign ignorance ; cooperate secretly in an illegal action; conspire connoisseurperson competent to act as a judge of art, etc. ; a lover of an art connotationsuggested or implied meaning of an expression; V. connote connubialpertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state consanguinitykinship; relationship by birth conscientiousscrupulous; through and careful; Ex. conscientious worker conscriptdraftee; person forced into military service; V. consecratededicate; sanctify; declare as sacred; Ex. consecrate one's life to helping the poor consensusgeneral agreement; opinion reached by a group consequentialself-important; significant; consequent; following as a result; Ex. consequential air; CF. subsequent conservatoryschool of the fine arts ; glass-enclosed area; CF. conservancy consignsend to a person or place for sale; deliver officially; entrust; put into the care of another; set apart ; N. consignment; CF. consignor, consignee consistencyabsence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; Ex. consistency of thick cream; CF. viscous consolelessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort; allay the sorrow of; N. consolation consolidationunification; process of becoming firmer or stronger; V. consolidate: merge; strengthen consonanceharmony; agreement consortassociate with; keep company; N: husband or wife conspiracytreacherous plot; secret plan against the law constituentsupporter; voter; member of a constituency; component constraintrestraint; compulsion; repression of feelings; reticence; V. constrain: hold back; restrain; compel; oblige; confine forcibly; imprison construeexplain; interpret; Ex. construe her silence as meaning that she agreed; CF. misconstrue consummatecomplete; V. contagioninfection ; ADJ. contagious; CF. infectious: that can be passed by infection in the air contaminatepollute contemptscorn; disdain; ADJ. contemptuous; CF. contemptible contendstruggle; compete; assert earnestly; state strongly contentionassertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition contentiousquarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause arguments contestdispute; argue about the rightness of; compete for; try to win; Ex. contest the election results; Ex. contest a seat in Parliament; N. contextwritings preceding and following the passage quoted; circumstance in which an event occurs contiguousadjacent to; touching upon continenceself-restraint; sexual chastity; sexual abstinence; voluntary control over bladder and bowel functions; ADJ. continent contingentdependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency contortionstwistings; distortions; V. contort: twist violently out of shape; CF. contortionist contrabandillegal trade; smuggling; smuggled goods; ADJ. contravenecontradict; oppose; violate ; N. contravention contritepenitent; repentant; N. contrition contrivedunnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous; Ex. The ending was rather contrived. controvertoppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict; ADJ. controversial; N. controversy contumaciousstubborn and disobedient; resisting authority contusionbruise conundrumriddle; difficult problem convenecome together; assemble; call to meet; Ex. convene the council conventionsocial or moral custom; established practice; formal meeting; international agreement conventionalordinary; typical; not nuclear; Ex. conventional weapons convergeapproach; tend to meet; come together conversantfamiliar with; having knowledge of converseopposite; ADJ. convertone who has adopted a different religion or opinion; V: change into another form; adopt a particular religion or belief convexcurving outward conveyancevehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. public conveyance convictionjudgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief convivialpleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial convokecall together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation convolutedcoiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain copiousplentiful coquetteflirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V. cordialwarmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome cordonextended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; V. corniceprojecting molding on building cornucopiahorn overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty corollarynatural consequence corporealbodily ; of a bodily form; material; tangible corpulentvery fat; N. corpulence correlationmutual relationship corroborateconfirm; support; strengthen corrodedestroy or wear away gradually by chemical action corrosiveeating away by chemicals or disease; fierce corrugatedwrinkled; ridged cosmicpertaining to the universe; vast coteriegroup that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests countenanceapprove; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance countermandcancel; revoke counterpartthing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system couphighly successful action or sudden attack; coup d"etat; CF. coup de grace: deathblow or shot which kills couplejoin; unite; OP. uncouple couriermessenger covenantbinding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise covertsecret; hidden; implied; OP. overt covetousavaricious; desirous of ; V. covet: desire eagerly cowterrorize; intimidate cowershrink quivering as from fear; cringe coyshy ; showing a lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer cozencheat; hoodwink; swindle crabbedsour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting crassvery unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior cravencowardly credencebelief credocreed credulitybelief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivete; ADJ. credulous creedsystem of religious or ethical belief crescendoincrease in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent crestfallendejected; dispirited crevicecrack; fissure cringeshrink back as if in fear; cower criteriastandards used in judging; CF. criterion cronehag; ugly old woman crotchetyeccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion cruxessential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance cryptsecret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room crypticmysterious; hidden; secret cubiclesmall chamber used for sleeping or work cuisinestyle of cooking; Ex. French cuisine culinaryrelating to cooking or kitchen cullpick out from others ; reject; select; collect ; N. culminationhighest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war culpabledeserving blame; blameworthy culvertartificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road cumbersomeheavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform cumulativegrowing by addition; accumulative cupiditygreed ; CF. cupid; CF. Cupid curatorsuperintendent; manager curmudgeonchurlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person cursiveflowing; running; having the successive letters joined cursorycasual; hastily done with little attention to detail curtailshorten; reduce cynicalskeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness cynosureobject of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor dabblework at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid daisraised platform for speakers or other important people dallytrifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time dankdamp; unpleasantly wet dapperneat and trim ; neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry dappledspotted daubsmear ; cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint dauntintimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten dauntlessbold; fearless dawdleloiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing deadlockstandstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate deadpanwooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face dearthscarcity debaclesudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster debasedegrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement debauchcorrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior debilitateweaken ; enfeeble debonairfriendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition debrisrubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed debunkexpose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule debutanteyoung woman making formal entrance into society decadencedecay; fall to a lower level ; ADJ. decadent decantpour off gently decapitatebehead decelerateslow down deciduousfalling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth decimatekill ; destroy or kill a large part of decipherdecode; CF. indecipherable declivitydownward slope decolletehaving a low-cut neckline; CF. decolletage: low neckline decompositiondecay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts decorumpropriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct decoylure or bait; V. decrepitudestate of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age decryexpress strong disapproval of; condemn openly ; disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films deduciblederived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning defacemar; disfigure defameharm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory defaultfailure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V. defeatistresigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism defectiondesertion defergive in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous deferencecourteous regard for another"s wish; courteous yielding to another"s wish or opinion ; ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery defiancerefusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant defilepollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains definitivemost reliable; authoritative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court deflectturn aside; turn away from a straight course defoliatedestroy leaves; deprive of leaves ; N. defoliant defrayprovide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay defrockstrip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock deftneat; skillful defunctdead; no longer in use or existence degeneratebecome worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person degradationhumiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce in worth; demote ; reduce in rank dehydrateremove water from; dry out deifyturn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity deigncondescend; stoop deleteerase; strike out deleteriousharmful deliberateconsider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow delineateportray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation deliriummental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious deltaflat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river deludedeceive delugeflood; rush; V. delusionfalse belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that delusivedeceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises delvedig; search deeply; investigate demagogueperson who appeals to people"s prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery demeandisgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave demeanorbehavior; bearing dementedinsane demisedeath demographicrelated to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population demolitiondestruction; V. demolish demoniacfiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil demoticof or pertaining to the people demurobject ; raise an objection ; hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday demuregrave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure denigrateblacken; defame denizeninhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor denotationmeaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation denouementfinal outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained denouncecondemn; criticize; N. denunciation depictportray depletereduce; exhaust deploreregret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition deployspread out in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute systematically or strategically deposedethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify depositiontestimony under oath; deposing; dethroning depravityextreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave deprecateexpress disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory depreciatelessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value depredationplundering; destruction derangedinsane derelictnegligent; neglectful of duty; deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person derideridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect derisionridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory derivativeunoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N. dermatologistone who studies the skin and its diseases derogatoryexpressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage descrycatch sight of desecrateprofane; violate the sanctity of desiccatedry up desolatemake desolate; forsake; abandon and desert desolatedeserted; unpopulated; lonely; forlorn; joyless desperadoreckless, desperate outlaw despiselook on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible despoilplunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village despondentwithout hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection despottyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism destituteextremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience desultoryaimless; haphazard; digressing at random detachedemotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment determinatehaving a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final determinationresolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision deterrentsomething that discourages or deters detonationexplosion detractionslandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor detrimentalharmful; damaging; N. detriment deviateturn away from ; move away from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism deviousroundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route devisethink up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest devoidempty; lacking devolvedeputize; pass or be passed to others ; Ex. devolve on/upon/to devoteeenthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach devoutpious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope dexterousskillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity diabolicaldiabolic; devilish; fiendish diademcrown dialecticalrelating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments diaphanoussheer; transparent diatribebitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse dichotomydivision into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts dictumauthoritative and weighty statement ; saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark didacticintended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism diemetal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice diffidenceshyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident diffusewordy; verbose; rambling; spread out ; V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse digressionwandering away from the subject; V. digress dilapidatedfalling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation dilateexpand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on dilatorydelaying; tending to delay dilemmasituation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives dilettanteaimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge ; amateur; dabbler; CF. delight diligencesteadiness of effort; persistent hard work dilutemake less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president diminutionlessening; reduction in size; V. diminish dincontinued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition dinghysmall boat dingydirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain dintmeans; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work dioramalife-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background direwarning of disaster; disastrous; very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food dirgefuneral song; slow mournful piece of music disabusecorrect a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief disaffecteddisloyal; lacking loyalty; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty disapprobationdisapproval; condemnation disarraystate of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray disavowaldenial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim disbanddissolve; disperse; break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded. disbursepay out ; N. disbursement; CF. purse discernibledistinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement discerningmentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive disclaimdisown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer disclosereveal; N. disclosure discombobulateddiscomposed; confused discomfitfrustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb disconcertconfuse; upset; embarrass; perturb disconsolatehopelessly sad discordconflict; lack of harmony; dissonance discordantnot harmonious; conflicting discountdisregard; regard as unimportant; deduct from a cost discourseserious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion ; conversation; V. discreditdefame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful discrepancylack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions discreteseparate; unconnected discretionprudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary discriminatingable to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination discursivedigressing; rambling disdaintreat with scorn or contempt disembarkdebark; go ashore ; unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark disenfranchisedisfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise disengageuncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage disfiguremar the appearance of; spoil disgorgesurrender something ; eject; vomit; OP. gorge disgruntlemake discontented disheartendiscourage disheveleduntidy ; V. dishevel disinclinationunwillingness disingenuousnot naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous disinterdig up; unearth; OP. inter disinterestedunprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective disjointeddisconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin disjunctionact or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive dislodgeremove ; force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge dismantletake apart; disassemble dismembercut into small parts; cut apart limb from limb dismisseliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal disparagebelittle disparatebasically different; impossible to compare; unrelated disparitydifference; condition of inequality; OP. parity dispassionatecalm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings dispatchspeediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill dispelscatter; drive away; cause to vanish dispersescatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd dispiritedlacking in spirit disportamuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert disputatiousargumentative; fond of argument disquietudeuneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious disquisitionformal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report dissectionanalysis; cutting apart in order to examine dissembledisguise; hide the real nature of; pretend disseminatedistribute; spread; scatter dissentdisagree dissertationformal essay; treatise dissidentdissenting ; rebellious; N. dissimulatepretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble dissipatesquander; waste foolishly; scatter dissolutiondisintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life dissuadepersuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion distantreserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly distendexpand; swell out distillrefine ; concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew distinctionhonor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction distorttwist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion distraitabsentminded; distracted distraughtupset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry diurnaldaily; occurring during the daytime divaoperatic singer; prima donna divergevary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating diversediffering in some characteristics ; various; N. diversity: diversionact of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse diveststrip ; deprive ; dispossess; N. divestiture divineperceive intuitively ; foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination divulgereveal docileobedient; easily managed; submissive docketprogram as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket doctrinaireunable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties doctrineteachings in general; particular principle taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal documentprovide written evidence ; record with documents; N. dodderingshaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder dofftake off; OP. don doggeddetermined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert"s dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean doggerelpoor verse dogmaticopinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal doldrumsblues; listlessness; slack period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums doloroussorrowful; N. dolor doltslow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull domicilehome; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain. domineerrule over tyrannically donput on; OP. doff dormantsleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent dormerwindow projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room dorsalrelating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin dossierfile of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back dotagesenility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage dotebe excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline doursullen; gloomy; stubborn douseplunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet thoroughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse dowdyuntidy ; slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman downcastdisheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward drabdull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life draconianextremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician dregssediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue drivelnonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense drollqueer and amusing dronetalk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N. droneidle person who lives on other people"s work; male bee drosswaste matter; worthless impurities drudgeryhard unpleasant work; menial work dubiousquestionable; causing doubt; filled with doubt; N. dubiety ductilemalleable; pliable; easily pulled into shape; flexible; easily influenced or controlled dulcetsweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious dumbfoundastonish ; ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck dupesomeone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive duplicitydouble-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous durationlength of time something lasts duressforcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress dutifulrespectful; obedient dwindleshrink; reduce gradually dynamicenergetic; vigorously active dyspepticsuffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food earthyunrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP. ethereal ebbrecede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide ebullientshowing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling eccentricirregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric eccentricityoddity; idiosyncrasy ecclesiasticecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman eclecticselective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism eclipsedarken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse ecologistperson concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology economyefficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources ecstasyrapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy eddyswirling current of water, air, etc.; V. edictdecree ; official command edifyinstruct; correct morally eerieweird; causing fear because strange effacerub out; remove the surface of effectualable to produce a desired effect; valid effeminatehaving womanly traits effervescenceinner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce effetehaving lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted efficacypower to produce desired effect; ADJ. efficacious: effectual effigydummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President effluviumnoxious smell effronteryrudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek effusionpouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing egoismexcessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical egotisticalegotistic; excessively self-centered; self-important; conceited egregiousnotorious; conspicuously bad or shocking egressexit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress ejaculationexclamation; abrupt ejection ; V. ejaculate elaborationaddition of details; intricacy elatedfilled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation elegypoem or song expressing lamentation ; ADJ. elegiacal, elegiac elicitdraw out fact or information elixircure-all; panacea; something invigorating ellipsisomission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission ; PL. ellipses ellipticalelliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been left out eloquenceexpressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influenced elucidateexplain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid elusiveevasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or understand; V. elude: escape from; escape the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter; Ex. His name eludes me. elysianrelating to paradise; blissful emaciatedthin and wasted emanateissue forth; come out emancipateset free; liberate embargoban on commerce or other activity embarkcommence; go on board a boat; begin a journey embedenclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass embellishadorn; ornament; enhance as a story embezzlementtaking for one's own use in violation of trust; stealing embossproduce a design in raised relief; decorate with a raised design embracehug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet embroiderdecorate with needlework; ornament with fancy or fictitious details; embellish embroilthrow into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio embryonicundeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo: organism in the early stage of development emendcorrect ; N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement emeticsubstance causing vomiting; ADJ. eminentrising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex. eminent position emissaryagent ; messenger emollientsoothing or softening remedy ; ADJ. emolumentsalary; payment for an office; compensation empathyability to identify with another"s feelings, ideas, etc.; identification with and understanding of another"s feelings; V. empathize; CF. sympathy empiricalbased on experience emulateimitate; rival; try to equal or excel enamoredin love; Ex. enamored of his own beauty; V. enamor: inspire with love encipherencode; convert a message into code; put into cipher enclaveterritory enclosed within an alien land encomiasticpraising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy encompasssurround; include; Ex. His activities encompass publishing and computers. encroachmentgradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another"s possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon encumberburden; N. encumbrance endearmentfond word or act; expression of affection endemicprevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country; peculiar to a particular region or people; CF. pandemic endorseapprove; support; write one's signature on the back of; N. endorsement; CF. dorsal endueprovide with some quality; endow enduringlasting; surviving; V. endure: bear for a long time; remain alive ; last; survive energizeinvigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active enervateweaken; take away energy from enfranchiseadmit to the rights of citizenship ; CF. franchise engageattract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something; battle engagingcharming; attractive engendercause; produce; give rise to engrossoccupy fully; absorb enhanceincrease; make greater ; improve enigmapuzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling enjoincommand; order; forbid enmityill will; hatred; hostility ennuiboredom; listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; CF. annoy enormityhugeness ; excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous enraptureplease intensely; fill with rapture and delight ensconcesettle comfortably; place comfortably ensuefollow entailmake necessary; require; necessitate; involve; limit the inheritance of to a specified succession of heirs; Ex. entail A on/upon B enterprisingfull of initiative; showing enterprise enthrallcapture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete attention of ; hold spellbound enticelure; persuade to do ; attract; tempt entityreal being entomologystudy of insects entranceput under a spell; carry away with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight entreatplead; ask earnestly entreeentrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle entrepreneurbusinessperson ; contractor; ADJ. entrepreneurial enumeratelist; mention one by one enunciateannounce; proclaim; utter or speak, especially distinctly; pronounce clearly; articulate; Ex. This theory was first enunciated by him. environenclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area eonlong period of time; an age; longest division of geologic time containing two or more eras epauletornament worn on the shoulder ephemeralshort-lived; fleeting epiclong heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art ; ADJ: resembling an epic; grand epicureconnoisseur of food and drink; gourmet; ADJ. epicurean; CF. Epicurus epigramwitty thought or saying, usually short epilogueshort speech at conclusion of dramatic work episodicloosely connected; made up of separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience epistemologistphilosopher who studies the nature of knowledge; N. epistemology epitaphinscription in memory of a dead person epithetword or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person epitomeperfect example or embodiment; brief summary; Ex. epitome of good manners; V. epitomize: make an epitome of; be an epitome of; embody epochperiod of time equabletranquil; of even calm temper; steady; uniform equanimitycalmness of temperament; composure equestrianrider on horseback; ADJ. equilibriumbalance of opposing forces; balance of the mind; equanimity equineresembling a horse; Ex. equine face equinoxperiod of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ. equinoctial equipoisebalance; balancing force; equilibrium equitablefair; impartial; OP. inequitable equityfairness; justice; OP. inequity equivocalambiguous; intentionally misleading; questionable; OP. unequivocal equivocateuse equivocal language to deceive people; lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth; N. equivocation erodeeat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The sea erodes the rocks. eroticpertaining to passionate love or sexual love errantwandering ; straying from proper moral standards; Ex. knight-errant erraticodd; irregular in movement or behavior; unpredictable erroneousmistaken; wrong; incorrect eruditelearned; full of learning; scholarly; N. erudition escapadeprank; flighty conduct; reckless adventure that disobeys rules eschewavoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks esoterichard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica espionagespying espouseadopt; support ; marry; N. espousal esteemrespect; value; judge; N. estrangedseparated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate ; N. estrangement ethereallike a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly; unusually refined; Ex. She has an ethereal beauty; CF. ether: upper air