including both the question stems and the answerchoices. This list has become the UltimateSuccess Word List. It includes about 500 primarywords that are most likely to appear in one form oranother on the SAT, GED, ACT, TOEFL, andPSAT/NMSQT. It also includes hundreds of relatedwords—words that are either variants of theprimary words (ambiguity as a variant ofambiguous, for example) or that share a commonword root (like ample, amplify, and amplitude).Many of these words have already been covered inthis book; some even appear in the flashcards atthe back. By placing them all in a single location,however, we hope to give you one more tool toenhance your vocabulary study.

A

abbreviate (verb) to make briefer, to shorten.Because time was running out, thespeaker had to abbreviate hisremarks.abbreviation (noun).

abrasive (adjective) irritating, grinding,rough. The manager’s rude, abrasiveway of criticizing the workers was bad formorale.abrasion (noun).

abridge (verb) to shorten, to reduce. The Billof Rights is designed to preventCongress from abridging the rights ofAmericans.abridgment (noun).

absolve (verb) to free from guilt, toexonerate. The criminal jury absolvedMr. Callahan of the murder of hisneighbor.absolution (noun).

abstain (verb) to refrain, to hold back. Afterhis heart attack, he was warned by thedoctor to abstain from smoking,drinking, and overeating.abstinence(noun), abstemious (adjective).

accentuate (verb) to emphasize, to stress.The overcast skies and chill windsaccentuated our gloomymood.accentuation (noun).

acrimonious (adjective) biting, harsh,caustic. The election campaign becameacrimonious, as the candidates tradedinsults and accusations.acrimony(noun).

adaptable (adjective) able to be changed tobe suitable for a new purpose. Somescientists say that the mammalsoutlived the dinosaurs because theywere more adaptable to a changingclimate.adapt (verb), adaptation(noun).

adulation (noun) extreme admiration. Fewyoung actors have received greateradulation than did Marlon Brando afterhis performance in A Streetcar NamedDesire. adulate (verb), adulatory(adjective).

adversary (noun) an enemy or opponent.When the former Soviet Union becamean American ally, the United States losta major adversary.adversarial

(adjective).

adversity (noun) misfortune. It’s easy to bepatient and generous when things aregoing well; a person’s true character isrevealed under adversity.adverse(adjective).

aesthetic (adjective) relating to art or beauty.Mapplethorpe’s photos may be attackedon moral grounds, but no one questionstheir aesthetic value—they arebeautiful.aestheticism (noun).

affected (adjective) false, artificial. At onetime, Japanese women were taught tospeak in an affected high-pitched voice,which was thought girlishlyattractive.affect (verb), affectation(noun).

aggressive (adjective) forceful, energetic,and attacking. A football player needs amore aggressive style of play than asoccer player.aggression (noun).

alacrity (noun) promptness, speed. Thrilledwith the job offer, he accepted withalacrity—“Before they can change theirminds!” he thought.alacritous(adjective).

allege (verb) to state without proof. Somehave alleged that Foster was murdered,but all the evidence points tosuicide.allegation (noun).

alleviate (verb) to make lighter or morebearable. Although no cure for AIDShas been found, doctors are able toalleviate the suffering of those with thedisease.alleviation (noun).

ambiguous (adjective) having two or morepossible meanings. The phrase, “Let’stable that discussion” is ambiguous;some think it means, “Let’s discuss itnow,” while others think it means, “Let’ssave it for later.”ambiguity (noun).

ambivalent (adjective) having two or more

contradictory feelings or attitudes;uncertain. She was ambivalent towardher impending marriage; at times shewas eager to go ahead, while at othertimes she wanted to call itoff.ambivalence (noun).

amiable (adjective) likable, agreeable,friendly. He was an amiable lab partner,always smiling, on time, and ready towork.amiability (noun).

amicable (adjective) friendly, peaceable.Although they agreed to divorce, theirsettlement was amicable and theyremained friends afterward.

amplify (verb) to enlarge, expand, orincrease. Uncertain as to whether theyunderstood, the students asked theteacher to amplify hisexplanation.amplification (noun).

anachronistic (adjective) out of the propertime. The reference, in Shakespeare’sJulius Caesar to “the clock striking

twelve” is anachronistic, since therewere no striking timepieces in ancientRome.anachronism (noun).

anarchy (noun) absence of law or order. Forseveral months after the Nazigovernment was destroyed, there wasno effective government in parts ofGermany, and anarchy ruled.anarchic(adjective).

anomaly (noun) something different orirregular. The tiny planet Pluto, orbitingnext to the giants Jupiter, Saturn, andNeptune, has long appeared to be ananomaly.anomalous (adjective).

antagonism (noun) hostility, conflict,opposition. As more and more reportersinvestigated the Watergate scandal,antagonism between Nixon and thepress increased.antagonistic(adjective), antagonize (verb).

antiseptic (adjective) fighting infection;

extremely clean. A wound should bewashed with an antiseptic solution. Theall-white offices were bare and almostantiseptic in their starkness.

apathy (noun) lack of interest, concern, oremotion. Tom’s apathy toward his jobcould be seen in his lateness, hissloppy work, and his overall poorattitude.apathetic (adjective).

arable (adjective) able to be cultivated forgrowing crops. Rocky New England hasrelatively little arable farmland.

arbiter (noun) someone able to settledisputes; a judge or referee. The publicis the ultimate arbiter of commercialvalue; it decides what sells and whatdoesn’t.

arbitrary (adjective) based on random ormerely personal preference. Bothcomputers cost the same and had thesame features, so in the end I made anarbitrary decision about which one to

buy.arcane (adjective) little-known, mysterious,

obscure. Eliot’s Waste Land is filled witharcane lore, including quotations inLatin, Greek, French, German, andSanskrit.arcana (noun, plural).

ardor (noun) a strong feeling of passion,energy, or zeal. The young revolutionaryproclaimed his convictions with an ardorthat excited the crowd.ardent(adjective).

arid (adjective) very dry; boring andmeaningless. The arid climate ofArizona makes farming difficult. Somefind the law a fascinating topic, but forme it is an arid discipline.aridity (noun).

ascetic (adjective) practicing strict self-discipline for moral or spiritual reasons.The so-called Desert Fathers werehermits who lived an ascetic life offasting, study, and prayer.asceticism

(verb).

assiduous (adjective) working with care,attention, and diligence. Although Karenis not a naturally gifted math student, byassiduous study she managed to earnan A in trigonometry.assiduity (noun).

astute (adjective) observant, intelligent, andshrewd. Safire’s years of experience inWashington and his personalacquaintance with many politicalinsiders made him an astutecommentator on politics.

atypical (adjective) not typical; unusual. InThe Razor’s Edge, Bill Murray, bestknown as a comic actor, gave anatypical dramatic performance.

audacious (adjective) bold, daring,adventurous. Her plan to cross theAtlantic single-handed in a 12-footsailboat was audacious, if notreckless.audacity (noun).

audible (adjective) able to be heard.Although she whispered, her voice waspicked up by the microphone, and herwords were audible throughout thetheater.audibility (noun).

auspicious (adjective) promising goodfortune; propitious. The news that a teamof British climbers had reached thesummit of Everest seemed anauspicious sign for the reign of newlycrowned Queen Elizabeth II.

authoritarian (adjective) favoring ordemanding blind obedience to leaders.Despite Americans’ belief indemocracy, the American governmenthas supported authoritarian regimes inother countries.authoritarianism (noun)

B

belated (adjective) delayed past the propertime. She called her mother on January

time. She called her mother on January5th to offer her a belated “Happy NewYear.”

belie (verb) to present a false or contradictoryappearance. Lena Horne’s youthfulappearance belies her long,distinguished career in show business.

benevolent (adjective) wishing or doinggood. In old age, Carnegie used hiswealth for benevolent purposes,donating large sums to found librariesand schools.benevolence (noun).

berate (verb) to scold or criticize harshly. Thejudge angrily berated the two lawyers fortheir unprofessional behavior.

bereft (adjective) lacking or deprived ofsomething. Bereft of parental love,orphans sometimes grow up to beinsecure.

bombastic (adjective) inflated or pompous instyle. Old-fashioned bombastic politicalspeeches don’t work on television, which

demands a more intimate style ofcommunication.bombast (noun).

bourgeois (adjective) middle class orreflecting middle-class values. TheDadaists of the 1920s produced artdeliberately designed to offendbourgeois art collectors, with their tastefor respectable, refined, uncontroversialpictures.bourgeois (noun).

buttress (noun) something that supports orstrengthens; a projecting structure ofmasrony or wood. The endorsement ofthe American Medical Association is apowerful buttress for the claims madeabout this new medicine. The buttresson the south wall of the Medieval castlewas beginning to crumble.buttress(verb).

C

camaraderie (noun) a spirit of friendship.Spending long days and nights togetheron the road, the members of a travelingtheater group develop a strong sense ofcamaraderie.

candor (noun) openness, honesty, frankness.In his memoir about the Vietnam War,former defense secretary McNamaradescribed his mistakes with remarkablecandor.candid (adjective).

capricious (adjective) unpredictable,whimsical. The pop star Madonna haschanged her image so many times thateach new transformation now appearscapricious rather thanpurposeful.caprice (noun).

carnivorous (adjective) meat-eating. Thelong, dagger-like teeth of theTyrannosaurus make it obvious that thiswas a carnivorous dinosaur.carnivore(noun).

carping (adjective) unfairly or excessively

carping (adjective) unfairly or excessivelycritical; querulous. New York is famousfor its demanding critics, but none isharder to please than the carping JohnSimon, said to have single-handedlydestroyed many acting careers.carp(verb).

catalytic (adjective) bringing about, causing,or producing some result. Theconditions for revolution existed inAmerica by 1765; the disputes abouttaxation that arose later were thecatalytic events that sparked therebellion.catalyze (verb).

caustic (adjective) burning, corrosive. Noone was safe when the satirist H. L.Mencken unleashed his caustic wit.

censure (noun) blame, condemnation. Thenews that the senator had harassedseveral women brought censure frommany feminists.censure (verb).

chaos (noun) disorder, confusion, chance.

The first few moments after theexplosion were pure chaos: no one wassure what had happened, and the areawas filled with people running andyelling.chaotic (adjective).

circuitous (adjective) winding or indirect. Wedrove to the cottage by a circuitousroute so we could see as much of thesurrounding countryside as possible.

circumlocution (noun) speaking in aroundabout way; wordiness. Legaldocuments often containcircumlocutions that make them difficultto understand.

circumscribe (verb) to define by a limit orboundary. Originally, the role of theexecutive branch of government wasclearly circumscribed, but that role hasgreatly expanded overtime.circumscription (noun).

circumvent (verb) to get around. When Jerrywas caught speeding, he tried to

circumvent the law by offering the policeofficer a bribe.

clandestine (adjective) secret, surreptitious.As a member of the underground,Balas took part in clandestine meetingsto discuss ways of sabotaging the Naziforces.

cloying (adjective) overly sweet orsentimental. The deathbed scenes inthe novels of Dickens are famouslycloying: as Oscar Wilde said, “Onewould need a heart of stone to read thedeath of Little Nell without laughing.”

cogent (adjective) forceful and convincing.The committee members were won overto the project by the cogent argumentsof the chairman.cogency (noun).

cognizant (adjective) aware, mindful.Cognizant of the fact that it was gettinglate, the master of ceremonies cut shortthe last speech.cognizance (noun).

cohesive (adjective) sticking together,unified. An effective military unit mustbe a cohesive team, all its membersworking together for a commongoal.cohere (verb), cohesion (noun).

collaborate (verb) to work together. Tocreate a truly successful movie, thedirector, writers, actors, and manyothers must collaborateclosely.collaboration (noun),collaborative (adjective).

colloquial (adjective) informal in language;conversational. Some expressions fromShakespeare, such as the use of thouand thee, sound formal today but werecolloquial English in Shakespeare’stime.

competent (adjective) having the skill andknowledge needed for a particular task;capable. Any competent lawyer candraw up a will.competence (noun).

complacent (adjective) smug, self-satisfied.Until recently, American auto makerswere complacent, believing that theywould continue to be successful withlittle effort.complacency (noun).

composure (noun) calm, self-assurance.The president managed to keep hiscomposure during his speech evenwhen the teleprompter broke down,leaving him without a script.composed(adjective).

conciliatory (adjective) seeking agreement,compromise, or reconciliation. As aconciliatory gesture, the union leadersagreed to postpone a strike and tocontinue negotiations withmanagement.conciliate (verb),conciliation (noun).

concise (adjective) expressed briefly andsimply; succinct. Less than a page long,the Bill of Rights is a concise statementof the freedoms enjoyed by all

Americans.concision (noun).

condescending (adjective) having anattitude of superiority toward another;patronizing. “What a cute little car!” sheremarked in a condescending style. “Isuppose it’s the nicest one someonelike you could afford!”condescension(noun).

condolence (noun) pity for someone else’ssorrow or loss; sympathy. After thesudden death of Princess Diana,thousands of messages of condolencewere sent to her family.condole (verb).

confidant (noun) someone entrusted withanother’s secrets. No one knew aboutJanee’s engagement except Sarah, herconfidant.confide (verb), confidential(adjective).

conformity (noun) agreement with oradherence to custom or rule. In my highschool, conformity was the rule:

everyone dressed the same, talked thesame, and listened to the samemusic.conform (verb), conformist(noun, adjective).

consensus (noun) general agreementamong a group. Among Quakers, votingtraditionally is not used; instead,discussion continues until the entiregroup forms a consensus.

consolation (noun) relief or comfort insorrow or suffering. Although we missour dog very much, it is a consolation toknow that she died quickly, withoutsuffering.console (verb).

consternation (noun) shock, amazement,dismay. When a voice in the back of thechurch shouted out, “I know why theyshould not be married!” the entiregathering was thrown into consternation.

consummate (verb) to complete, finish, orperfect. The deal was consummatedwith a handshake and the payment of

the agreed-upon fee.consummate(adjective), consummation (noun).

contaminate (verb) to make impure.Chemicals dumped in a nearby foresthad seeped into the soil andcontaminated the local watersupply.contamination (noun).

contemporary (adjective) modern, current;from the same time. I prefer old-fashioned furniture rather thancontemporary styles. The composerVivaldi was roughly contemporary withBach.contemporary (noun).

contrite (adjective) sorry for past misdeeds.The public is often willing to forgivecelebrities who are involved in somescandal, as long as they appearcontrite.contrition (noun).

conundrum (noun) a riddle, puzzle, orproblem. The question of why an all-powerful, all-loving God allows evil to

exist is a conundrum manyphilosophers have pondered.

convergence (noun) the act of comingtogether in unity or similarity. Aremarkable example of evolutionaryconvergence can be seen in the sharkand the dolphin, two sea creatures thatdeveloped from different origins tobecome very similar in form.converge(verb).

convoluted (adjective) twisting,complicated, intricate. Tax law hasbecome so convoluted that it’s easy forpeople to accidentally violateit.convolute (verb), convolution (noun).

corroborating (adjective) supporting withevidence; confirming. A passerby whohad witnessed the crime gavecorroborating testimony about thepresence of the accusedperson.corroborate (verb),corroboration (noun).

corrosive (adjective) eating away, gnawing,or destroying. Years of poverty and hardwork had a corrosive effect on herbeauty.corrode (verb), corrosion(noun).

credulity (noun) willingness to believe, evenwith little evidence. Con artists foolpeople by taking advantage of theircredulity.credulous (adjective).

criterion (noun) a standard of measurementor judgment. In choosing a design forthe new taxicabs, reliability will be ourmain criterion.criteria (plural).

critique (noun) a critical evaluation. Theeditor gave a detailed critique of themanuscript, explaining its strengths andits weaknesses.critique (verb).

culpable (adjective) deserving blame, guilty.Although he committed the crime,because he was mentally ill he shouldnot be considered culpable for his

actions.culpability (noun).

cumulative (adjective) made up ofsuccessive additions. Smallpox waseliminated only through the cumulativeefforts of several generations of doctorsand scientists.accumulation (noun),accumulate (verb).

curtail (verb) to shorten. The opening roundof the golf tournament was curtailed bythe thunderstorm.

D

debased (adjective) lowered in quality,character, or esteem. The quality of TVjournalism has been debased by themany new tabloid-style talkshows.debase (verb).

debunk (verb) to expose as false orworthless. Magician James Randi lovesto debunk psychics, mediums,

clairvoyants, and others who claimsupernatural powers.

decorous (adjective) having good taste;proper, appropriate. Prior to her visit toBuckingham Palace, the young womanwas instructed to demonstrate the mostdecorous behavior.decorum (noun).

decry (verb) to criticize or condemn. Theworkers continued to decry the lack ofsafety in their factory.

deduction (noun) a logical conclusion,especially a specific conclusion basedon general principles. Based on what isknown about the effects of greenhousegases on atmospheric temperature,scientists have made severaldeductions about the likelihood ofglobal warming.deduce (verb).

delegate (verb) to give authority orresponsibility. The president delegatedthe vice president to represent theadministration at the peace

talks.delegate (noun).

deleterious (adjective) harmful. About thirtyyears ago, scientists proved thatworking with asbestos could bedeleterious to one’s health, producingcancer and other diseases.

delineate (verb) to outline or describe.Naturalists had long suspected the factof evolution, but Darwin was the first todelineate a process—natural selection—through which evolution could occur.

demagogue (noun) a leader who playsdishonestly on the prejudices andemotions of his followers. SenatorJoseph McCarthy was a demagoguewho used the paranoia of the anti-Communist 1950s as a way of seizingfame and power inWashington.demagoguery (noun).

demure (adjective) modest or shy. Thedemure heroines of Victorian fictionhave given way to today’s stronger,

have given way to today’s stronger,more opinionated, and moreindependent female characters.

denigrate (verb) to criticize or belittle. Thefirm’s new president tried to explain hisplans for improving the companywithout seeming to denigrate the work ofhis predecessor.denigration (noun).

depose (verb) to remove from office,especially from a throne. Iran was onceruled by a monarch called the Shah,who was deposed in 1979.

derelict (adjective) neglecting one’s duty.The train crash was blamed on aswitchman who was derelict, havingfallen asleep while on duty.dereliction(noun).

derivative (adjective) taken from a particularsource. When a person first writespoetry, her poems are apt to bederivative of whatever poetry she mostenjoys reading.derivation (noun),

derive (verb).

desolate (adjective) empty, lifeless, anddeserted; hopeless, gloomy. RobinsonCrusoe was shipwrecked and had tolearn to survive alone on a desolateisland. The murder of her husband leftMary Lincoln desolate.desolation(noun).

destitute (adjective) very poor. Years of ruleby a dictator who stole the wealth of thecountry had left the people of thePhilippines destitute.destitution (noun).

deter (verb) to discourage from acting. Thebest way to deter crime is to ensure thatcriminals will receive swift and certainpunishment.deterrence (noun),deterrent (adjective).

detractor (noun) someone who belittles ordisparages. Neil Diamond has manydetractors who consider his musicboring, inane, and sentimental.detract

(verb).

deviate (verb) to depart from a standard ornorm. Having agreed upon a spendingbudget for the company, we mustn’tdeviate from it; if we do, we may run outof money soon.deviation (noun).

devious (adjective) tricky, deceptive. TheCEO’s devious financial tactics weredesigned to enrich his firm whileconfusing or misleading governmentregulators.

didactic (adjective) intended to teach,instructive. The children’s TV showSesame Street is designed to be bothentertaining and didactic.

diffident (adjective) hesitant, reserved, shy.Someone with a diffident personalityshould pursue a career that involveslittle public contact.diffidence (noun).

diffuse (verb) to spread out, to scatter. Thered dye quickly became diffused

through the water, turning it a very palepink.diffusion (noun).

digress (verb) to wander from the main pathor the main topic. My high schoolbiology teacher loved to digress fromscience into personal anecdotes abouthis college adventures.digression(noun), digressive (adjective).

dilatory (adjective) delaying, procrastinating.The lawyer used various dilatory tactics,hoping that his opponent would get tiredof waiting for a trial and drop the case.

diligent (adjective) working hard andsteadily. Through diligent efforts, thetownspeople were able to clear away thedebris from the flood in a matter ofdays.diligence (noun).

diminutive (adjective) unusually small, tiny.Children are fond of Shetland poniesbecause their diminutive size makesthem easy to ride.diminution (noun).

discern (verb) to detect, notice, or observe. Icould discern the shape of a whale offthe starboard bow, but it was too faraway to determine its size orspecies.discernment (noun).

disclose (verb) to make known; to reveal.Election laws require candidates todisclose the names of those whocontribute large sums of money to theircampaigns.disclosure (noun).

discomfit (verb) to frustrate, thwart, orembarrass. Discomfited by theinterviewer’s unexpected question,Peter could only stammer inreply.discomfiture (noun).

disconcert (verb) to confuse or embarrass.When the hallway bells began to ringhalfway through her lecture, the speakerwas disconcerted and didn’t know whatto do.

discredit (verb) to cause disbelief in the

accuracy of some statement or thereliability of a person. Although manypeople still believe in UFOs, amongscientists the reports of “alienencounters” have been thoroughlydiscredited.

discreet (adjective) showing good judgmentin speech and behavior. Be discreetwhen discussing confidential businessmatters—don’t talk among strangers onthe elevator, for example.discretion(noun).

discrepancy (noun) a difference or variancebetween two or more things. Thediscrepancies between the twowitnesses’ stories show that one of themmust be lying.discrepant (adjective).

disdain (noun) contempt, scorn. Theprofessor could not hide his disdain forthose students who were perpetuallylate to his class.disdain (verb),disdainful (adjective).

disingenuous (adjective) pretending to becandid, simple, and frank. When Texasbillionaire H. Ross Perot ran forpresident, many considered his “jestplain folks” style disingenuous.

disparage (verb) to speak disrespectfullyabout, to belittle. Many political adstoday both praise their own candidateand disparage his or heropponent.disparagement (noun),disparaging (adjective).

disparity (noun) difference in quality or kind.There is often a disparity between thekind of high-quality television peoplesay they want and the low-browprograms they actually watch.disparate(adjective).

disregard (verb) to ignore, to neglect. If youdon’t write a will, when you die, yoursurvivors may disregard your wishesabout how your property should behandled.disregard (noun).

disruptive (adjective) causing disorder,interrupting. When the senator spoke atour college, angry demonstratorspicketed, heckled, and engaged inother disruptive activities.disrupt (verb),disruption (noun).

dissemble (verb) to pretend, to simulate.When the police questioned her aboutthe crime, she dissembled innocence.

dissipate (verb) to spread out or scatter. Thewindows and doors were opened,allowing the smoke that had filled theroom to dissipate.dissipation (noun).

dissonance (noun) lack of music harmony;lack of agreement between ideas. Mostmodern music is characterized bydissonance, which many listeners findhard to enjoy. There is a noticeabledissonance between two commonbeliefs of most conservatives: their faithin unfettered free markets and theirpreference for traditional social

values.dissonant (adjective).

diverge (verb) to move in different directions.Frost’s poem The Road Less Traveledtells of the choice he made when “Tworoads diverged in a yellowwood.”divergence (noun), divergent(adjective).

diversion (noun) a distraction or pastime.During the two hours he spent in thedoctor’s waiting room, his hand-heldcomputer game was a welcomediversion.divert (verb).

divination (noun) the art of predicting thefuture. In ancient Greece, peoplewanting to know their fate would visit thepriests at Delphi, supposedly skilled atdivination.divine (verb).

divisive (adjective) causing disagreement ordisunity. Throughout history, race hasbeen the most divisive issue inAmerican society.

divulge (verb) to reveal. The people whocount the votes for the Oscar awards areunder strict orders not to divulge thenames of the winners.

dogmatic (adjective) holding firmly to aparticular set of beliefs with little or nobasis. Believers in Marxist doctrine tendto be dogmatic, ignoring evidence thatcontradicts their beliefs.dogmatism(noun).

dominant (adjective) greatest in importanceor power. Turner’s Frontier Thesissuggests that the existence of thefrontier had a dominant influence onAmerican culture.dominate (verb),domination (noun).

dubious (adjective) doubtful, uncertain.Despite the chairman’s attempts toconvince the committee members thathis plan would succeed, most of themremained dubious.dubiety (noun).

durable (adjective) long lasting. Denim is apopular material for work clothesbecause it is strong and durable.

duress (noun) compulsion or restraint.Fearing that the police might beat him,he confessed to the crime, not willinglybut under duress.

E

eclectic (adjective) drawn from manysources; varied, heterogeneous. TheMellon family art collection is aneclectic one, including works rangingfrom ancient Greek sculptures tomodern paintings.eclecticism (noun).

efficacious (adjective) able to produce adesired effect. Though thousands ofpeople today are taking herbalsupplements to treat depression,researchers have not yet proved them

efficacious.efficacy (noun).

effrontery (noun) shameless boldness. Thesports world was shocked when aprofessional basketball player had theeffrontery to choke his head coachduring a practice session.

effusive (adjective) pouring forth one’semotions very freely. Having won theOscar for Best Actress, Sally Field gavean effusive acceptance speech in whichshe marveled, “You like me! You reallylike me!”effusion (noun).

egotism (noun) excessive concern withoneself; conceit. Robert’s egotism wasso great that all he could talk about wasthe importance—and the brilliance—ofhis own opinions.egotistic (adjective).

egregious (adjective) obvious, conspicuous,flagrant. It’s hard to imagine how theeditor could allow such an egregiouserror to appear.

elated (adjective) excited and happy;exultant. When the Arizona Cardinals’last, desperate pass was dropped, theelated fans of the Pittsburgh Steelersbegan to celebrate.elate (verb), elation(noun).

elliptical (adjective) very terse or concise inwriting or speech; difficult to understand.Rather than speak plainly, she hinted ather meaning through a series of nods,gestures, and elliptical half sentences.

elusive (adjective) hard to capture, grasp, orunderstand. Though everyone thinksthey know what “justice” is, when you tryto define the concept precisely, itproves to be quite elusive.

embezzle (verb) to steal money or propertythat has been entrusted to your care. Thechurch treasurer was found to haveembezzled thousands of dollars bywriting phony checks on the churchbank account.embezzlement (noun).

emend (verb) to correct. Before the letter ismailed, please emend the two spellingerrors.emendation (noun).

emigrate (verb) to leave one place or countryto settle elsewhere. Millions of Irishemigrated to the New World in the wakeof the great Irish famines of the1840s.emigrant (noun), emigration(noun).

eminent (adjective) noteworthy, famous.Vaclav Havel was an eminent authorbefore being elected president of theCzech Republic.eminence (noun).

emissary (noun) someone who representsanother. In an effort to avoid a militaryshowdown, Carter was sent as anemissary to Korea to negotiate asettlement.

emollient (noun) something that softens orsoothes. She used a hand cream as anemollient on her dry, work-roughened

hands.emollient (adjective).

empathy (noun) imaginative sharing of thefeelings, thoughts, or experiences ofanother. It’s easy for a parent to haveempathy for the sorrow of anotherparent whose child hasdied.empathetic (adjective).

empirical (adjective) based on experience orpersonal observation. Although manypeople believe in ESP, scientists havefound no empirical evidence of itsexistence.empiricism (noun).

emulate (verb) to imitate or copy. The Britishband Oasis admitted their desire toemulate their idols, theBeatles.emulation (noun).

encroach (verb) to go beyond acceptablelimits; to trespass. By quietly seizingmore and more authority, Robert Mosescontinually encroached on the powersof other government

leaders.encroachment (noun).

enervate (verb) to reduce the energy orstrength of someone or something. Theextended exposure to the sun alongwith dehydration enervated theshipwrecked crew, leaving them almosttoo weak to spot the passing vessel.

engender (verb) to produce, to cause.Countless disagreements over theproper use of national forests haveengendered feelings of hostilitybetween ranchers andenvironmentalists.

enhance (verb) to improve in value or quality.New kitchen appliances will enhanceyour house and increase the amount ofmoney you’ll make when you sellit.enhancement (noun).

enmity (noun) hatred, hostility, ill will. Long-standing enmity, like that between theProtestants and Catholics in NorthernIreland, is difficult to overcome.

enthrall (verb) to enchant or charm. TheSwedish singer Jenny Lind enthralledAmerican audiences in the nineteenthcentury with her beauty and talent.

ephemeral (adjective) quickly disappearing;transient. Stardom in pop music isephemeral; many of the top acts of tenyears ago are forgotten today.

equanimity (noun) calmness of mind,especially under stress. FDR had the giftof facing the great crises of hispresidency—the Depression and theSecond World War—with equanimityand even humor.

eradicate (verb) to destroy completely.American society has failed toeradicate racism, although some of itsworst effects have been reduced.

espouse (verb) to take up as a cause; toadopt. No politician in America todaywill openly espouse racism, although

some behave and speak in raciallyprejudiced ways.

euphoric (adjective) a feeling of extremehappiness and well-being; elation. Oneoften feels euphoric during the earliestdays of a new love affair.euphoria(noun).

evanescent (adjective) vanishing like avapor; fragile and transient. As shewalked by, the evanescent fragrance ofher perfume reached me for just aninstant.

exacerbate (verb) to make worse or moresevere. The roads in our town alreadyhave too much traffic; building a newshopping mall will exacerbate theproblem.

exasperate (verb) to irritate or annoy.Because she was trying to study,Sharon was exasperated by the yellingof her neighbors’ children.

exculpate (verb) to free from blame or guilt.When someone else confessed to thecrime, the previous suspect wasexculpated.exculpation (noun),exculpatory (adjective).

exemplary (adjective) worthy to serve as amodel. The Baldrige Award is given to acompany with exemplary standards ofexcellence in products andservice.exemplar (noun), exemplify(verb).

exonerate (verb) to free from blame.Although the truck driver was suspectedat first of being involved in the bombing,later evidence exoneratedhim.exoneration (noun), exonerative(adjective).

expansive (adjective) broad and large;speaking openly and freely. The LBJRanch is located on an expansive tractof land in Texas. Over dinner, shebecame expansive in describing her

dreams for the future.expedite (verb) to carry out promptly. As the

flood waters rose, the governor orderedstate agencies to expedite their rescueefforts.

expertise (noun) skill, mastery. The softwarecompany was eager to hire newgraduates with programming expertise.

expiate (verb) to atone for. The president’sapology to the survivors of the notoriousTuskegee experiments was his attemptto expiate the nation’s guilt over theirmistreatment.expiation (noun).

expropriate (verb) to seize ownership of.When the Communists came to powerin China, they expropriated mostbusinesses and turned them over togovernment-appointedmanagers.expropriation (noun).

extant (adjective) currently in existence. Ofthe seven ancient Wonders of the

World, only the pyramids of Egypt arestill extant.

extenuate (verb) to make less serious.Karen’s guilt is extenuated by the factthat she was only twelve when shecommitted the theft.extenuating(adjective), extenuation (noun).

extol (verb) to greatly praise. At the partyconvention, speaker after speaker roseto extol their candidate for thepresidency.

extricate (verb) to free from a difficult orcomplicated situation. Much of thehumor in the TV show I Love Lucycomes in watching Lucy try to extricateherself from the problems she createsby fibbing or trickery.extricable(adjective).

extrinsic (adjective) not an innate part oraspect of something; external. The highprice of old baseball cards is due toextrinsic factors, such as the nostalgia

extrinsic factors, such as the nostalgiafelt by baseball fans for the stars of theiryouth, rather than the inherent beauty orvalue of the cards themselves.

exuberant (adjective) wildly joyous andenthusiastic. As the final seconds of thegame ticked away, the fans of thewinning team began an exuberantcelebration.exuberance (noun).

F

facile (adjective) easy; shallow or superficial.The one-minute political commercialfavors a candidate with facile opinionsrather than serious, thoughtfulsolutions.facilitate (verb), facility(noun).

fallacy (noun) an error in fact or logic. It’s afallacy to think that “natural” means“healthful”; after all, the deadly poisonarsenic is completely natural.fallacious

(adjective).

felicitous (adjective) pleasing, fortunate, apt.The sudden blossoming of the dogwoodtrees on the morning of Matt’s weddingseemed a felicitous sign of goodluck.felicity (noun).

feral (adjective) wild. The garbage dump wasinhabited by a pack of feral dogs thathad escaped from their owners andbecome completely wild.

fervent (adjective) full of intense feeling;ardent, zealous. In the days just after hisreligious conversion, his piety was at itsmost fervent.fervid (adjective), fervor(noun).

flagrant (adjective) obviously wrong;offensive. Nixon was forced to resign thepresidency after a series of flagrantcrimes against the U.S.Constitution.flagrancy (noun).

flamboyant (adjective) very colorful, showy,

or elaborate. At Mardi Gras, partygoerscompete to show off the most wild andflamboyant outfits.

florid (adjective) flowery, fancy; reddish. Thegrand ballroom was decorated in a floridstyle. Years of heavy drinking had givenhim a florid complexion.

foppish (adjective) describing a man who isfoolishly vain about his dress orappearance. The foppish character ofthe 1890s wore bright-colored spats anda top hat; in the 1980s, he wore fancysuspenders and a shirt with acontrasting collar.fop (noun).

formidable (adjective) awesome,impressive, or frightening. According tohis plaque in the Baseball Hall ofFame, pitcher Tom Seaver turned theNew York Mets “from lovable losers intoformidable foes.”

fortuitous (adjective) lucky, fortunate.Although the mayor claimed credit for

the falling crime rate, it was reallycaused by several fortuitous trends.

fractious (adjective) troublesome, unruly.Members of the British Parliament areoften fractious, shouting insults andsarcastic questions during debates.

fragility (noun) the quality of being easy tobreak; delicacy, weakness. Because oftheir fragility, few stained-glass windowsfrom the early Middle Ages havesurvived.fragile (adjective).

fraternize (verb) to associate with on friendlyterms. Although baseball players aren’tsupposed to fraternize with theiropponents, players from opposingteams often chat beforegames.fraternization (noun).

frenetic (adjective) chaotic, frantic. The floorof the stock exchange, filled with tradersshouting and gesturing, is a scene offrenetic activity.

frivolity (noun) lack of seriousness; levity.The frivolity of the Mardi Gras carnivalis in contrast to the seriousness of thereligious season of Lent thatfollows.frivolous (adjective).

frugal (adjective) spending little. With ourlast few dollars, we bought a frugaldinner: a loaf of bread and a piece ofcheese.frugality (noun).

fugitive (noun) someone trying to escape.When two prisoners broke out of thelocal jail, police were warned to keep aneye out for the fugitives.fugitive(adjective).

G

gargantuan (adjective) huge, colossal. Thebuilding of the Great Wall of China wasone of the most gargantuan projectsever undertaken.

genial (adjective) friendly, gracious. A goodhost welcomes all visitors in a warm andgenial fashion.

grandiose (adjective) overly large,pretentious, or showy. Among Hitler’sgrandiose plans for Berlin was agigantic building with a dome severaltimes larger than any everbuilt.grandiosity (noun).

gratuitous (adjective) given freely or withoutcause. Since her opinion was notrequested, her harsh criticism of hissinging seemed a gratuitous insult.

gregarious (adjective) enjoying the companyof others; sociable. Naturallygregarious, Emily is a popular memberof several clubs and a sought-afterlunch companion.

guileless (adjective) without cunning;innocent. Deborah’s guilelesspersonality and complete honestymake it hard for her to survive in the

harsh world of politics.gullible (adjective) easily fooled. When the

sweepstakes entry form arrived bearingthe message, “You may be a winner!”my gullible neighbor tried to claim aprize.gullibility (noun).

H

hackneyed (adjective) without originality,trite. When someone invented thephrase, “No pain, no gain,” it was clever,but now it is so commonly heard that itseems hackneyed.

haughty (adjective) overly proud. Thefashion model strode down the runway,her hips thrust forward and a haughtyexpression, like a sneer, on herface.haughtiness (noun).

hedonist (noun) someone who lives mainlyto pursue pleasure. Having inherited

great wealth, he chose to live the life ofa hedonist, traveling the world inluxury.hedonism (noun), hedonistic(adjective).

heinous (adjective) very evil, hateful. Themassacre by Pol Pot of more than amillion Cambodians is one of thetwentieth century’s most heinouscrimes.

hierarchy (noun) a ranking of people, things,or ideas from highest to lowest. Acabinet secretary ranks just below thepresident and vice president in thehierarchy of the executivebranch.hierarchical (adjective).

hypocrisy (noun) a false pretense of virtue.When the sexual misconduct of thetelevision preacher was exposed, hisfollowers were shocked at hishypocrisy.hypocritical (adjective).

I

iconoclast (noun) someone who attackstraditional beliefs or institutions.Comedian Stephen Colbert enjoys hisreputation as an iconoclast, thoughpeople in power often resent his satiricaljabs.iconoclasm (noun), iconoclastic(adjective).

idiosyncratic (adjective) peculiar to anindividual; eccentric. Cyndi Lauper singspop music in an idiosyncratic style,mingling high-pitched whoops andsqueals with throatygurgles.idiosyncrasy (noun).

idolatry (noun) the worship of a person, thing,or institution as a god. In CommunistChina, Chairman Mao was the subjectof idolatry; his picture was displayedeverywhere, and millions of Chinesememorized his sayings.idolatrous(adjective).

impartial (adjective) fair, equal, unbiased. If ajudge is not impartial, then all of herrulings are questionable.impartiality(noun).

impeccable (adjective) flawless. The crooksprinted impeccable copies of the SuperBowl tickets, making it impossible todistinguish them from the real ones.

impetuous (adjective) acting hastily orimpulsively. Ben’s resignation was animpetuous act; he did it without thinking,and he soon regretted it.impetuosity(noun).

impinge (verb) to encroach upon, touch, oraffect. You have a right to do whateveryou want, so long as your actions don’timpinge on the rights of others.

implicit (adjective) understood without beingopenly expressed; implied. Althoughmost clubs had no rules excludingminorities, many had an implicitunderstanding that no member of a

understanding that no member of aminority group would be allowed to join.

impute (verb) to credit or give responsibilityto; to attribute. Although Sarah’scomments embarrassed me, I don’timpute any ill will to her; I think shedidn’t realize what she wassaying.imputation (noun).

inarticulate (adjective) unable to speak orexpress oneself clearly andunderstandably. A skilled athlete maybe an inarticulate public speaker, asdemonstrated by many post-gameinterviews.

incisive (adjective) clear and directexpression. Franklin settled the debatewith a few incisive remarks that summedup the issue perfectly.

incompatible (adjective) unable to existtogether; conflicting. Many people holdseemingly incompatible beliefs: forexample, supporting the death penaltywhile believing in the sacredness of

while believing in the sacredness ofhuman life.incompatibility (noun).

inconsequential (adjective) of littleimportance. When the flat screen TVwas delivered, it was a different shade ofgray than I expected, but the differencewas inconsequential.

incontrovertible (adjective) impossible toquestion. The fact that Sheila’sfingerprints were the only ones on themurder weapon made her guilt seemincontrovertible.

incorrigible (adjective) impossible tomanage or reform. Lou is an incorrigibletrickster, constantly playing practicaljokes no matter how much his friendscomplain.

incremental (adjective) increasing graduallyby small amounts. Although the initialcost of the Medicare program wassmall, the incremental expenses havegrown to be very large.increment

(noun).

incriminate (verb) to give evidence of guilt.The fifth amendment to the Constitutionsays that no one is required to revealinformation that would incriminate himin a crime.incriminating (adjective).

incumbent (noun) someone who occupiesan office or position. It is often difficultfor a challenger to win a seat inCongress from theincumbent.incumbency (noun),incumbent (adjective).

indeterminate (adjective) not definitelyknown. The college plans to enroll anindeterminate number of students; thesize of the class will depend on thenumber of applicants and how manyaccept offers of admission.determine(verb).

indifferent (adjective) unconcerned,apathetic. The mayor’s small proposedbudget for education suggests that he is

budget for education suggests that he isindifferent to the needs of ourschools.indifference (noun).

indistinct (adjective) unclear, uncertain. Wecould see boats on the water, but in thethick morning fog their shapes wereindistinct.

indomitable (adjective) unable to beconquered or controlled. The worldadmired the indomitable spirit ofNelson Mandela; he remainedcourageous despite years ofimprisonment.

induce (verb) to cause. The doctorprescribed a medicine that wassupposed to induce a lowering of theblood pressure.induction (noun).

ineffable (adjective) difficult to describe orexpress. He gazed in silence at thesunrise over the Taj Mahal, his eyesreflecting an ineffable sense of wonder.

inevitable (adjective) unable to be avoided.

Once the Japanese attacked PearlHarbor, American involvement in WorldWar II was inevitable.inevitability(noun).

inexorable (adjective) unable to be deterred;relentless. It’s difficult to imagine how themythic character of Oedipus could haveavoided his evil destiny; his fateappears inexorable.

ingenious (adjective) showing clevernessand originality. The Post-it®note is aningenious solution to a commonproblem—how to mark papers withoutspoiling them.ingenuity (noun).

inherent (adjective) naturally part ofsomething. Compromise is inherent indemocracy, since everyone cannot gethis way.inhere (verb), inherence (noun).

innate (adjective) inborn, native. Noteveryone who takes piano lessonsbecomes a fine musician, which shows

that music requires innate talent as wellas training.

innocuous (adjective) harmless, inoffensive.I was surprised that Andrea took offenseat such an innocuous joke.

inoculate (verb) to prevent a disease byinfusing with a disease-causingorganism. Pasteur found he couldprevent rabies by inoculating patientswith the virus that causes thedisease.inoculation (noun).

insipid (adjective) flavorless, uninteresting.Some TV shows are so insipid that youcan watch them while reading withoutmissing a thing.insipidity (noun).

insolence (noun) an attitude or behavior thatis bold and disrespectful. Some feel thatnews reporters who shout questions atthe president are behaving withinsolence.insolent (adjective).

insular (adjective) narrow or isolated in

attitude or viewpoint. Americans arefamous for their insular attitudes; theyseem to think that nothing importanthas ever happened outside of theircountry.insularity (noun).

insurgency (noun) uprising, rebellion. Theangry townspeople had begun aninsurgency bordering on downrightrevolution; they were collecting arms,holding secret meetings, and refusingto pay certain taxes.insurgent(adjective).

integrity (noun) honesty, uprightness;soundness, completeness. “Honest Abe”Lincoln is considered a model ofpolitical integrity. Inspectors examinedthe building’s support beams andfoundation and found no reason todoubt its structural integrity.

interlocutor (noun) someone taking part in adialogue or conversation. Annoyed bythe constant questions from someone

in the crowd, the speaker challenged hisinterlocutor to offer a betterplan.interlocutory (adjective).

interlude (noun) an interrupting period orperformance. The two most dramaticscenes in King Lear are separated,strangely, by a comic interlude starringthe king’s jester.

interminable (adjective) endless orseemingly endless. Addressing theUnited Nations, Castro announced, “Wewill be brief”—then delivered aninterminable 4-hour speech.

intransigent (adjective) unwilling tocompromise. Despite the mediator’sattempts to suggest a fair solution, thetwo parties were intransigent, forcing ashowdown.intransigence (noun).

intrepid (adjective) fearless and resolute.Only an intrepid adventurer is willing toundertake the long and dangerous tripby sled to the South Pole.intrepidity

intrepidity(noun).

intrusive (adjective) forcing a way in withoutbeing welcome. The legal requirementof a search warrant is supposed toprotect Americans from intrusivesearches by the police.intrude (verb),intrusion (noun).

intuitive (adjective) known directly, withoutapparent thought or effort. Anexperienced chess player sometimeshas an intuitive sense of the best moveto make, even if she can’t explainit.intuit (verb), intuition (noun).

inundate (verb) to flood; to overwhelm. Assoon as playoff tickets went on sale,eager fans inundated the box office withorders.

invariable (adjective) unchanging, constant.When writing a book, it was herinvariable habit to rise at 6 and work ather desk from 7 to 12.invariability

(noun).

inversion (noun) a turning backwards,inside-out, or upside-down; a reversal.Latin poetry often features inversion ofword order; for example, the first line ofVirgil’s Aeneid: “Arms and the man Ising.”invert (verb), inverted (adjective).

inveterate (adjective) persistent, habitual. It’svery difficult for an inveterate gambler togive up the pastime.inveteracy (noun).

invigorate (verb) to give energy to, tostimulate. As her car climbed themountain road, Lucinda felt invigoratedby the clear air and the cool breezes.

invincible (adjective) impossible to conqueror overcome. For three years at theheight of his career, boxer Mike Tysonseemed invincible.

inviolable (adjective) impossible to attack ortrespass upon. In the president’s remotehideaway at Camp David, guarded by

the Secret Service, his privacy is, foronce, inviolable.

irrational (adjective) unreasonable. Charlesknew that his fear of insects wasirrational, but he was unable toovercome it.irrationality (noun).

irresolute (adjective) uncertain how to act,indecisive. The line in the ice creamshop grew as the irresolute childwavered between her two favorite icecream flavors before finally choosingone.irresolution (noun).

J

jeopardize (verb) to put in danger. Terroristattacks jeopardize the fragile peace inthe Middle East.jeopardy (noun).

juxtapose (verb) to put side by side.Juxtaposing the two editorials revealedthe enormous differences in the writers’

opinions.juxtaposition (noun).

L

languid (adjective) without energy; slow,sluggish, listless. The hot, humidweather of late August can makeanyone feel languid.languish (verb),languor (noun).

latent (adjective) not currently obvious oractive; hidden. Although he hadcommitted only a single act of violence,the psychiatrist who examined him saidhe had probably always had a latenttendency toward violence.latency(noun).

laudatory (adjective) giving praise. The adsfor the movie are filled with laudatorycomments from critics.

lenient (adjective) mild, soothing, orforgiving. The judge was known for his

lenient disposition; he rarely imposedlong jail sentences oncriminals.leniency (noun).

lethargic (adjective) lacking energy;sluggish. Visitors to the zoo aresurprised that the lions appear solethargic, but, in the wild, lions sleep upto 18 hours a day.lethargy (noun).

liability (noun) an obligation or debt; aweakness or drawback. The insurancecompany had a liability of millions ofdollars after the town was destroyed by atornado. Slowness afoot is a seriousliability in an aspiring basketballplayer.liable (adjective).

lithe (adjective) flexible and graceful. Theballet dancer was almost as lithe as acat.

longevity (noun) length of life; durability. Thereduction in early deaths from infectiousdiseases is responsible for most of theincrease in human longevity over the

increase in human longevity over thepast two centuries.

lucid (adjective) clear and understandable.Hawking’s A Short History of theUniverse is a lucid explanation ofmodern scientific theories about theorigin of the universe.lucidity (noun).

lurid (adjective) shocking, gruesome. Whilethe serial killer was on the loose, thenewspapers were filled with lurid storiesabout his crimes.

M

malediction (noun) curse. In the fairy tale“Sleeping Beauty,” the princess istrapped in a death-like sleep becauseof the malediction uttered by an angrywitch.

malevolence (noun) hatred, ill will. Criticssay that Iago, the villain inShakespeare’s Othello, seems to exhibit

malevolence with no realcause.malevolent (adjective).

malinger (verb) to pretend incapacity orillness to avoid a duty or work. Duringthe labor dispute, hundreds ofemployees malingered, forcing thecompany to slow production and costingit millions in profits.

malleable (adjective) able to be changed,shaped, or formed by outside pressures.Gold is a very useful metal because it isso malleable. A child’s personality ismalleable and deeply influenced by thethings her parents say anddo.malleability (noun).

mandate (noun) order, command. The newpolicy of using only organic produce inthe restaurant went into effect as soonas the manager issued his mandateabout it.mandate (verb), mandatory(adjective).

maturation (noun) the process of becoming

maturation (noun) the process of becomingfully grown or developed. Free marketsin the former Communist nations arelikely to operate smoothly only after along period of maturation.mature(adjective and verb), maturity (noun).

mediate (verb) to act to reconcile differencesbetween two parties. During thebaseball strike, both the players and theclub owners were willing to have thepresident mediate thedispute.mediation (noun).

mediocrity (noun) the state of being middlingor poor in quality. The New York Metsfinished in ninth place in 1968 but wonthe world’s championship in 1969, goingfrom horrible to great in a single yearand skipping mediocrity.mediocre(adjective).

mercurial (adjective) changing quickly andunpredictably. The mercurial personalityof Robin Williams, with his many voicesand styles, made him perfect for the

role of the ever-changing genie inAladdin.

meticulous (adjective) very careful withdetails. Repairing watches calls for acraftsperson who is patient andmeticulous.

mimicry (noun) imitation, aping. Thecontinued popularity of Elvis Presleyhas given rise to a class of entertainerswho make a living through mimicry of“The King.”mimic (noun and verb).

misconception (noun) a mistaken idea.Columbus sailed west with themisconception that he would reach theshores of Asia.misconceive (verb).

mitigate (verb) to make less severe; torelieve. Wallace certainly committed theassault, but the verbal abuse he’dreceived helps to explain his behaviorand somewhat mitigates hisguilt.mitigation (noun).

modicum (noun) a small amount. The planfor your new business is well designed;with a modicum of luck, you should besuccessful.

mollify (verb) to soothe or calm; to appease.Carla tried to mollify the angry customerby promising him a full refund.

morose (adjective) gloomy, sullen. AfterChuck’s girlfriend dumped him, he layaround the house for a couple of days,feeling morose.

mundane (adjective) everyday, ordinary,commonplace. Moviegoers in the 1930sliked the glamorous films of FredAstaire because they provided anescape from the mundane problems oflife during the Great Depression.

munificent (adjective) very generous; lavish.Ted Turner’s billion-dollar donation tothe United Nations was one of the mostmunificent acts of charity inhistory.munificence (noun).

mutable (adjective) likely to change. Apolitician’s reputation can be highlymutable, as seen in the case of HarryTruman—mocked during his lifetime,revered afterward.

N

narcissistic (adjective) showing excessivelove for oneself; egoistic. Andre’s room,decorated with photos of himself andthe sports trophies he has won,suggests a narcissisticpersonality.narcissism (noun).

nocturnal (adjective) of the night; active atnight. Travelers on the UndergroundRailroad escaped from slavery to theNorth by a series of nocturnal flights.The eyes of nocturnal animals must besensitive in dim light.

nonchalant (adjective) appearing to be

unconcerned. Unlike the other playerson the football team who pumped theirfists when their names were announced,John ran on the field with a nonchalantwave.nonchalance (noun).

nondescript (adjective) without distinctivequalities; drab. The bank robber’sclothes were nondescript; none of thewitnesses could remember their color orstyle.

notorious (adjective) famous, especially forevil actions or qualities. Warner Brothersproduced a series of movies aboutnotorious gangsters such as JohnDillinger and Al Capone.notoriety(noun).

novice (noun) beginner. Lifting your headbefore you finish your swing is a typicalmistake committed by the novice atgolf.

nuance (noun) a subtle difference or quality.At first glance, Monet’s paintings of

water lilies all look much alike, but themore you study them, the more youappreciate the nuances of color andshading that distinguish them.

nurture (verb) to nourish or help to grow. Themoney given by the NationalEndowment for the Arts helps nurturelocal arts organizations throughout thecountry.nurture (noun).

O

obdurate (adjective) unwilling to change;stubborn, inflexible. Despite the manypleas he received, the governor wasobdurate in his refusal to grantclemency to the convicted murderer.

objective (adjective) dealing with observablefacts rather than opinions orinterpretations. When a legal caseinvolves a shocking crime, it may behard for a judge to remain objective in

hard for a judge to remain objective inhis rulings.

oblivious (adjective) unaware, unconscious.Karen practiced her oboe with completeconcentration, oblivious to the noiseand activity around her.oblivion (noun),obliviousness (noun).

obscure (adjective) little known; hard tounderstand. Mendel was an obscuremonk until decades after his death,when his scientific work was finallydiscovered. Most people find thewritings of James Joyce obscure; hencethe popularity of books that explain hisbooks.obscure (verb), obscurity(noun).

obsessive (adjective) haunted orpreoccupied by an idea or feeling. Hisconcern with cleanliness became soobsessive that he washed his handstwenty times every day.obsess (verb),obsession (noun).

obsolete (adjective) no longer current; old-fashioned. W. H. Auden said that hisideal landscape would include waterwheels, wooden grain mills, and otherforms of obsoletemachinery.obsolescence (noun).

obstinate (adjective) stubborn, unyielding.Despite years of effort, the problem ofdrug abuse remainsobstinate.obstinacy (noun).

obtrusive (adjective) overly prominent. Philipshould sing more softly; his bass is soobtrusive that the other singers canbarely be heard.obtrude (verb),obtrusion (noun).

ominous (adjective) foretelling evil. Ominousblack clouds gathered on the horizon,for a violent storm was fastapproaching.omen (noun).

onerous (adjective) heavy, burdensome.The hero Hercules was ordered to clean

the Augean Stables, one of severalonerous tasks known as “the labors ofHercules.”onus (noun).

opportunistic (adjective) eagerly seizingchances as they arise. When PrincessDiana died suddenly, opportunisticpublishers quickly released booksabout her life and death.opportunism(noun).

opulent (adjective) rich, lavish. The mansionof newspaper tycoon Hearst is famousfor its opulent decor.opulence (noun).

ornate (adjective) highly decorated,elaborate. Baroque architecture is oftenhighly ornate, featuring surfacescovered with carving, sinuous curves,and painted scenes.

ostentatious (adjective) overly showy,pretentious. To show off his wealth, themillionaire threw an ostentatious partyfeaturing a full orchestra, a famoussinger, and tens of thousands of dollars’

singer, and tens of thousands of dollars’worth of food.

ostracize (verb) to exclude from a group. InBiblical times, those who suffered fromthe disease of leprosy were ostracizedand forced to live alone.ostracism(noun).

P

pallid (adjective) pale; dull. Working all dayin the coal mine had given him a pallidcomplexion. The new musical offersonly pallid entertainment: the music islifeless, the acting dull, the story absurd.

parched (adjective) very dry; thirsty. After twomonths without rain, the crops wereshriveled and parched by thesun.parch (verb).

pariah (noun) outcast. Accused of robbery,he became a pariah; his neighborsstopped talking to him, and people he’d

considered friends no longer called.partisan (adjective) reflecting strong

allegiance to a particular party or cause.The vote on the president’s budget wasstrictly partisan: every member of thepresident’s party voted yes, and allothers voted no.partisan (noun).

pathology (noun) disease or the study ofdisease; extreme abnormality. Somepeople believe that high rates of crimeare symptoms of an underlying socialpathology.pathological (adjective).

pellucid (adjective) very clear; transparent;easy to understand. The water in themountain stream was cold and pellucid.Thanks to the professor’s pellucidexplanation, I finally understandrelativity theory.

penitent (adjective) feeling sorry for pastcrimes or sins. Having grown penitent,he wrote a long letter of apology, askingforgiveness.

penurious (adjective) extremely frugal;stingy. Haunted by memories ofpoverty, he lived in penurious fashion,driving a twelve-year-old car andwearing only the cheapestclothes.penury (noun).

perceptive (adjective) quick to notice,observant. With his perceptiveintelligence, Holmes was the first tonotice the importance of thisclue.perceptible (adjective),perception (noun).

perfidious (adjective) disloyal, treacherous.Although he was one of the mosttalented generals of the AmericanRevolution, Benedict Arnold isremembered today as a perfidiousbetrayer of his country.perfidy (noun).

perfunctory (adjective) unenthusiastic,routine, or mechanical. When the playopened, the actors sparkled, but by the

thousandth night their performance hadbecome perfunctory.

permeate (verb) to spread through orpenetrate. Little by little, the smell of gasfrom the broken pipe permeated thehouse.

persevere (adjective) to continue despitedifficulties. Although several of herteammates dropped out of themarathon, Laurapersevered.perseverance (noun).

perspicacity (noun) keenness of observationor understanding. Journalist MurrayKempton was famous for theperspicacity of his comments on socialand political issues.perspicacious(adjective).

peruse (verb) to examine or study. Mary-Joperused the contract carefully beforeshe signed it.perusal (noun).

pervasive (adjective) spreading throughout.

As news of the disaster reached thetown, a pervasive sense of gloom couldbe felt.pervade (verb).

phlegmatic (adjective) sluggish andunemotional in temperament. It wassurprising to see Tom, who is normallyso phlegmatic, acting excited.

placate (verb) to soothe or appease. Thewaiter tried to placate the angrycustomer with the offer of a freedessert.placatory (adjective).

plastic (adjective) able to be molded orreshaped. Because it is highly plastic,clay is an easy material for beginningsculptors to use.

plausible (adjective) apparently believable.According to the judge, the defenseattorney’s argument was both powerfuland plausible.plausibility (noun).

polarize (verb) to separate into opposinggroups or forces. For years, the abortion

debate polarized the American people,with many people voicing extreme viewsand few trying to find a middleground.polarization (noun).

portend (verb) to indicate a future event; toforebode. According to folklore, a redsky at dawn portends a day of stormyweather.

potentate (noun) a powerful ruler. The Tsarof Russia was one of the last hereditarypotentates of Europe.

pragmatism (noun) a belief in approachingproblems through practical rather thantheoretical means. Roosevelt’sapproach to the Great Depression wasbased on pragmatism: “Try something,”he said. “If it doesn’t work, try somethingelse.”pragmatic (adjective).

preamble (noun) an introductory statement.The preamble to the Constitutionbegins with the famous words, “We thepeople of the United States of

America…”precocious (adjective) mature at an

unusually early age. Picasso was soprecocious as an artist that, at nine, heis said to have painted far betterpictures than his teacher.precocity(noun).

predatory (adjective) living by killing andeating other animals; exploiting othersfor personal gain. The tiger is the largestpredatory animal native to Asia.Microsoft has been accused ofpredatory business practices thatprevent other software companies fromcompeting with it.predation (noun),predator (noun).

predilection (noun) a liking or preference. Torelax from his presidential duties,Kennedy had a predilection for spynovels featuring James Bond.

predominant (adjective) greatest in numbers

or influence. Although hundreds ofreligions are practiced in India, thepredominant faith isHinduism.predominance (noun),predominate (verb).

prepossessing (adjective) attractive. Smart,lovely, and talented, she has all theprepossessing qualities that mark apotential movie star.

presumptuous (adjective) going beyond thelimits of courtesy or appropriateness.The senator winced when thepresumptuous young staffer addressedhim as “Chuck.”presume (verb),presumption (noun).

pretentious (adjective) claiming excessivevalue or importance. For a shoesalesman to call himself a “PersonalFoot Apparel Consultant” seems awfullypretentious.pretension (noun).

procrastinate (verb) to put off, to delay. If

you habitually procrastinate, try thistechnique: never touch a piece of paperwithout either filing it, responding to it, orthrowing it out.procrastination (noun).

profane (adjective) impure, unholy. It isinappropriate and rude to use profanelanguage in a church.profane (verb),profanity (noun).

proficient (adjective) skillful, adept. Aproficient artist, Louise quickly andaccurately sketched thescene.proficiency (noun).

proliferate (verb) to increase or multiply.Over the past twenty-five years, high-tech companies have proliferated innorthern California, Massachusetts, andSeattle.proliferation (noun).

prolific (adjective) producing many offspringor creations. With more than 300 booksto his credit, Isaac Asimov was one ofthe most prolific writers of all time.

prominence (noun) the quality of standingout; fame. Barack Obama rose topolitical prominence after his keynoteaddress to the 2004 DemocraticNational Convention.prominent(adjective).

promulgate (verb) to make public, todeclare. Lincoln signed theproclamation that freed the slaves in1862, but he waited several months topromulgate it.

propagate (verb) to cause to grow; to foster.John Smithson’s will left his fortune forthe founding of an institution topropagate knowledge, without sayingwhether that meant a university, alibrary, or a museum.propagation(noun).

propriety (noun) appropriateness. Theprincipal questioned the propriety of thediscussion the teacher had with herstudents about another instructor’s

gambling addiction.prosaic (adjective) everyday, ordinary, dull.

“Paul’s Case” tells the story of a boy wholongs to escape from the prosaic life ofa clerk into a world of wealth, glamour,and beauty.

protagonist (noun) the main character in astory or play; the main supporter of anidea. Leopold Bloom is the protagonistof James Joyce’s great novel Ulysses.

provocative (adjective) likely to stimulateemotions, ideas, or controversy. Thedemonstrators began chantingobscenities, a provocative act that theyhoped would cause the police to losecontrol.provoke (verb), provocation(noun).

proximity (noun) closeness, nearness.Neighborhood residents were angryover the proximity of the sewage plant tothe local school.proximate (adjective).

prudent (adjective) wise, cautious, andpractical. A prudent investor will avoidputting all of her money into any singleinvestment.prudence (noun),prudential (adjective).

pugnacious (adjective) combative,bellicose, truculent; ready to fight. TyCobb, the pugnacious outfielder for theDetroit Tigers, got into more than hisfair share of brawls, both on and off thefield.pugnacity (noun).

punctilious (adjective) very concerned aboutproper forms of behavior and manners.A punctilious dresser like James wouldrather skip the party altogether thanwear the wrong color tie.punctilio(noun).

pundit (noun) someone who offers opinionsin an authoritative style. The Sundaymorning talk shows are filled withpundits, each with his or her own theoryabout the week’s political news.

punitive (adjective) inflicting punishment.The jury awarded the plaintiff onemillion dollars in punitive damages,hoping to teach the defendant a lesson.

purify (verb) to make pure, clean, or perfect.The new plant is supposed to purify thedrinking water provided to everyone inthe nearby towns.purification (noun).

Q

quell (verb) to quiet, to suppress. It took ahuge number of police to quell therioting.

querulous (adjective) complaining, whining.The nursing home attendant needed alot of patience to care for the threequerulous, unpleasant residents on hisfloor.

R

rancorous (adjective) expressing bitterhostility. Many Americans are disgustedby recent political campaigns, whichseem more rancorous than everbefore.rancor (noun).

rationale (noun) an underlying reason orexplanation. Looking at the sad faces ofhis employees, it was hard for thecompany president to explain therationale for closing the business.

raze (verb) to completely destroy; demolish.The old Coliseum building will soon berazed to make room for a new hotel.

reciprocate (verb) to give and take mutually.If you’ll watch for my kids tonight, I’llreciprocate by taking care of yourstomorrow.reciprocity (noun).

reclusive (adjective) withdrawn from society.During the last years of her life, actressGreta Garbo led a reclusive existence,

rarely appearing in public.recluse(noun).

reconcile (verb) to make consistent orharmonious. FDR’s greatness as aleader can be seen in his ability toreconcile the demands and values ofthe varied groups that supportedhim.reconciliation (noun).

recrimination (noun) a retaliatoryaccusation. After the governor called hisopponent unethical, his opponentangrily replied with recriminations thatthe governor was ahypocrite.recriminate (verb),recriminatory (adjective).

recuperate (verb) to regain health after anillness. Although she left the hospital twodays after her operation, it took her afew weeks to fullyrecuperate.recuperation (noun),recuperative (adjective).

redoubtable (adjective) inspiring respect,awe, or fear. Johnson’s knowledge,experience, and personal clout madehim a redoubtable political opponent.

refurbish (verb) to fix up; renovate. It tookthree days’ work by a team ofcarpenters, painters, and decorators tocompletely refurbish the apartment.

refute (verb) to prove false. The companyinvited reporters to visit their plant in aneffort to refute the charges of unsafeworking conditions.refutation (noun).

relevance (noun) connection to the matter athand; pertinence. Testimony in acriminal trial may be admitted only if ithas clear relevance to the question ofguilt or innocence.relevant (adjective).

remedial (adjective) serving to remedy, cure,or correct some condition. Affirmativeaction can be justified as a remedialstep to help minority membersovercome the effects of past

discrimination.remediation (noun),remedy (verb).

remorse (noun) a painful sense of guilt overwrongdoing. In Poe’s story The Tell-TaleHeart, a murderer is driven insane byremorse over his crime.remorseful(adjective).

remuneration (noun) pay. In a civil lawsuit,the attorney often receives part of thefinancial settlement as his or herremuneration.remunerate (verb),remunerative (adjective).

renovate (verb) to renew by repairing orrebuilding. The television program ThisOld House shows how skilledcraftspeople renovatehouses.renovation (noun).

renunciation (noun) the act of rejecting orrefusing something. King Edward VII’srenunciation of the British throne wascaused by his desire to marry an

American divorcee, something hecouldn’t do as king.renounce (verb).

replete (adjective) filled abundantly.Graham’s book is replete with wonderfulstories about the famous people shehas known.

reprehensible (adjective) deservingcriticism or censure. Although PeteRose’s misdeeds were reprehensible,not all fans agree that he deserves to beexcluded from the Baseball Hall ofFame.reprehend (verb), reprehension(noun).

repudiate (verb) to reject, to renounce. Afterit became known that Duke had been aleader of the Ku Klux Klan, mostRepublican leaders repudiatedhim.repudiation (noun).

reputable (adjective) having a goodreputation; respected. Find a reputableauto mechanic by asking your friendsfor recommendations based on their

for recommendations based on theirown experiences.reputation (noun),repute (noun).

resilient (adjective) able to recover fromdifficulty. A professional athlete must beresilient, able to lose a game one dayand come back the next with confidenceand enthusiasm.resilience (noun).

resplendent (adjective) glowing, shining. Inlate December, midtown New York isresplendent with holiday lights anddecorations.resplendence (noun).

responsive (adjective) reacting quickly andappropriately. The new director of theInternal Revenue Service has promisedto make the agency more responsive topublic complaints.respond (verb),response (noun).

restitution (noun) return of something to itsoriginal owner; repayment. Some NativeAmerican leaders are demanding thatthe U.S. government make restitution

for the lands taken from them.revere (verb) to admire deeply, to honor.

Millions of people around the worldrevered Mother Teresa for her saintlygenerosity.reverence (noun), reverent(adjective).

rhapsodize (verb) to praise in a wildlyemotional way. That critic is such ahuge fan of Toni Morrison that she willsurely rhapsodize over the writer’s nextnovel.rhapsodic (adjective).

S

sagacious (adjective) discerning, wise. Onlya leader as sagacious as NelsonMandela could have united SouthAfrica so successfully andpeacefully.sagacity (noun).

salvage (verb) to save from wreck or ruin.After the earthquake destroyed her

home, she was able to salvage only afew of her belongings.salvage (noun),salvageable (adjective).

sanctimonious (adjective) showing false orexcessive piety. The sanctimoniousprayers of the TV preacher wereinterspersed with requests that theviewers send him money.sanctimony(noun).

scapegoat (noun) someone who bears theblame for others’ acts; someone hatedfor no apparent reason. AlthoughBuckner’s error was only one reason theRed Sox lost, many fans made him thescapegoat, booing him mercilessly.

scrupulous (adjective) acting with extremecare; painstaking. Disney theme parksare famous for their scrupulousattention to small details.scruple(noun).

scrutinize (verb) to study closely. The lawyer

scrutinized the contract, searching forany sentence that could pose a risk forher client.scrutiny (noun).

secrete (verb) to emit; to hide. Glands in themouth secrete saliva, a liquid that helpsin digestion. The jewel thieves secretedthe necklace in a tin box buriedunderground.

sedentary (adjective) requiring much sitting.When Officer Samson was given a deskjob, she had trouble getting used tosedentary work after years on the street.

sequential (adjective) arranged in an orderor series. The courses for the chemistrymajor are sequential; you must takethem in order, since each course buildson the previous ones.sequence (noun).

serendipity (noun) the act of lucky,accidental discoveries. Great inventionssometimes come about throughdeliberate research and hard work,sometimes through pure

serendipity.serendipitous (adjective).

servile (adjective) like a slave or servant;submissive. The tycoon demanded thathis underlings behave in a servilemanner, agreeing quickly witheverything he said.servility (noun).

simulated (adjective) imitating somethingelse; artificial. High-quality simulatedgems must be examined under amagnifying glass to be distinguishedfrom real ones.simulate (verb),simulation (noun).

solace (verb) to comfort or console. Therewas little the rabbi could say to solacethe husband after his wife’sdeath.solace (noun).

spontaneous (adjective) happening withoutplan. When the news of Kennedy’sassassination broke, peopleeverywhere gathered in a spontaneouseffort to share their shock and

grief.spontaneity (noun).

spurious (adjective) false, fake. The so-called Piltdown Man, supposed to bethe fossil of a primitive human, turnedout to be spurious, although whocreated the hoax is still uncertain.

squander (verb) to use up carelessly, towaste. Those who had made donationsto the charity were outraged to learn thatits director had squandered millions onfancy dinners and first-class travel.

stagnate (verb) to become stale through lackof movement or change. Having had nocontact with the outside world forgenerations, Japan’s culture graduallystagnated.stagnant (adjective),stagnation (noun).

staid (adjective) sedate, serious, and grave.This college is no “party school”; thestudents all work hard, and the campushas a reputation for being staid.

stimulus (noun) something that excites aresponse or provokes an action. Thearrival of merchants and missionariesfrom the West provided a stimulus forchange in Japanese society.stimulate(verb).

stoic (adjective) showing little feeling, even inresponse to pain or sorrow. A soldiermust respond to the death of hiscomrades in stoic fashion, since thefighting will not stop for hisgrief.stoicism (noun).

strenuous (adjective) requiring energy andstrength. Hiking in the foothills of theRockies is fairly easy, but climbing thehigher peaks can be strenuous.

submissive (adjective) accepting the will ofothers; humble, compliant. At the end ofIbsen’s play A Doll’s House, Noraleaves her husband and abandons therole of submissive housewife.

substantiate (verb) verified or supported by

evidence. The charge that Nixon hadhelped to cover up crimes wassubstantiated by his comments about iton a series of audiotapes.substantiated (adjective),substantiation (noun).

sully (verb) to soil, stain, or defile. Nixon’smisdeeds as president did much tosully the reputation of the Americangovernment.

superficial (adjective) on the surface only;without depth or substance. Her woundwas superficial and required only a lightbandage. His superficial attractivenesshides the fact that his personality islifeless and his mind isdull.superficiality (noun).

superfluous (adjective) more than isneeded, excessive. Once you’ve won thedebate, don’t keep talking; superfluousarguments will only bore and annoy theaudience.

suppress (verb) to put down or restrain. Assoon as the unrest began, thousands ofhelmeted police were sent into thestreets to suppress theriots.suppression (noun).

surfeit (noun) an excess. Most Americanfamilies have a surfeit of food and drinkon Thanksgiving Day.surfeit (verb).

surreptitious (adjective) done in secret.Because Iraq avoided weaponsinspections, many believed it had asurreptitious weapons developmentprogram.

surrogate (noun) a substitute. When thecongressman died in office, his wife wasnamed to serve the rest of his term as asurrogate.surrogate (adjective).

sustain (verb) to keep up, to continue; tosupport. Because of fatigue, he wasunable to sustain the effort needed tofinish the marathon.

T

tactile (adjective) relating to the sense oftouch. The thick brush strokes and gobsof color give the paintings of van Gogha strongly tactile quality.tactility (noun).

talisman (noun) an object supposed to havemagical effects or qualities.Superstitious people sometimes carry arabbit’s foot, a lucky coin, or some othertalisman.

tangential (adjective) touching lightly; onlyslightly connected or related. Havingenrolled in a class on African-Americanhistory, the students found the teacher’sstories about his travels in SouthAmerica of only tangentialinterest.tangent (noun).

tedium (noun) boredom. For most people,watching the Weather Channel for 24hours would be sheer tedium.tedious

(adjective).

temerity (noun) boldness, rashness,excessive daring. Only someone whodidn’t understand the danger wouldhave the temerity to try to climb Everestwithout a guide.temerarious (adjective).

temperance (noun) moderation or restraint infeelings and behavior. Most professionalathletes practice temperance in theirpersonal habits; too much eating ordrinking, they know, can harm theirperformance.temperate (adjective).

tenacious (adjective) clinging, sticky, orpersistent. Tenacious in pursuit of hergoal, she applied for the grantunsuccessfully four times before it wasfinally approved.tenacity (noun).

tentative (adjective) subject to change;uncertain. A firm schedule has not beenestablished, but the Super Bowl in 2012has been given the tentative date ofFebruary 5.

terminate (verb) to end, to close. TheOlympic Games terminate with a grandceremony attended by athletes fromevery participating country.terminal(noun), termination (noun).

terrestrial (adjective) of the Earth. Themovie Close Encounters of the ThirdKind tells the story of the first contactbetween beings from outer space andterrestrial humans.

therapeutic (adjective) curing or helping tocure. Hot-water spas were popular in thenineteenth century among the sickly,who believed that soaking in the waterhad therapeutic effects.therapy (noun).

timorous (adjective) fearful, timid. Thecowardly lion approached the throne ofthe wizard with a timorous look on hisface.

toady (noun) someone who flatters asuperior in hopes of gaining favor; a

sycophant. “I can’t stand a toady!”declared the movie mogul. “Give mesomeone who’ll tell me the truth—evenif it costs him his job!”toady (verb).

tolerant (adjective) accepting, enduring. SanFranciscans have a tolerant attitudeabout lifestyles: “Live and let live”seems to be their motto.tolerate (verb),toleration (noun).

toxin (noun) poison. DDT is a powerful toxinonce used to kill insects but nowbanned in the United States because ofthe risk it poses to human life.toxic(adjective).

tranquillity (noun) freedom from disturbanceor turmoil; calm. She moved from NewYork City to rural Vermont seeking thetranquillity of country life.tranquil(adjective).

transgress (verb) to go past limits; to violate.No one could fathom why the honor

student transgressed by shopliftinghundreds of dollars of merchandisefrom her favorite clothingstore.transgression (noun).

transient (adjective) passing quickly. Long-term visitors to this hotel pay a differentrate than transient guests who stay forjust a day or two.transience (noun).

transitory (adjective) quickly passing. Publicmoods tend to be transitory; peoplemay be anxious and angry one monthbut relatively content and optimistic thenext.transition (noun).

translucent (adjective) letting some lightpass through. Panels of translucentglass let daylight into the room whilemaintaining privacy.

transmute (verb) to change in form orsubstance. In the Middle Ages, thealchemists tried to discover ways totransmute metals such as iron into

gold.transmutation (noun).

treacherous (adjective) untrustworthy ordisloyal; dangerous or unreliable. NaziGermany proved to be a treacherousally, first signing a peace pact with theSoviet Union, then invading. Be carefulcrossing the rope bridge; parts arebadly frayed and treacherous.treachery(noun).

tremulous (adjective) trembling or shaking;timid or fearful. Never having spoken inpublic before, he began his speech in atremulous, hesitant voice.

trite (adjective) boring because of over-familiarity; hackneyed. Her letters werefilled with trite expressions, like “All’swell that ends well” and “So far so good.”

truculent (adjective) aggressive, hostile,belligerent. Hitler’s truculent behavior indemanding more territory for Germanymade it clear that war wasinevitable.truculence (noun).

truculence (noun).

truncate (verb) to cut off. The poor copyingjob truncated the playwright’smanuscript: the last page ended in themiddle of a scene, halfway through thefirst act.

turbulent (adjective) agitated or disturbed.The night before the championshipmatch, Martina was unable to sleep, hermind turbulent with fears andhopes.turbulence (noun).

U

unheralded (adjective) little known,unexpected. In a year of big-budget,much-hyped, mega-movies, thisunheralded foreign film has surprisedeveryone with its popularity.

unpalatable (adjective) distasteful,unpleasant. Although I agree with thecandidate on many issues, I can’t vote

for her, because I find her position oncapital punishment unpalatable.

unparalleled (adjective) with no equal;unique. Tiger Woods’s victory in theMasters golf tournament by a full twelvestrokes was an unparalleledaccomplishment.

unstinting (adjective) giving freely andgenerously. Eleanor Roosevelt wasmuch admired for her unstinting effortson behalf of the poor.

untenable (adjective) impossible to defend.The theory that this painting is agenuine van Gogh became untenablewhen the artist who actually painted itcame forth.

untimely (adjective) out of the natural orproper time. The untimely death of ayouthful Princess Diana seemed farmore tragic than Mother Teresa’s deathof old age.

unyielding (adjective) firm, resolute,obdurate. Despite criticism, Cuomo wasunyielding in his opposition to capitalpunishment; he vetoed several deathpenalty bills as governor.

usurper (noun) someone who takes a placeor possession without the right to do so.Kennedy’s most devoted followerstended to regard later presidents asusurpers, holding the office they felt heor his brothers should have held.usurp(verb), usurpation (noun).

utilitarian (adjective) purely of practicalbenefit. The design of the Model T carwas simple and utilitarian, lacking theluxuries found in later models.

utopia (noun) an imaginary, perfect society.Those who founded the Oneidacommunity dreamed that it could be akind of utopia—a prosperous state withcomplete freedom andharmony.utopian (adjective).

V

validate (verb) to officially approve orconfirm. The election of the president isvalidated when the members of theElectoral College meet to confirm thechoice of the voters.valid (adjective),validity (noun).

variegated (adjective) spotted with differentcolors. The brilliant, variegatedappearance of butterflies makes thempopular among collectors.variegation(noun).

venerate (verb) to admire or honor. InCommunist China, Chairman MaoZedong was venerated as an almostgod-like figure.venerable (adjective),veneration (noun).

verdant (adjective) green with plant life.Southern England is famous for its

verdant countryside filled with gardensand small farms.verdancy (noun).

vestige (noun) a trace or remainder. Today’stiny Sherwood Forest is the last vestigeof a woodland that once covered mostof England.vestigial (adjective).

vex (verb) to irritate, annoy, or trouble. Itvexes me that she never helps with anychores around the house.vexation(noun).

vicarious (adjective) experienced throughsomeone else’s actions by way of theimagination. Great literature broadensour minds by giving us vicariousparticipation in the lives of other people.

vindicate (verb) to confirm, justify, or defend.Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address wasintended to vindicate the objectives ofthe Union in the Civil War.

virtuoso (noun) someone very skilled,especially in an art. Vladimir Horowitz

was one of the great piano virtuosos ofthe twentieth century.virtuosity (noun).

vivacious (adjective) lively, sprightly. Therole of Maria in The Sound of Music isusually played by a charming,vivacious young actress.vivacity(noun).

volatile (adjective) quickly changing; fleeting,transitory; prone to violence. Publicopinion is notoriously volatile; apolitician who is very popular onemonth may be voted out of office thenext.volatility (noun).

W

whimsical (adjective) based on a capricious,carefree, or sudden impulse or idea;fanciful, playful. Dave Barry’s Book ofBad Songs is filled with the kind of goofyjokes that are typical of his whimsical

sense of humor.whim (noun).

Z

zealous (adjective) filled with eagerness,fervor, or passion. A crowd of thecandidate’s most zealous supportersgreeted her at the airport with banners,signs, and a marching band.zeal(noun), zealot (noun), zealotry (noun) .cqx