He is a xenophobe

He’s no good doctor, he’s a quack

quadruped
four-footed animal; ADJ. CF. biped

A cow is a quadruped

quaff
drink with zest; drink with relish(zest; hearty enjoyment)

He quaffed the drink hastily

quagmire
bog; marsh; soft, wet, boggy land; predicament; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself

He has to squeeze his way through the quagmire

quail
cower; shrink back in fear; lose heart

The kitten quailed at the sight of a dog

quaint
odd in an old-fashioned way; odd; old-fashioned; picturesque

He dressed in a quaint way

qualified
limited; restricted; V. qualify: limit the meaning of; modify

He’s qualified enough to analyze

qualms
uneasy feelings; misgivings; uneasy fears especially about matters of conscience

I have no qualms about giving this assignment to Helen

quandary
dilemma; state of uncertainty

She is in a quandary about whether to go.

quarantine
isolation of a person, place, or ship to prevent spread of infection;

The patient was isolated in quarantine

quarry
person or animal of pursuit; victim; object of a hunt; prey

quarry
dig into (to get stone); N: mine

The police lost their quarry in the crowd

quash
crush; suppress; squash; subdue; annul; Ex. quash a rebellion/the decision of the low court

quay
dock; wharf; pier; landing place (for boats)

The quay could not land all the boats

queasy
experiencing nausea; nauseated; easily nauseated; squeamish

I feel a little queasy

quell
suppress; put an end to; put down forcibly; extinguish; quiet

“Army Quells Rebellion”

quench
assuage or satisfy (thrust); slake; douse or extinguish; put out; suppress

Her thirst for knowledge could not be quenched

querulous
given to complaining; complaining; fretful; whining

A querulous student

query
inquiry; question; V

Her queries are generally genuine

queue
line (of waiting people or vehicles)

The boy had to wait in a long queue

quibble
minor objection or complaint; V: raise minor objections; carp; cavil

She quibbles over petty things

quiescent
dormant; temporarily inactive; at rest; N. quiescence

The seeds of lotus lie quiescent for generations together

quietude
tranquility; calmness

The quietude of the place is remarkable

quintessence
purest and highest embodiment; perfect example; apotheosis; most essential element; Ex. quintessence of wit; ADJ. quintessential; CF. fifth essence

quip
taunt; clever sarcastic remark; V.

Her quipped at the right time

quirk
sudden sharp turn or twist; startling twist; caprice; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity of behavior

By a quirk of fate

quisling
traitor who aids invaders;

The Quisling made arrangements for the terrorists to stay

quiver
case for arrows

He put back the arrow into the quiver

quixotic
idealistic but impractical; CF. Don Quixote

Her plans are usually quixotic

quizzical
curious; suggesting puzzlement (without saying); questioning; teasing; mocking; bantering;

He gave a quizzical glance

quorum
minimal number of members necessary to conduct a meeting

The quorum has not formed yet

quotidian
daily; commonplace; customary

That’s a monotonous quotidian routine

A piebald horse

piecemeal
one part at a time; gradually; in stages;

Read a novel piecemeal

piety
devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious

She has both piety and devoutness

pigment
coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)

Chlorophyll is a plant pigment

pillage
plunder

The barbarians pillaged every conquered city

pillory
punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.

The pillory of the critics was hard to bear

pine
long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline

She pined over the lost opportunity

pinion
restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird’s wing

Pinion a bird’s wings

pinnacle
peak; highest point; acme

She rose to the pinnacle of fame

pious
devout; religious; N. piety

She has earned a name owing to her pious deeds

piquant
pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating;

I was placed in a piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my help

pique
irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment;

Occult piques her curiosity

piscatorial
pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces

A piscatorial painting

pitfall
hidden danger; concealed trap

There was every chance of falling into the pitfall

pith
core or marrow; sponge like substance in the center of stems; essence; substance

The pith is the most nutritious part of the plant

pithy
concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty

She is known for her pithy poems

pittance
small amount (of money); small allowance or wage

The workers were paid a pittance

pivotal
of a pivot; central; critical; crucial

He played a pivotal role in the family

placate
pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease

Pain placates with time

placebo
harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill

The hypochondriac was given a placebo

placid
peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake

The placid lake was resort for many families

plagiarize
steal another’s ideas or writings and pass them off as one’s own; Ex. ideas plagiarized from my article; N. plagiarism; CF. kidnap

Copying and plagiarizing are two different things altogether

plaintive
expressing sorrow; mournful;

She sang a plaintive song

plait
braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together;

Her mother plaited her hair

plasticity
ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of being shaped or molded;

He spoke of a plastic material such as clay

platitude
trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ. platitudinous

The platitude of the film’s plot annoyed me

platonic
purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire

A platonic relation such as theirs

plaudit
praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud

A plaudit of great words

plausible
conceivably true; having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious

A plausible idea.

plebeian
common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician

A movie made for the plebeian

plebiscite
direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)

Plebiscite we have lately taken, in popular use, from the French. –Fitzed. Hall

plenary
(of

Elephant is a pachyderm

pacifist
one opposed to force; antimilitarist; ADJ. N. pacifism: opposition to war as a means of resolving disputes

Jesus was a pacifist

pacify
soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring peace to

She pacified her agonized daughter

paean
song of praise or joy

Paeans celebrating the victory

painstaking
taking pains; showing hard work; taking great care; very careful and through

A painstaking, laborious job

palatable
agreeable; pleasing to the taste

The child found the drug palatable

palate
roof of the mouth; sense of the taste

Her palate scalded when she sipped hot tea

palatial
of or suitable for a palace; magnificent

A palatial complex

paleontology
study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-: ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of ancient written documents

A paleontologist is one who studies fossils

palette
board on which painter mixes pigments(coloring matters)

A lush but uneven musical palette

palimpsest
parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased

A palimpsest is similar to parchment

parchment
writing material made from the skin of a sheep or goat

The incantation was written on a parchment

pall
become boring; grow tiresome

The story grew pall

pallet
small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet

The poor girl slept on a straw pallet

palliate
ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)

The drug palliates pain

pallid
pale; wan;

She has a pallid complexion

palpable
tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible; obvious

That was a palpable blunder

palpitate
throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble

Her heart began to palpitate

paltry
insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; CF. trash

She works for paltry wages

pan
criticize harshly

The couple’s reconciliation just didn’t pan out

panacea
cure-all; remedy for all diseases

Olive oil was once considered panacea

panache
flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet)

He spoke with great panache

pandemic
widespread; affecting the majority of people;

Swine flu is a pandemic disease

pandemonium
wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder; CF. Paradise Lost

The class was an utter pandemonium

pander
cater to (the low desires of others)

The film directors these days pander to the lowliest of customers

panegyric
formal praise; encomium

I don’t deserve such panegyrics.

panoramic
denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area

A panoramic view of the mountains

pantomime
acting without dialogue; V.

The couple pantomimed

papyrus
ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant

The puzzle was scribbled on a papyrus

parable
short simple story teaching a moral

Children learn from parables

paradigm
model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word

“The paradigms and patterns of all things.” –Cudworth

paradox
something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct

Grim humor is a paradox

paragon
model of perfection;

She’s a paragon of virtue

parallelism
state of being parallel; similarity; analogy

A close parallelism of thought and incident. –T. Warton

parameter
limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of the problem

Please decide within the parameters of the budget

paramount
foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-: beyond; above;

Paranormal holds his paramount interest

paramour
illicit lover

The seducer appeared with dauntless front, accompanied by his paramour –Macaulay

paranoia
psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution; N: ADJ: paranoid, paranoiac

He suffers from paranoia

paraphernalia
equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; CF. married woman’s property exclusive of her dowry

He has with him the photographic paraphernalia

paraphrase
restate a passage in one’s own words while retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other words

The teacher told the students to paraphrase the poem

parasite
animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant; CF. para-: beside

Fungus is a parasite

parched
extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)

Her throat parched of extreme thirst

pariah
social outcast;

Mariah the pariah

parity
equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate

There is no parity between the groups

parlance
language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance

They communicated in legal parlance

parley
conference (between opponents); CF. speak

The parley went on for hours

parochial
narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes

A parochial outlook towards life

parish
area in the care of a single priest and served by one main church

The parish of the priest

parody
humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.

The parody became an instant success

paroxysm
fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst

The returning paroxysms of diffidence and despair. –South

parquet
floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece

The parquet was hard to tread on

parry
ward off a blow; deflect

He parried the unwelcome question very skillfully

parsimony
stinginess; excessive frugality; ADJ. parsimonious

A parsimonious family

partial
incomplete; favoring one side over another; having a liking for something

She left the work partial

partiality
state of being partial; inclination; favorable bias; special fondness; preference

partiality in his judgment is evident

partisan
one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with dislike of any others); N: strong supporter of a party; guerrilla

A partisan attitude

parvenu
upstart; newly rich person

Resembling a parvenu

partition
divide into parts

The partition of India and Pakistan rose communal unrest

passive
not active; acted upon; receiving an action without acting in return; accepting without resistance

A passive group of learners

pastiche
imitation of another’s style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists

A pastiche of Monalisa

pastoral
rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor

He specializes in pastoral poetry

patent
obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent;

Patent to everyone

pathetic
causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching

A pathetic ending of the story

pathological
pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of disease

He works in a pathological laboratory

pathos
tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings

One can feel the pathos that runs through the novel

patina
green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting

The patina on the bronze statue spoiled the look

patois
local or provincial dialect

It is difficult to understand the patois of Essex

patriarch
father and ruler of a family or tribe

Indian families are patriarchal

patrician
noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian

A man of the patrician order

patronize
support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending manner; be a customer of; N. patron: one that supports; regular customer; N. patronage; CF. boycott

The king patronized the poets

paucity
scarcity; dearth

There’s paucity of crude oil in the region

pauper
very poor person

He led life of a pauper

peccadillo
slight offense or fault; CF. sin

She had to pay for the peccadillo

pecuniary
pertaining to money

Her question was on his pecuniary condition

pedagogue
teacher; CF. child leader

A renowned pedagogue

pedant
scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities

Students did not appreciate his pedantic ways

pedestrian
ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in imagination); going on foot

A pedestrian prose

precinct
division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building;

They were determining precincts of the college

pedigree
ancestry; lineage

The pedigree of anthropoid apes

pediatrician
physician specializing in children’s diseases; N. pediatrics

He is a renowned pediatrician

peerless
having no equal; incomparable

A peerless contender

pejorative
(of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone is of little value; negative in connotation; having a belittling effect;

Many women now considers “housewife” a pejorative expression, because it patronized them

pell-mell
in confusion; disorderly;

A dash pell-mell

pellucid
transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in meaning; easy to understand

His explanation is pellucid

penance
self-imposed punishment for sin;

One has to do penance for one’s sins

penchant
strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people);

She has a penchant for fast cars

pendant(pendent)
hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)

She wore a diamond pendant

pending
not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex. pending decision; PREP. while awaiting; until;

They delayed the decision pending his return

penitent
repentant; N

A penitent soul

pensive
dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think over

She seems to be in a pensive mood

penumbra
partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow

“The First Amendment has a penumbra where privacy is protected from governmental intrusion” (Joseph A. Califano, Jr.)

penury
extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy

Usury leads to penury

peon
landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage

An impecunious peon

perceptive
insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding; aware; wise; of perception

He is a perceptive individual

percussion
striking one object against another sharply; Ex. percussion instrument; N: striking together of two bodies; sound caused by percussion

Percussion came into vogue in the late 70s

perdition
damnation; complete ruin; hell

His extravagance led him to perdition

peregrination
journey; V. peregrinate

A two-decade long peregrination

peremptory
demanding and leaving no choice; imperative

A peremptory decree/knock

perennial
something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ: lasting through the year or many years; lasting for a long time; enduring

The Ganges is a perennial river

perfidious
treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery

The perfidious cuckoo

perforate
pierce; put a hole through

The perforated valve of the duct

perfunctory
done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss

A perfunctory kiss on the child’s cheek

perigee
point of moon’s orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee

A perigeal distance

perimeter
outer boundary; length of the outer boundary; circumference

All that did not exist within the perimeter of her thought

peripatetic
walking about from place to place (to work); moving;

A peripatetic school of philosophy

peripheral
of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central;

A peripheral nerve/interest

periphery
outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter

The periphery of the town was measured

perjury
false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath

Perjury is legal offence

permeable
that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge

The cell membrane is permeable

pernicious
very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex. pernicious effect/anemia

She is suffering from pernicious anemia

peroration
conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great length

The students knew that the speech has come to peroration

perpetrate
commit an offense; do (something wrong)

He perpetrated against the law

perpetual
everlasting

A perpetual gift of wise and motivating words

perquisite(perk)
any gain above stipulated salary

The job also offers perquisites such as free meals and a car

personable
attractive (in personality or appearance)

A personable friend

perspicacious
(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute

He is a perspicacious judge

perspicuity
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity

His speech was made in perspicuity

perspicuous
(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand;

Her comments were perspicuous

pert
(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty;

A pert young miss

pertinacious
holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent

He held her wrist in a pertinacious grip

pertinent
suitable; to the point; relevant

The topic chosen was not pertinent to the situation

perturb
disturb greatly

His communication perturbed her greatly

peruse
read through with care; N. perusal

The application was submitted for the official’s perusal

pervasive
spread throughout; V. pervade: (of smells, ideas, feelings) spread throughout; charge; permeate

A pervasive attempt

perverse
purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction

Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood

pessimism
belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation

His views have always been pessimistic

pestilential(pestilent)
causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)

The virus is pestilential

pestle
tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar

The pestle was made of marble

petrify
turn to stone; cause to become stone like; stun or paralyze

The molten lava eventually petrifies

petty
trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded; petty-minded

They fought over petty things

petulant
touchy; peevish; ill-tempered

A petulant child

phalanx
formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)

A phalanx of war soldiers

pharisaical
pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical

A pharisaical order

phenomena
observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation; SG. phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual person, thing, or event; marvel; wonder; CF. phenomenons; ADJ. phenomenal: very unusual; extraordinary; of a phenomenon;

She demonstrated phenomenal strength

philanderer
faithless lover; flirt

She loved a philanderer

philanthropist
lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy

Bill Gates is a note worthy philanthropist

philatelist
stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting

She bought rare stamps from the philatelist

philistine
narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete

A rank philistine

philology
study of language or words

Philology is one the credits in the course

phlegmatic
calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract

He is both enigmatic and phlegmatic

phobia
morbid fear

Phobia is a psychological disorder

phoenix
symbol of immortality or rebirth

A phoenix rising from its ashes inspires her

phylum
major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division

Amoeba belongs to the phylum protozoa

physiognomy
face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features

He specializes in physiognomy

physiological
pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N. physiology

A physiological disorder

There’s no use talking to an oaf like him

obdurate
stubborn; refusing to change one’s belief

Her father is obdurate and does not let anyone decide

obeisance
bow (to show respect and obedience)

Obeisance is a sign of respect

obelisk
tall column tapering(becoming gradually narrower toward the end) and ending in a pyramid

An obelisk resembles a shaft

obese
excessively fat; N. obesity

She is obese and has to go for a crash diet program

obfuscate
confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make needlessly complex; make so confused as to be difficult to understand

The notorious employee obfuscated official funds

obituary
death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.

I was shocked to see his mother’s photo in the obituary page of the newspaper

objective
not influenced by emotions; fair; N: goal; aim

She had no future objectives

obligatory
binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate

Filling the application form is obligatory

oblique
indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line);

He made an oblique reference

obliterate
destroy completely; wipe out;

The missiles obliterated the village

oblivion
obscurity; condition of being completely forgotten; forgetfulness

He is a former politician now in oblivion.

oblivious
inattentive or unmindful; unaware; wholly absorbed; forgetful(having the habit of forgetting)

It was hard for the teacher to deal with the oblivious student

obloquy
slander; disgrace; infamy

“I have had enough obloquy for one lifetime” (Anthony Eden).

obnoxious
offensive; disagreeable; Ex. obnoxious smell

She paid no heed to his obnoxious remarks

obscure
dark; vague; unclear; not well known; Ex. obscure meaning/village; V: darken; cover; make unclear; Ex. obscure the moon/meaning

He was a poor, obscure peasant

obsequious
slavishly attentive; servile; full of servile compliance; sycophantic

Politicians are served by obsequious henchmen

obsequy
funeral ceremony

All the literary luminaries attended the eminent poet’s obsequy

obsessive
related to thinking about something constantly; of an obsession; preoccupying; N. obsession: compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea; compulsive idea; V. obsess: preoccupy the mind of excessively

The plot of the story obsessed him

obsidian
black volcanic rock

Obsidian is a volcanic glass similar to granite

obsolete
outmoded; no longer used

The dysfunctional machine lies obsolete

obstetrician
physician specializing in delivery(assisting in giving birth) of babies; N. obstetrics; CF. midwife

She is one of the famous obstetricians of the city

obstinate
stubborn; hard to control or treat; Ex. obstinate cough; N. obstinacy

It’s no use talking to that obstinate idiot

obstreperous
boisterous; noisy and uncontrollable

The teacher found it difficult to manage the obstreperous class

obtrude
push (oneself or one’s ideas) forward or intrude; impose (oneself or one’s ideas) on others; butt in; stick out or extrude; thrust out; Ex. obtrude A on B; ADJ. obtrusive; N. obtrusion; CF. unobtrusive

I don’t like the way he obtrudes

obtuse
blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding

The crowd seems to be obtuse

obviate
make unnecessary; get rid of;

They took pride in obviating the need

occident
the West

Spirituality is narrated differently by the Occident

occlude
shut; close; obstruct

A blood clot occluded an artery.

occult
mysterious; secret; supernatural; beyond human comprehension; CF. mysterious to human ?; OP. bare

She has penchant for occult

oculist
physician who specializes in treatment of the eyes

He is an Oculist by profession

odious
arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile

The plot of the movie is odious

odium
detestation; quality of being odious; hatefulness; disrepute (resulting from hateful conduct)

She demonstrates her odium for the subject openly

odoriferous
giving off an odor

Mexican spices are odoriferous

odyssey
long, eventful, adventurous journey

It was an odyssey of discovery

offensive
attacking; insulting; distasteful; V. offend: violate; hurt the feelings of; N. offense: offending; violating of a moral or social code; crime; attack; Ex. first offense

The chemical generates an offensive odor

offhand
casual; done without prior thought or preparation

She made an offhand comment

officious
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one’s services; overly eager in offering unwanted services or advices;

An officious bellboy

ogle
look at amorously; make eyes at;

Old men ogling young girls

olfactory
concerning the sense of smell

Olfactory lobes help in smell identification

oligarchy
government by a privileged few

All oligarchies, wherein a few men domineer, do what they list. –Burton

ominous
threatening; of an evil omen

The atmosphere turned ominous

omnipotent
all-powerful; having unlimited power

Only God is omnipotent

omnipresent
universally present; ubiquitous

Atoms are omnipresent

omniscient
all-knowing

An omniscient sage

omnivorous
eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything

Ants are omnivorous

onerous
burdensome

The task seems to be onerous

onomatopoeia
words formed in imitation of natural sounds

Onomatopoeia is one of the figures of speech
onslaught
vicious assault; fierce attack;

An unexpected onslaught of the enemy

onus
burden; responsibility

The onus lies on the manager’s head

opalescent
iridescent; lustrous; like an opal; N. opalescence

An opalescent stone

opaque
dark; not transparent; N. opacity

The problem remains opaque despite explanations.

opiate
medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction; sleep-producing drug containing opium

The drug opiates

opportune
timely; well-chosen

She spoke during an opportune moment

opportunist
individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances; N. opportunism

She is an opportunist

opprobrium
infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vilification(slander); scorn; contempt; ADJ. opprobrious: expressing contempt; shameful or infamous

It was hard to take the opprobrium hurled against him

optician
maker and seller of eyeglasses

The optician supplies the best glasses

optimist
person who looks on the bright side; N. optimism

Being an optimist he never spoke negatively on anything

optimum
most favorable; optimal; N: most favorable condition

The Doctors predicted optimum chances of his survival

optional
not compulsory; left to one’s choice; N. option: act of choosing; choice; freedom or power to choose; something available as a choice; Ex. have no option; Ex. two options

I have no option but to yield

opulence
extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance; ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant

The opulent indo-gangetic plane

opus
work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum opus: masterpiece; CF. opera

The Paradise Lost is the Magnum Opus of Milton

oracular
of an oracle; prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority; mysterious or ambiguous; hard to understand; N. oracle: wiser person; prophecy made by an oracle

His speech is usually oracular

orator
public speaker

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a great orator

oratorio
dramatic poem set to music; long musical work with singing but without acting; CF. cantata

The artist specializes in oratorio

ordain
decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine; install as a minister, priest, or rabbi; N. ordainment; CF. ordination

To ordain a new type of government

ordeal
severe trial or affliction; difficult experience; trial(test of patience or endurance); affliction

Joan of Arc was put through an ordeal

ordinance
decree; authoritative order

The Mayor issued an ordinance against excessive horn blowing.

orgy
wild drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in an activity; Ex. orgy of shopping

An orgy of spending

orient
get one’s bearings; adjust; make familiar with a situation; orientate

The new recruits were orientated the by the department heads

orifice
mouth like opening; small opening (esp. to a cavern or passage of the body); CF. mouth

The orifice generated poisonous fumes

ornate
excessively or elaborately decorated

The ornate exteriors of the fort

ornithologist
scientific student of birds; N. ornithology: scientific study of birds

Dr. Salim Ali was the world famous ornithologist

orthodox
traditional; (of someone) conservative in belief; adhering to an established doctrine

The girl belongs to an orthodox Brahmin family

orthography
correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex. Orthodontics

He did an MPhil in orthography

oscillate
vibrate pendulum like; waver

A pendulum oscillates

osseous
made of bone; bony

The remnant was discovered to be osseous

ossify
change or harden into bone; become hard and unchanging in one’s ideas

An ossified thought process

ostensible
apparent; appearing as such; professed(pretended); pretended;

There’s an ostensible purpose of the expedition

ostentatious
showy; trying to attract attention; pretentious; N. ostentation: showy display

An ostentatious Marwadi wedding

ostracize
banish from a group; exclude from public favor; ban;

His friends ostracized him

oust
expel; drive out; force out; N. ouster: ousting

He was ousted from his position

outlandish
bizzare; peculiar; unconventional

Some musicians dress up in an outlandish style

outmoded
no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish; old-fashioned

This hair style is outmoded

outskirts
fringes; outer borders (as of a city);

They live on the outskirts of Boston

outspoken
candid; blunt

An outspoken speech

outstrip
outrun; surpass; outdo

This car can outstrip the local train

outwit
outsmart; defeat by behaving more cleverly

The girl outwits her seniors

ovation
enthusiastic applause

The speech received a standing ovation

overbearing
bossy; domineering and arrogant; decisively important; Ex. overbearing manner/importance; V. overbear: dominate

It was hard to bear her overbearing nature

overt
open to view; public; not secret; CF. covert

Mistakes are both overt and covert

overweening
arrogant; presumptuous

His overweening attitude comes between his career growth

overwrought
nervous or excited; extremely agitated; hysterical; wrought-up; CF. wrought: made or done

He has an overwrought personality

ovoid
egg-shaped; CF. ovum; CF. ovulate

An ovoid body

]]> http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/barron%e2%80%99s-gre-word-list-vocabulary-test-prep-letter-o/2009/06/11/high-score-word-gre-test-list-free/feed 0 http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/barron%e2%80%99s-gre-word-list-vocabulary-test-prep-letter-n/2009/06/10/high-score-word-gre-test-list-free http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/barron%e2%80%99s-gre-word-list-vocabulary-test-prep-letter-n/2009/06/10/high-score-word-gre-test-list-free#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:17:17 +0000 AnuVeluri http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/?p=683

nadir
lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith

She was perhaps experiencing the nadir of her career

naivety
quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na\”ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous

The village girl’s naivety caught everyone’s attention

narcissist
conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus

The film star is an absolute narcissist

narrative
related to telling a story; N: narrated account; story; V. narrate: tell (a story); CF. narration

The Mahabharata is a narrative in an epic style

nascent
incipient; coming into being or existence;

She developed a nascent ability in music

natation
swimming

The girl took part in the national natation championships

natty
neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart;

A natty dresser

nauseate
cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea

The smell made her feel nauseatic

nautical
pertaining to ships or navigation

They were measuring the nautical miles of the sea route

navigable
(of a body of water) wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or aircraft) able to be steered

The route is navigable

nebulous
vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula

His propositions sound nebulous

necromancy
black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. Necropolis

Dr.Faustus specializes in necromancy in order to enjoy worldly pleasures

nefarious
very wicked

A nefarious liar

negate
cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N. negation

The jury negated the alibi’s statements

negligence
neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care

She failed owing to sheer negligence

negligible
so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded

The mistake is negligible

nemesis
someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis

He was not a human being- a nemesis

neologism
new or newly coined word or phrase

English lexicon allows neologism

neophyte
recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant

The Chief Minister is a neophyte of Christianity

nepotism
favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew

Irrational nepotism for a few spoiled all her relations

nether
lower; Ex. nether garments/regions

The nether regions of the world are still unexplored

nettle
irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome

The children nettled their uncle

nexus
connection

The Minister’s obnoxious nexus with the underworld is known to the public

nib
beak(bill); pen point

The ink over flows because of the defective nib

nicety
precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely;

She could not distinguish between niceties

niggardly
meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person

Uncle Srooge was a niggardly person

niggle
spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault;

Do not niggle over unnecessary details

nihilist
one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement

He is a nihilist and any discussion with him would yield nothing

nip
snip off; stop something’s growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill

A guard dog nipped the postman

nirvana
in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude

Nirvana is salvation of the soul

nocturnal
done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne

A civet cat is a nocturnal animal

noisome
foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome

The noisome odor made her feel bilious

nomadic
wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place

Many tribes in Africa lead a nomadic life

nomenclature
terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming things

The nomenclature of mineralogy

nominal
in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint

The fees is nominal

nonchalance
indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent;

He has a nonchalant attitude to his debts

noncommittal
neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided

He is noncommittal to any relationship

nondescript
indistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking;

He’s a nondescript fellow in a crowd

nonentity
person of no importance; nonexistence

A nonentity like him need not be considered

nonplus
put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more

He has been nonplused by Mr. Dry’s desiring him to tell what it was that he endeavored to prove. –Spectator

nostalgia
homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic

The novel triggers nostalgia

nostrum
questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)

The incentives of agitators, the arts of impostors and the nostrums of quacks. –Brougham

notable
conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted

The point he made is notable

notoriety
disrepute; ill fame

He has a craze for notoriety

nova
star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness

A small nova appeared in 1881

novelty
something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original

He brought novelty to literature

novice
beginner

He is a novice in politics

noxious
harmful; CF. obnoxious

Opium has noxious effects

nuance
shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction

The nuances of economics

nubile
marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial

The major has a nubile daughter

nugatory
worthless; futile

They indulged in a nugatory discussion

nullify
make invalid; make null; invalidate

The judge nullified the defendant’s claims

numismatist
person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals

He is a renowned numismatist

nuptial
related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony

This is the season of nuptials

nurture
nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing

Kids in the country are nurtured to become terrorists

nutrient
nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment

Vitamins are important nutrients for the development of the body

nutrition
process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition

Poor nutrition made the children weak

nourishment
something that nourishes; food

Learn to seek the nourishment of their souls. –Hooker

swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence

The miasma in the political circles is often felt

microcosm
small representative world; world in miniature

She belongs to the microcosm of English society

miniature
small model; small painting; ADJ: small

She bought a miniature of Abraham Lincoln

migrant
changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant birds/workers; N: one that migrates

Parakeet is a migrant bird

milieu
social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one’s milieu;

His proper milieu is watercolor

militant
combative; bellicose; N.

Militant forces surrounded the fort

militate
work against; CF. serve as a soldier

Militate against the chances of promotion

millennium
thousand-year period (as in the New Testament); hoped-for period of happiness and prosperity

All the students participated in the millennium celebrations

mimicry
imitation

Mimicry is an other name for camouflage

mime
pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry; mimer; V: mimic; pantomime

She mimed for a glass of water

minatory
menacing; threatening

The presence of mosquitoes is minatory

mincing
affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp. meat) into very small pieces; walk with exaggerated primness; walk in an unnatural way, taking little short steps;

The actor minced across the stage

minion
servile dependent; obsequious follower

For most of his life he lived life of a minion

minuscule(miniscule)
extremely small

He managed to get a minuscule performance in the play

minute
extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a meeting

The minutes of the meeting were registered

minutiae
petty or trivial details; CF. minutia

She never paid attention to minutiae

mirage
unreal reflection; optical illusion

She knew she was chasing a mirage

mire
entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud;

The car was sucked deeper into the mire

mirth
merriment; laughter

Their mirth over the success was obvious

misadventure
mischance; ill luck;

He met an untimely death by misadventure

misanthrope
one who hates mankind; misanthropist

The misanthrope led a secluded life

misapprehension
error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend

The fight was because of misapprehension

miscellaneous
made up of a variety of parts

She made a list of miscellaneous items

mischance
ill luck

It was sheer mischance that she lost the trophy

misconstrue
interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge

The lady tried to misconstrue the entire thing

miscreant
wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the miscreant; CF. believe

The miscreants looted the bank

misdemeanor
minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing

He was kept in remand for a misdemeanor

misconduct
immoral behavior; bad management; V.

The youth was punished for misconduct

miserly
stingy; mean

Mr. Scrooge was a miserly man

misgivings
doubts

She had misgivings on his ideas

mishap
unfortunate accident

The mishap took lives of 65 people

misnomer
wrong or improper name; incorrect designation

Doctress is a misnomer

misogamy
hatred of marriage

Being a misogamist he led the life of a bachelor

misogynist
hater of woman; CF. misogyny

He was a misogynist

missile
object to be thrown or projected

America bombarded Iraq with missiles

missive
letter; written statement; CF. sent

She sent the officials a missive stating her reasons for being absent

mite
very small object or insect-like creature; small coin

Mites populated the wooden planks

mitigate
appease; moderate; make or become less in force or intensity

The drug mitigated the pain

mnemonic
pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device, such as as formula or rhyme, used as a mnemonic aid

Mnemonics aid in vocabulary learning

mobile
movable; not fixed; N. mobility

She loved the mobile nature of her job

mock
ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision

Students mocked at the inefficient lecturer

mode
prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; Ex. in the latest mode;

She preferred a simple mode of life

modicum
limited quantity; small amount

He does not have a modicum of sense

modish
fashionable; conforming to the current fashion

The couple is modish

modulate
tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another;

Modulate from E to G

mogul
powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; CF. Mogol, Moghul; CF. Mongolian

He is the mogul of breweries industry

molecule
the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance

Water has associated Hydrogen and Oxygen molecules

mollify
soothe an angry person

His mother can only mollify him

mollycoddle
pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively

The infant was mollycoddled by its parents

molt(moult)
periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)

Snakes and birds moult

molten
melted; Ex. molten lava

Molten lava had flown ferociously from Vesuvius

momentous
very important; N. moment; CF. momentary

The argument sounds momentous

momentum
quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force

His presentation gained momentum at conclusion

monarchy
government under a single ruler

Monarchy has it’s own intrinsic difficulties

monastic
related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns

They all belong to a monastic order

monetary
pertaining to money

She works for monetary benefits

monochromatic
having only one color

The monochromatic white light splits into seven colors when it passes through a prism

monogram
design composed of one or more initials of a name; V.

The monogram was in gold

monograph
scholarly article

Students were advised to read the monograph

monolithic
solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N. monolith: large block of stone

Many inscriptions on monoliths can be found in North India

monotheism
belief in one God

Many religions of the west propagate monotheism

monotony
sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone

The job often makes her suffer from monotony

monumental
massive; impressively large; built as a monument

The Taj is a monumental tomb

moodiness
fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood:
state of mind or emotion

He’s a moody person

moratorium
legal delay of payment or action;

The government declared moratorium on the building of new houses

morbid
given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease;

She has a morbid curiosity

mordant
biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit

He made mordant comments at her

mores
conventions; moral standards; moral customs

She was a strict follower of mores

moribund
dying; at the point of death; CF. death

The party’s ideologies have become moribund

morose
ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy

His morose perceptions irritated one and all

mortify
humiliate by embarrassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh; discipline (one’s body) by self-denial; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die

Ex. mortified by her blunder

mosaic
picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.

The mosaic pattern looks very attractive

mote
small speck (esp. of dust)

She did not understand a mote of what he said

motif
theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure

The motif of the music is pathos

motility
ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously

Atoms are motile

motley
multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; CF.

A motley garment worn by a jester

motto
brief statement used to express a principle

The employees are supposed to abide by the motto of the company

mottled
blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors

Her mottled face

mountebank
charlatan; boastful pretender

Mr. Hugo is a mountebank

muddle
confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion

The liar muddled up the entire story

muggy
(of weather) warm and damp

The weather seems to be muggy

mulct
defraud a person of something; swindle;

Mulct the boy of his legacy

multifarious
varied; greatly diversified;

Children are involved in multifarious activities

multilingual
having many languages; fluent in several languages

India is a multilingual country

multiplicity
state of being numerous or multiple; large number; ADJ. multiple: of more than one element

Multiplicity of details

mundane
worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the ordinary; Ex. mundane existence; CF. world

Many of us lead mundane lives

munificent
very generous in giving; N. munificience

He is a munificent benefactor

mural
wall painting

The Chinese specialized in mural paintings

murky
dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom

The plot of the story is murky

muse
ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a poet)

Students mused over the theory

musky
having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer

The cloth has a musky odor

muster
gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one’s strength for the ordeal; N.

She mustered courage to speak to her father

musty
stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; CF. moist

The canvas became musty

muted
silent; muffled; toned down;

Muted traffic noise

mute
silent; without speech; not pronounced; unable to speak; N: one who is incapable of speech; V: soften the sound, color, shade of

She muted the colors on the screen

mutilate
maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an essential part

Amputation is clinical mutilation

mutinous
unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N. mutiny: open rebellion; CF. mutineer

The mutinous crowd protested the new law

myopic
nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia

The myopic youth do not understand the adverse effects of drugs

myriad
very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand

It becomes difficult to choose from myriad career options

]]> http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/barron%e2%80%99s-gre-word-list-vocabulary-test-prep-letter-m-2/2009/06/09/high-score-word-gre-test-list-free/feed 0 http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/barron%e2%80%99s-gre-word-list-vocabulary-test-prep-letter-m/2009/06/08/high-score-word-gre-test-list-free http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/barron%e2%80%99s-gre-word-list-vocabulary-test-prep-letter-m/2009/06/08/high-score-word-gre-test-list-free#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:17:03 +0000 AnuVeluri http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/?p=676 macabre
gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death

The macabre twists and turns of fate!

morgue
mortuary; place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation

The dead body was preserved in a morgue

mace
ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; club like medieval weapon

A mace symbolizes authority

macerate
soften by soaking in liquid; waste away;

The powdered wood is macerated to make paper

machiavellian
crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli, which holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing political power

She resorted to Machiavellian tactics in order to get professionally successful

machinations
evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V. machinate

Tantri the Mantri was an expert in machinations

maculated
spotted; stained; CF. immaculate

She could not pray to God with a maculated soul

madrigal
pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments

Whose artful strains have oft delayed the huddling brook to hear his madrigal. –Milton

maelstrom
violent whirlpool; violent or turbulent situation; CF. stream

She had to pass through a maelstrom of complicated situations

magisterial
authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a magistrate;

A magisterial study of Roman law

magistrate
official with power to administer the law

She served as the state Magistrate

magnanimity
generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous

The family is known for its magnanimity

magnate
person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate

He is a renowned business magnate

magniloquent
boastful; pompous

The students are fed up with the teacher’s magniloquent speeches

magnitude
greatness (in size or extent); extent

The magnitude of the problem is underestimated

maim
mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex. maimed for life

The terrorists maimed the body of the journalist

mangle
tear or cut to pieces; mutilate or disfigure;

Those are the pictures of badly mangled bodies

maladroit
clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling

She shouldn’t have entrusted the work to a maladroit like him

malady
illness

Mental malady is tough to cope with

malaise
uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any particular pain or appearance of disease)

“One year after the crash, the markets remain mired in a deep malaise” (New York Times)

malapropism
comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop

Untimely and inappropriate use of word is malapropism

malcontent
person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs; discontented person; ADJ: discontented

She was malcontent with the state of affairs around her

malediction
curse

No malediction falls from his tongue. –Longfellow

malefactor
evildoer; criminal

She trusted a malefactor

malevolent
wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence

Her losses in life made her malevolent

malfeasance
wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)

He invested a great time in malfeasance

malicious
hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others; spite

Her intentions were malicious

malign
speak evil of; bad-mouth(criticize spitefully); defame; ADJ: harmful; Ex. malign influence

They tried to malign an honorable man

malignant
tending to cause death; highly injurious; aggressively malevolent; Ex. malignant tumor

The virus is malignant

malingerer
one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work

He has been a malingerer since his childhood

malleable
(of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding(beating); pliable; (of someone) impressionable(easily influenced); easily controlled; tractable

Most of the metals are malleable and ductile

malodorous
foul-smelling

The gas of Hydrogen Sulphide is malodorous

mammal
vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young

Platypus is a mammal

mammoth
gigantic; enormous

A mammoth crowd came to see the celebrity

manacle
restrain; handcuff; N.

She was unable to let free those circumstantial manacles

mandate
order; charge; authoritative command; power to govern another country; power to given to a government; region under administration; V: give a mandate to; place under a mandate;

That’s a mandated territory

mandatory
obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate

It is mandatory upon students to be in time

mangy
shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance

mange
skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair

Domestic animals suffer from a disease called mange

maniacal
raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm

The terrorist’s behavior was maniacal

manifest
evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly

Dreams should necessarily manifest in action

manifesto
public declaration of principles; statement of policy

The party’s manifesto was appealing

manifold
many in number or kind; numerous; varied

There are manifold benefits of consuming vegetarian food

manipulate
operate with one’s hands; control or play upon (people, forces, etc.) artfully; maneuver; Ex. how to manipulate publicity and men; ADJ. manipulative

She manipulated her actions with dexterity

mannered
affected; not natural

That was a mannered way of speech

mannerism
distinctive behavioral trait; affected style in art (according to a set of styles)

Her mannerisms were awkward

manumit
emancipate; free from slavery or bondage

The slaves were manumitted

marital
pertaining to marriage

The application seeks marital status

maritime
bordering on(adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of the ships or the sea

That’s a Maritime Province

marked
noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack

There’s a marked improvement in the patient’s condition

marred
damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure

The chemical mars facial features

marshal
put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place;

She was ordered to marshal the children into the museum

marsupial
one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch(pocket of skin or leather); CF. kangaroo, opossum, wombat

Kangaroo belongs to the order of Marsupials

martial
warlike; of war;

It’s a martial law

martinet
strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet

The hostel warden is a martinet

martyr
one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer;

He’s a martyr to his rheumatism

masochist
person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism

Masochism is a psychological disorder

masticate
chew

The bovine family members masticate thoroughly

materialism
preoccupation with physical comforts and things; excessive regard for worldly concerns (rather than spiritual matters)

The irregular fears of a future state had been supplanted by the materialism of Epicurus. –Buckminster

maternal
motherly; N. maternity: motherhood

She basked in the warmth of maternal bliss

matriarch
woman who rules a family or larger social group

She is the matriarch of her family

matrix
point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die;

He’s lost in the matrix of Western civilization

maudlin
effusively sentimental

She’s an ickly sickly sentimental maudlin

maul
handle roughly; batter; injure by beating;

The celebrity was mauled by his overexcited fans

mausoleum
monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF. Mausolos

The Taj is a mausoleum

mauve
pale purple

She wore a mauve colored dress

maverick
rebel; nonconformist (in a group)

People are fed up with his maverick tactics

mawkish
mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental

They objected his mawkish behavior

maxim
proverb; truth pithily stated

mayhem
injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person; violent disorder;

There was mayhem in the zoo

meager
scanty; inadequate

They earn meager wages

Mealy mouthed
indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive

He made mealy mouthed comments

meander
wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly

The cattle meandered along the curvy path

meddlesome
interfering; V. meddle: interfere

I somehow hate his meddlesome nature

mediate
settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by mediating

The government mediated a cease-fire

mediocre
ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad

The performance was mediocre

meditation
reflection; thought; V. meditate

She was found in a state of deep meditation

medium
element that is a creature’s natural environment; nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate occupation or means of expression; channel of communication; compromise; middle position between extremes; intervening substance through which something else is transmitted

Bacteria is cultured in a nutritive medium

medley
mixture

The medley of songs is the best part of the album

meek
submissive; patient and long-suffering

The residents of the village seem to be week

megalomania
mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance

His objectives are megalomaniacal

melancholy
gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia

Keats’ poems generally trigger melancholy

melee
fight

There was a melee in the market place

mellifluous
(of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune

She spoke mellifluously

memento
token; reminder of the past; keepsake;

A memento of your visit

memorialize
commemorate

The celebrations memorialized the leader

menagerie
collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo

The menageries is a place where wild animals are kept

mendacious
lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity

He lost his repute because of his mendacious nature

mendicant
beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar

Buddha led a life of a mendicant

menial
suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)

They do menial jobs

mentor
counselor; teacher

The mentor advised the students effectively

mercantile
concerning trade or merchants

You are not aware of the mercantile laws of the country

mercenary
motivated solely by money or gain; N.

He works purely for mercenary benefits

mercurial
capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing the element mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; CF. mood

He has a mercurial temper

meretricious
flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value;

The argument seemed to be meretricious

merger
combination (of two business corporations); act of merging

The two IT giants merged

mesmerize
hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer

His speech mesmerized the audience

metallurgical
pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with extracting metals from ores

He deals in metallurgy and the metallurgical operations are hard to understand

metamorphosis
change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose: change by metamorphosis

The transformation of egg into adult is metamorphosis

metaphor
implied comparison; CF. simile

The beauty of poetry depends on the proper use of metaphor

metaphysical
pertaining to speculative philosophy; of metaphysics; N. metaphysics: branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality

Donne was a metaphysical poet

mete
measure; distribute; administer;

Mete out justice

meteoric
like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant;

He shot a meteoric rise to fame

methodical
systematic; N. method: systematic method of procedure

Research seeks a methodical scientific analysis

meticulous
excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous

The students found the meticulously designed course interesting

metropolis
large city

The mother city; the chief city of a kingdom, state, or country.

[Edinburgh] gray metropolis of the North. –Tennyson

mettle
courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; ADJ. mettlesome

She has the mettle to face her ruthless husband

]]> http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/barron%e2%80%99s-gre-word-list-vocabulary-test-prep-letter-m/2009/06/08/high-score-word-gre-test-list-free/feed 0 http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/barron%e2%80%99s-gre-word-list-vocabulary-test-prep-letter-l/2009/06/06/high-score-word-gre-test-list-free http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/barron%e2%80%99s-gre-word-list-vocabulary-test-prep-letter-l/2009/06/06/high-score-word-gre-test-list-free#comments Sat, 06 Jun 2009 10:58:13 +0000 AnuVeluri http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/?p=672 labile
likely to change; unstable; Ex. emotionally labile

A labile compound

laborious
demanding much work or care; tedious

He is doing a laborious job

labyrinth
maze

They got into a labyrinth of problems

laceration
torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin as with broken glass); wound

She stood in front of him bearing a lacerated soul

lachrymose
producing tears; tearful

You should have seen his lachrymose visnomy. –Lamb

lackadaisical
lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid

That was a lackadaisical presentation

lackluster
lacking luster(shine; gloss); dull

A lackluster eye

laconic
brief and to the point; using few words; terse

He made a laconic speech

laggard
slow; sluggish; N: one who lags; straggler

His laggardness irritates one and all

lag
move or develop more slowly; straggle

She lagged behind the rest

lagoon
shallow body of water or lake near a sea; lake separated from a sea by sandbars or coral reefs

The lagoons of Venice

laity
laypersons; laymen; persons not connected with the clergy

A rising up of the laity against the sacerdotal caste. –Macaulay

layman
man who is not a cleric; man who is nonprofessional

She married a layman, against her parents wish

lament
grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation

There’s no use lamenting over the past

lampoon
ridicule; N: written attack ridiculing or satirizing a person, group, or institution

Like her who missed her name in a lampoon, And grieved to find herself decayed so soon. –Dryden

lancet
small surgical tool for making incisions

A lancet arch

lance
cut into; N: spear like weapon

Pierce with a lance

languid
lacking energy or vitality; weary; sluggish; listless

The excursion made her languid

lank
long and thin; Ex. Lank, gaunt, Abraham Lincoln
The player has a lanky build

lap
take in food or drink with one’s tongue; splash gently; Ex. waves lapping the shore; N: front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person

She lapped it up all

larceny
theft; Ex. petit larceny

He was kept in police custody for larceny

larder
pantry; place where food is kept

The food was preserved in the larder

largess
generous gift (given to people who do not have enough)

Fulfilled of largesse and of all grace. –Chaucer

lascivious
lustful

A lascivious gesture.

lust
intense sexual desire; intense eagerness; V.

He has lust for power

lassitude
languor; weariness; listlessness

The pleasant lassitude of the warm summer afternoon

latent
present but not yet noticeable or active; dormant; hidden; N. latency; CF. potential

Her latent ability remained undiscovered

lateral
of or coming from the side

A lateral move

latitude
freedom from narrow limitations

He allowed his children a fair amount of latitude

laud
praise; N. ADJ. laudable: praiseworthy; ADJ. laudatory: expressing praise

So do well and thou shalt have laud of the same. –Tyndals

lavish
liberal; wasteful; generous or wasteful in giving or using; abundant; profuse; great; Ex. decorated lavishly; V. give in abundance

They spend lavishly

lax
careless; negligent; not paying enough attention;

Theirs is a lax service

leaven
add leaven to; cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven; N: agent, such as yeast, that causes dough to rise (by fermentation); element that lightens or enlivens

With these and the like deceivable doctrines, he leavens also his prayer. –Milton

lechery
gross lewdness; lustfulness; ADJ. lecherous; N. lecher: lecherous man

A lecherous act

lectern
reading desk or stand for a public speaker

The bible was placed on a lectern

leery
(of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious

He was leery of aggressive salespeople

leeway
room to move; margin; latitude;

There’s no leeway for the deadline

legacy
gift made by a will; something handed down from an ancestor

The legacy of ancient Rome

legend
explanatory list of symbols on a map

Legend on the map

legerdemain
sleight(dexterity) of hand; CF. light of hand

He has a financial legerdemain

leniency
mildness; permissiveness; ADJ. lenient: not severe in judgment or punishment

She gave her children a lot of leniency

leonine
like a lion

His leonine manners appealed to her

lethal
deadly

It’s a lethal weapon

lethargic
drowsy; dull; N. lethargy: state of sluggishness and inactivity

The drug makes you feel lethargic

levee
earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding; CF. raise

To levee a treacherous stream

levitate
rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); CF. light

The magician levitates a table

levity
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity; lightness of manner

He never employed his omnipotence out of levity. –Calamy

levy
impose (a fine); collect (a payment); impose or collect (a tax);

The government levied a tax on tobacco

lexicographer
compiler of a dictionary; CF. lexicography: work of compiling a dictionary

Jonathan Swift was also a lexicographer

liability
drawback; handicap; debts; obligation; responsibility; condition of being liable; ADJ. liable: likely; responsible (for paying)

His lack of education is his biggest liability

liaison
contact that keeps parties in communication; communication between groups; one that maintains communication; go-between; secret love affair; V. liaise: keep a connection

He served as the President’s liaison with Congress

libel
defamatory written statement; act of writing something that smears a person’s character; V. ADJ. libelous

What’s this but libeling against the senate? –Shak

libertine
debauched person; dissolute or licentious person; rou\’e; CF. free

Like a puffed and reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads. –Shak

libretto
text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book

A libretto is a musical composition

licentious
amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained

“Licentious wickedness.” –Shak

license
official or legal permission; latitude of action or speech; excessive freedom that causes harm or damage; V.

He holds a license to kill

lien
legal claim or right on a property

He holds a lien to her property

ligneous
like wood

The table looks ligneous

lilliputian
extremely small; CF. Lilliput in Gulliver’s Travels

Although a Lilliputian he demonstrates exemplary courage

limber
flexible; supple; pliable; V.

To limber up before the game

limbo
region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; prison (slang); Ex. Purgatory and Limbo

My youthful hopes are in the limbo of lost dreams

limn
draw; outline; describe; CF. line

Let a painter carelessly limn out a million of faces, and you shall find them all different. –Sir T. Browne

limpid
crystal clear

The limpid glory of new born leaves

lineage
descent; ancestry

Both the lineage and the certain sire From which I sprung, from me are hidden yet. –Spenser

lineaments
features especially of the face; distinctive shape or contour of the face; CF. line

His fine lineaments made him the very image of his father

linger
loiter or dawdle; be slow in leaving; delay going; continue or persist; be slow to disappear

The smell lingered for days.

linguistic
pertaining to language

She wants to specialize in linguistic studies

lionize
treat (a person) as a celebrity

The celebrity was lionized

liquidate
settle accounts; pay off (a debt); clear up; eliminate; kill or abolish

His debts were liquidated

list
tilt (as of a ship); lean over (to one side)

She lists over the ladder

listless
lacking in spirit or energy; languid

Hot summers made him listless

litany
supplicatory prayer; prayer in which the priest calls out and the people replies in the same words

We heard the whole litany of their complaints

litigation
lawsuit; N. litigant: one party in a lawsuit; V. litigate

The litigation was hard to resolve

litotes
understatement for emphasis; Ex. “not bad(=pretty good)”

This is no small problem is litotes

livid
lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise); ashen; enraged; extremely angry

Fear turned his cheeks livid for a moment

loath
reluctant; unwilling; disinclined;

Romeo and Juliet were both loath for him to go.

loathe
detest; ADJ. loathsome: arousing loathing; offensive

A loathsome smell

lode
metal-bearing vein(long deposit of an ore)

Down that long, dark lode . . . he and his brother skated home in triumph. –C. Kingsley

lofty
very high

He reached lofty heights in his profession

log
record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities; section of a trunk; V.

They had to log a day’s event

loiter
hang about/around; stand idly about; linger

The young boy was loitering on the terrace

loll
lounge about

The dog stood in the heat with his tongue lolling out of his mouth

lounge
stand, sit, or lie in a lazy, relaxed way

She lounged the day away

longevity
long life; long duration

Our family is known for its longevity

loom
appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged, indistinct, or distorted form); N: apparatus for making thread into cloth

The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly

lope
gallop slowly

“He that lopes on the ropes.” –Middleton

loquacious
talkative; N. loquacity

She is loquacious

lout
clumsy person; ADJ. loutish; CF. from countryside

He’s such a lout

lubricate
apply a lubricant to; N. lubricant: substance that reduces friction

Grease is an excellent lubricant

lucid
easily understood; clear; intelligible; N. lucidity

His lucid explanation made the otherwise tough concepts easier

lucrative
profitable; producing wealth

Agriculture is a lucrative business

lucre
money; profit;

Don’t run behind filthy lucre

ludicrous
laughable; ridiculous; trifling

A ludicrous lack of efficiency

lugubrious
mournful; sorrowful

The film has a lugubrious ending

lull
moment of calm; period of reduced activity; V: cause to become less active; cause to sleep or rest; Ex. lull the opponents into a false sense of security; CF. lullaby

A lull in the rain

lumber
move heavily or clumsily; N: timber

The bear lumbered through the woods

lumen
unit of light energy (one candle’s worth)

Lumen is the unit of light energy

luminary
celebrity (in a specific field); dignitary; object that gives light (as a celestial body)

She wished all the senior luminaries at the party

luminous
shining (esp. in the dark); issuing light

Luminous paint/road signs

lunar
pertaining to the moon

The Egyptians believe in the Lunar Calendar

lunatic
insane;

He resides permanently in a lunatic asylum

lurid
wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible;

Lurid details of the murder

lurk
stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived

The watchman lurked in the lounge

luscious
pleasing to taste or smell; delicious

She invited them over a luscious meal

luster
shine; gloss (of a polished surface)

The scorching sun was mounted high, In all its luster, to the noonday sky. –Addison

lustrous
shining; brilliant; Ex. lustrous hair

Her hair’s lustrous

luxuriant
abundant; growing healthily and in large amounts; excessively ornate; rich and splendid; fertile; Ex. luxuriant forests/prose; CF. luxurious, luxuriate

The ponds facilitate luxuriant growth of alga

kaleidoscope
tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc. produce interesting symmetrical effects; series of changing events;

A kaleidoscope of European history

ken
range of knowledge

To understand the topic is beyond one’s ken

kernel
central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn)

The kernel of the movie is the protagonist’s sacrifice

killjoy
grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others

A killjoy like he should never be invited to any party

kindle
start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse

The seminar kindled in him an interest for Artificial Intelligence

kindred
related; belonging to the same group; similar in nature or character;

The dinosaurs and the lizards are kindred species

kinetic
producing motion; of motion

The kinetic energy is the energy of body in motion

kismet
fate; destiny;

Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.

kleptomaniac
person who has a compulsive desire to steal

The king’s wife was a kleptomaniac

knave
untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery

He is a knave to be trusted

knead
mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands);

Knead the dough thoroughly

knell
tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell; V.

Not worth a blessing nor a bell to knell for thee. –Beau. & Fl

knit
contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together closely; make (a fabric or garment) by intertwining yarn or thread; Ex. knit the brow;

The bones should knit together in a few weeks.

knoll
little round hill; hillock

There’s a shrine on the knoll

knotty
intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot

That’s a knotty problem

kudos
honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement

]]> http://learnwordlist.com/grevocabulary/barron%e2%80%99s-gre-word-list-vocabulary-test-prep-letter-k/2009/06/03/high-score-word-gre-test-list-free/feed 0