Ultimate word success - Peterson's 2009

Ultimate Success Word List

Use the Words You Learn

Vocabulary as such is not tested on exams like the PSAT/NMSQT, GED, SAT, TOEFL, or ACT. But as you learned earlier, there are plenty of indirect and hidden vocabulary questions on the exams:

1. Reading comprehension passages include vocabulary-in-context questions. These focus on particular words in the passage and ask you to determine their meaning in the passage. Sometimes the words chosen are obviously hard words (latent, replete, and eminent, to name three real examples). More often they are seemingly easy words that are tricky because they have many possible meanings (camp, idea, and hard, for example). In both cases, the broader, more varied, and more accurate your vocabulary knowledge, the better your chances of answering these questions quickly and correctly.

2. The better your vocabulary knowledge, the easier you’ll find it to understand both critical reading passages and sentence completion items (which are, in effect, mini-reading passages, each one sentence long). Even an occasional math item is made a little more complicated by the use of a challenging vocabulary word.

So vocabulary knowledge makes a clear and significant difference in your performance on standardized tests. Fortunately, the kinds of words that regularly appear on exams like the SAT, GED, ACT, TOEFL, and PSAT/NMSQT fall into definite patterns.

These exams are basically tests of “book learning.” They are written and edited by bookish people for the benefit of the other bookish people who run colleges and universities. They’re designed to test your ability to handle the kinds of bookish tasks college students usually have to master: reading textbooks, finding information in reference books, deciphering scholarly journals, studying research abstracts, and writing impressive-sounding term papers.

So the hard words on the tests are hard words of a particular sort: bookish hard words that deal, broadly speaking, with the manipulation and communication of ideas—words like ambiguous, amplify, arbitrary, and arcane. The better you master this sort of vocabulary, the better you’ll do on your exam.

Happily, you don’t need to find these words on your own. We’ve done the hard work for you. By examining actual exams from the last several years, we’ve been able to come up

with a list of the words most commonly used in reading passages and sentence completions, including both the question stems and the answer choices. This list has become the Ultimate Success Word List. It includes about 500 primary words that are most likely to appear in one form or another on the SAT, GED, ACT, TOEFL, and PSAT/NMSQT. It also includes hundreds of related words—words that are either variants of the primary words (ambiguity as a variant of ambiguous, for example) or that share a common word root (like ample, amplify, and amplitude). Many of these words have already been covered in this book; some even appear in the flashcards at the back. By placing them all in a single location, however, we hope to give you one more tool to enhance your vocabulary study.

abbreviate (verb) to make briefer, to shorten. Because time was running out, the speaker had to abbreviate his remarks.abbreviation (noun).

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

abridge (verb) to shorten, to reduce. The Bill of Rights is designed to prevent Congress from abridging the rights of Americans.abridgment (noun).

absolve (verb) to free from guilt, to exonerate. The criminal jury absolved Mr. Callahan of the murder of his neighbor.absolution (noun).

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

accentuate (verb) to emphasize, to stress. The overcast skies and chill winds accentuated our gloomy mood.accentuation (noun).

acrimonious (adjective) biting, harsh, caustic. The election campaign became acrimonious, as the candidates traded insults and accusations.acrimony (noun).

adaptable (adjective) able to be changed to be suitable for a new purpose. Some scientists say that the mammals outlived the dinosaurs because they were more adaptable to a changing climate.adapt (verb), adaptation (noun).

adulation (noun) extreme admiration. Few young actors have received greater adulation than did Marlon Brando after his performance in A Streetcar Named Desire. adulate (verb), adulatory (adjective).

adversary (noun) an enemy or opponent. When the former Soviet Union became an American ally, the United States lost a major adversary.adversarial (adjective).

adversity (noun) misfortune. It’s easy to be patient and generous when things are going well; a person’s true character is revealed under adversity.adverse (adjective).

aesthetic (adjective) relating to art or beauty. Mapplethorpe’s photos may be attacked on moral grounds, but no one questions their aesthetic value—they are beautiful.aestheticism (noun).

affected (adjective) false, artificial. At one time, Japanese women were taught to speak in an affected high-pitched voice, which was thought girlishly attractive.affect (verb), affectation (noun).

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

alacrity (noun) promptness, speed. Thrilled with the job offer, he accepted with alacrity—“Before they can change their minds!” he thought.alacritous (adjective).

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

alleviate (verb) to make lighter or more bearable. Although no cure for AIDS has been found, doctors are able to alleviate the suffering of those with the disease.alleviation (noun).

ambiguous (adjective) having two or more possible meanings. The phrase, “Let’s table that discussion” is ambiguous; some think it means, “Let’s discuss it now,” while others think it means, “Let’s save it for later.”ambiguity (noun).

ambivalent (adjective) having two or more contradictory feelings or attitudes; uncertain. She was ambivalent toward her impending marriage; at times she was eager to go ahead, while at other times she wanted to call it off.ambivalence (noun).

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

amicable (adjective) friendly, peaceable. Although they agreed to divorce, their settlement was amicable and they remained friends afterward.

amplify (verb) to enlarge, expand, or increase. Uncertain as to whether they understood, the students asked the teacher to amplify his explanation.amplification (noun).

anachronistic (adjective) out of the proper time. The reference, in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar to “the clock striking twelve” is anachronistic, since there were no striking timepieces in ancient Rome.anachronism (noun).

anarchy (noun) absence of law or order. For several months after the Nazi government was destroyed, there was no effective government in parts of Germany, and anarchy ruled.anarchic (adjective).

anomaly (noun) something different or irregular. The tiny planet Pluto, orbiting next to the giants Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune, has long appeared to be an anomaly.anomalous (adjective).

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

antiseptic (adjective) fighting infection; extremely clean. A wound should be washed with an antiseptic solution. The all-white offices were bare and almost antiseptic in their starkness.

apathy (noun) lack of interest, concern, or emotion. Tom’s apathy toward his job could be seen in his lateness, his sloppy work, and his overall poor attitude.apathetic (adjective).

arable (adjective) able to be cultivated for growing crops. Rocky New England has relatively little arable farmland.

arbiter (noun) someone able to settle disputes; a judge or referee. The public is the ultimate arbiter of commercial value; it decides what sells and what doesn’t.

arbitrary (adjective) based on random or merely personal preference. Both computers cost the same and had the same features, so in the end I made an arbitrary decision about which one to buy.

arcane (adjective) little-known, mysterious, obscure. Eliot’s Waste Land is filled with arcane lore, including quotations in Latin, Greek, French, German, and Sanskrit.arcana (noun, plural).

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

arid (adjective) very dry; boring and meaningless. The arid climate of Arizona makes farming difficult. Some find the law a fascinating topic, but for me it is an arid discipline.aridity (noun).

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

assiduous (adjective) working with care, attention, and diligence. Although Karen is not a naturally gifted math student, by assiduous study she managed to earn an A in trigonometry.assiduity (noun).

astute (adjective) observant, intelligent, and shrewd. Safire’s years of experience in Washington and his personal acquaintance with many political insiders made him an astute commentator on politics.

atypical (adjective) not typical; unusual. In The Razor’s Edge, Bill Murray, best known as a comic actor, gave an atypical dramatic performance.

audacious (adjective) bold, daring, adventurous. Her plan to cross the Atlantic single-handed in a 12-foot sailboat was audacious, if not reckless.audacity (noun).

audible (adjective) able to be heard. Although she whispered, her voice was picked up by the microphone, and her words were audible throughout the theater.audibility (noun).

auspicious (adjective) promising good fortune; propitious. The news that a team of British climbers had reached the summit of Everest seemed an auspicious sign for the reign of newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II.

authoritarian (adjective) favoring or demanding blind obedience to leaders. Despite Americans’ belief in democracy, the American government has supported authoritarian regimes in other countries.authoritarianism (noun)

belated (adjective) delayed past the proper time. She called her mother on January 5th to offer her a belated “Happy New Year.”

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

benevolent (adjective) wishing or doing good. In old age, Carnegie used his wealth for benevolent purposes, donating large sums to found libraries and schools.benevolence (noun).

berate (verb) to scold or criticize harshly. The judge angrily berated the two lawyers for their unprofessional behavior.

bereft (adjective) lacking or deprived of something. Bereft of parental love, orphans sometimes grow up to be insecure.

bombastic (adjective) inflated or pompous in style. Old-fashioned bombastic political speeches don’t work on television, which demands a more intimate style of communication.bombast (noun).

bourgeois (adjective) middle class or reflecting middle-class values. The Dadaists of the 1920s produced art deliberately designed to offend bourgeois art collectors, with their taste for respectable, refined, uncontroversial pictures.bourgeois (noun).

buttress (noun) something that supports or strengthens; a projecting structure of masrony or wood. The endorsement of the American Medical Association is a powerful buttress for the claims made about this new medicine. The buttress on the south wall of the Medieval castle was beginning to crumble.buttress (verb).

camaraderie (noun) a spirit of friendship. Spending long days and nights together on the road, the members of a traveling theater group develop a strong sense of camaraderie.

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

capricious (adjective) unpredictable, whimsical. The pop star Madonna has changed her image so many times that each new transformation now appears capricious rather than purposeful.caprice (noun).

carnivorous (adjective) meat-eating. The long, dagger-like teeth of the Tyrannosaurus make it obvious that this was a carnivorous dinosaur.carnivore (noun).

carping (adjective) unfairly or excessively critical; querulous. New York is famous for its demanding critics, but none is harder to please than the carping John Simon, said to have single-handedly destroyed many acting careers.carp (verb).

catalytic (adjective) bringing about, causing, or producing some result. The conditions for revolution existed in America by 1765; the disputes about taxation that arose later were the catalytic events that sparked the rebellion.catalyze (verb).

caustic (adjective) burning, corrosive. No one was safe when the satirist H. L. Mencken unleashed his caustic wit.

censure (noun) blame, condemnation. The news that the senator had harassed several women brought censure from many feminists.censure (verb).

chaos (noun) disorder, confusion, chance. The first few moments after the explosion were pure chaos: no one was sure what had happened, and the area was filled with people running and yelling.chaotic (adjective).

circuitous (adjective) winding or indirect. We drove to the cottage by a circuitous route so we could see as much of the surrounding countryside as possible.

circumlocution (noun) speaking in a roundabout way; wordiness. Legal documents often contain circumlocutions that make them difficult to understand.

circumscribe (verb) to define by a limit or boundary. Originally, the role of the executive branch of government was clearly circumscribed, but that role has greatly expanded over time.circumscription (noun).

circumvent (verb) to get around. When Jerry was caught speeding, he tried to circumvent the law by offering the police officer a bribe.

clandestine (adjective) secret, surreptitious. As a member of the underground, Balas took part in clandestine meetings to discuss ways of sabotaging the Nazi forces.

cloying (adjective) overly sweet or sentimental. The deathbed scenes in the novels of Dickens are famously cloying: as Oscar Wilde said, “One would need a heart of stone to read the death of Little Nell without laughing.”

cogent (adjective) forceful and convincing. The committee members were won over to the project by the cogent arguments of the chairman.cogency (noun).

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

cohesive (adjective) sticking together, unified. An effective military unit must be a cohesive team, all its members working together for a common goal.cohere (verb), cohesion (noun).

collaborate (verb) to work together. To create a truly successful movie, the director, writers, actors, and many others must collaborate closely.collaboration (noun), collaborative (adjective).

colloquial (adjective) informal in language; conversational. Some expressions from Shakespeare, such as the use of thou and thee, sound formal today but were colloquial English in Shakespeare’s time.

competent (adjective) having the skill and knowledge needed for a particular task; capable. Any competent lawyer can draw up a will.competence (noun).

complacent (adjective) smug, self-satisfied. Until recently, American auto makers were complacent, believing that they would continue to be successful with little effort.complacency (noun).

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

conciliatory (adjective) seeking agreement, compromise, or reconciliation. As a conciliatory gesture, the union leaders agreed to postpone a strike and to continue negotiations with management.conciliate (verb), conciliation (noun).

concise (adjective) expressed briefly and simply; succinct. Less than a page long, the Bill of Rights is a concise statement of the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans.concision (noun).

condescending (adjective) having an attitude of superiority toward another; patronizing. “What a cute little car!” she remarked in a condescending style. “I suppose it’s the nicest one someone like you could afford!”condescension (noun).

condolence (noun) pity for someone else’s sorrow or loss; sympathy. After the sudden death of Princess Diana, thousands of messages of condolence were sent to her family.condole (verb).

confidant (noun) someone entrusted with another’s secrets. No one knew about Janee’s engagement except Sarah, her confidant.confide (verb), confidential (adjective).

conformity (noun) agreement with or adherence to custom or rule. In my high school, conformity was the rule: everyone dressed the same, talked the same, and listened to the same music.conform (verb), conformist (noun, adjective).

consensus (noun) general agreement among a group. Among Quakers, voting traditionally is not used; instead, discussion continues until the entire group forms a consensus.

consolation (noun) relief or comfort in sorrow or suffering. Although we miss our dog very much, it is a consolation to know that she died quickly, without suffering.console (verb).

consternation (noun) shock, amazement, dismay. When a voice in the back of the church shouted out, “I know why they should not be married!” the entire gathering was thrown into consternation.

consummate (verb) to complete, finish, or perfect. The deal was consummated with a handshake and the payment of the agreed-upon fee.consummate (adjective), consummation (noun).

contaminate (verb) to make impure. Chemicals dumped in a nearby forest had seeped into the soil and contaminated the local water supply.contamination (noun).

contemporary (adjective) modern, current; from the same time. I prefer old-fashioned furniture rather than contemporary styles. The composer Vivaldi was roughly contemporary with Bach.contemporary (noun).

contrite (adjective) sorry for past misdeeds. The public is often willing to forgive celebrities who are involved in some scandal, as long as they appear contrite.contrition (noun).

conundrum (noun) a riddle, puzzle, or problem. The question of why an all-powerful, all-loving God allows evil to exist is a conundrum many philosophers have pondered.

convergence (noun) the act of coming together in unity or similarity. A remarkable example of evolutionary convergence can be seen in the shark and the dolphin, two sea creatures that developed from different origins to become very similar in form.converge (verb).

convoluted (adjective) twisting, complicated, intricate. Tax law has become so convoluted that it’s easy for people to accidentally violate it.convolute (verb), convolution (noun).

corroborating (adjective) supporting with evidence; confirming. A passerby who had witnessed the crime gave corroborating testimony about the presence of the accused person.corroborate (verb), corroboration (noun).

corrosive (adjective) eating away, gnawing, or destroying. Years of poverty and hard work had a corrosive effect on her beauty.corrode (verb), corrosion (noun).

credulity (noun) willingness to believe, even with little evidence. Con artists fool people by taking advantage of their credulity.credulous (adjective).

criterion (noun) a standard of measurement or judgment. In choosing a design for the new taxicabs, reliability will be our main criterion.criteria (plural).

critique (noun) a critical evaluation. The editor gave a detailed critique of the manuscript, explaining its strengths and its weaknesses.critique (verb).

culpable (adjective) deserving blame, guilty. Although he committed the crime, because he was mentally ill he should not be considered culpable for his actions.culpability (noun).

cumulative (adjective) made up of successive additions. Smallpox was eliminated only through the cumulative efforts of several generations of doctors and scientists.accumulation (noun), accumulate (verb).

curtail (verb) to shorten. The opening round of the golf tournament was curtailed by the thunderstorm.

debased (adjective) lowered in quality, character, or esteem. The quality of TV journalism has been debased by the many new tabloid-style talk shows.debase (verb).

debunk (verb) to expose as false or worthless. Magician James Randi loves to debunk psychics, mediums, clairvoyants, and others who claim supernatural powers.

decorous (adjective) having good taste; proper, appropriate. Prior to her visit to Buckingham Palace, the young woman was instructed to demonstrate the most decorous behavior.decorum (noun).

decry (verb) to criticize or condemn. The workers continued to decry the lack of safety in their factory.

deduction (noun) a logical conclusion, especially a specific conclusion based on general principles. Based on what is known about the effects of greenhouse gases on atmospheric temperature, scientists have made several deductions about the likelihood of global warming.deduce (verb).

delegate (verb) to give authority or responsibility. The president delegated the vice president to represent the administration at the peace talks.delegate (noun).

deleterious (adjective) harmful. About thirty years ago, scientists proved that working with asbestos could be deleterious to one’s health, producing cancer and other diseases.

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

demagogue (noun) a leader who plays dishonestly on the prejudices and emotions of his followers. Senator Joseph McCarthy was a demagogue who used the paranoia of the anti-Communist 1950s as a way of seizing fame and power in Washington.demagoguery (noun).

demure (adjective) modest or shy. The demure heroines of Victorian fiction have given way to today’s stronger, more opinionated, and more independent female characters.

denigrate (verb) to criticize or belittle. The firm’s new president tried to explain his plans for improving the company without seeming to denigrate the work of his predecessor.denigration (noun).

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

derelict (adjective) neglecting one’s duty. The train crash was blamed on a switchman who was derelict, having fallen asleep while on duty.dereliction (noun).

derivative (adjective) taken from a particular source. When a person first writes poetry, her poems are apt to be derivative of whatever poetry she most enjoys reading.derivation (noun), derive (verb).

desolate (adjective) empty, lifeless, and deserted; hopeless, gloomy. Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked and had to learn to survive alone on a desolate island. The murder of her husband left Mary Lincoln desolate.desolation (noun).

destitute (adjective) very poor. Years of rule by a dictator who stole the wealth of the country had left the people of the Philippines destitute.destitution (noun).

deter (verb) to discourage from acting. The best way to deter crime is to ensure that criminals will receive swift and certain punishment.deterrence (noun), deterrent (adjective).

detractor (noun) someone who belittles or disparages. Neil Diamond has many detractors who consider his music boring, inane, and sentimental.detract (verb).

deviate (verb) to depart from a standard or norm. Having agreed upon a spending budget for the company, we mustn’t deviate from it; if we do, we may run out of money soon.deviation (noun).

devious (adjective) tricky, deceptive. The CEO’s devious financial tactics were designed to enrich his firm while confusing or misleading government regulators.

didactic (adjective) intended to teach, instructive. The children’s TV show Sesame Street is designed to be both entertaining and didactic.

diffident (adjective) hesitant, reserved, shy. Someone with a diffident personality should pursue a career that involves little public contact.diffidence (noun).

diffuse (verb) to spread out, to scatter. The red dye quickly became diffused through the water, turning it a very pale pink.diffusion (noun).

digress (verb) to wander from the main path or the main topic. My high school biology teacher loved to digress from science into personal anecdotes about his college adventures.digression (noun), digressive (adjective).

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

diligent (adjective) working hard and steadily. Through diligent efforts, the townspeople were able to clear away the debris from the flood in a matter of days.diligence (noun).

diminutive (adjective) unusually small, tiny. Children are fond of Shetland ponies because their diminutive size makes them easy to ride.diminution (noun).

discern (verb) to detect, notice, or observe. I could discern the shape of a whale off the starboard bow, but it was too far away to determine its size or species.discernment (noun).

disclose (verb) to make known; to reveal. Election laws require candidates to disclose the names of those who contribute large sums of money to their campaigns.disclosure (noun).

discomfit (verb) to frustrate, thwart, or embarrass. Discomfited by the interviewer’s unexpected question, Peter could only stammer in reply.discomfiture (noun).

disconcert (verb) to confuse or embarrass. When the hallway bells began to ring halfway through her lecture, the speaker was disconcerted and didn’t know what to do.

discredit (verb) to cause disbelief in the accuracy of some statement or the reliability of a person. Although many people still believe in UFOs, among scientists the reports of “alien encounters” have been thoroughly discredited.

discreet (adjective) showing good judgment in speech and behavior. Be discreet when discussing confidential business matters—don’t talk among strangers on the elevator, for example.discretion (noun).

discrepancy (noun) a difference or variance between two or more things. The discrepancies between the two witnesses’ stories show that one of them must be lying.discrepant (adjective).

disdain (noun) contempt, scorn. The professor could not hide his disdain for those students who were perpetually late to his class.disdain (verb), disdainful (adjective).

disingenuous (adjective) pretending to be candid, simple, and frank. When Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot ran for president, many considered his “jest plain folks” style disingenuous.

disparage (verb) to speak disrespectfully about, to belittle. Many political ads today both praise their own candidate and disparage his or her opponent.disparagement (noun), disparaging (adjective).

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

disregard (verb) to ignore, to neglect. If you don’t write a will, when you die, your survivors may disregard your wishes about how your property should be handled.disregard (noun).

disruptive (adjective) causing disorder, interrupting. When the senator spoke at our college, angry demonstrators picketed, heckled, and engaged in other disruptive activities.disrupt (verb), disruption (noun).

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

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

dissonance (noun) lack of music harmony; lack of agreement between ideas. Most modern music is characterized by dissonance, which many listeners find hard to enjoy. There is a noticeable dissonance between two common beliefs of most conservatives: their faith in unfettered free markets and their preference for traditional social values.dissonant (adjective).

diverge (verb) to move in different directions. Frost’s poem The Road Less Traveled tells of the choice he made when “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.”divergence (noun), divergent (adjective).

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

divination (noun) the art of predicting the future. In ancient Greece, people wanting to know their fate would visit the priests at Delphi, supposedly skilled at divination.divine (verb).

divisive (adjective) causing disagreement or disunity. Throughout history, race has been the most divisive issue in American society.

divulge (verb) to reveal. The people who count the votes for the Oscar awards are under strict orders not to divulge the names of the winners.

dogmatic (adjective) holding firmly to a particular set of beliefs with little or no basis. Believers in Marxist doctrine tend to be dogmatic, ignoring evidence that contradicts their beliefs.dogmatism (noun).

dominant (adjective) greatest in importance or power. Turner’s Frontier Thesis suggests that the existence of the frontier had a dominant influence on American culture.dominate (verb), domination (noun).

dubious (adjective) doubtful, uncertain. Despite the chairman’s attempts to convince the committee members that his plan would succeed, most of them remained dubious.dubiety (noun).

durable (adjective) long lasting. Denim is a popular material for work clothes because it is strong and durable.

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

eclectic (adjective) drawn from many sources; varied, heterogeneous. The Mellon family art collection is an eclectic one, including works ranging from ancient Greek sculptures to modern paintings.eclecticism (noun).

efficacious (adjective) able to produce a desired effect. Though thousands of people today are taking herbal supplements to treat depression, researchers have not yet proved them efficacious.efficacy (noun).

effrontery (noun) shameless boldness. The sports world was shocked when a professional basketball player had the effrontery to choke his head coach during a practice session.

effusive (adjective) pouring forth one’s emotions very freely. Having won the Oscar for Best Actress, Sally Field gave an effusive acceptance speech in which she marveled, “You like me! You really like me!”effusion (noun).

egotism (noun) excessive concern with oneself; conceit. Robert’s egotism was so great that all he could talk about was the importance—and the brilliance—of his own opinions.egotistic (adjective).

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

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

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

elusive (adjective) hard to capture, grasp, or understand. Though everyone thinks they know what “justice” is, when you try to define the concept precisely, it proves to be quite elusive.

embezzle (verb) to steal money or property that has been entrusted to your care. The church treasurer was found to have embezzled thousands of dollars by writing phony checks on the church bank account.embezzlement (noun).

emend (verb) to correct. Before the letter is mailed, please emend the two spelling errors.emendation (noun).

emigrate (verb) to leave one place or country to settle elsewhere. Millions of Irish emigrated to the New World in the wake of the great Irish famines of the 1840s.emigrant (noun), emigration (noun).

eminent (adjective) noteworthy, famous. Vaclav Havel was an eminent author before being elected president of the Czech Republic.eminence (noun).

emissary (noun) someone who represents another. In an effort to avoid a military showdown, Carter was sent as an emissary to Korea to negotiate a settlement.

emollient (noun) something that softens or soothes. She used a hand cream as an emollient on her dry, work-roughened hands.emollient (adjective).

empathy (noun) imaginative sharing of the feelings, thoughts, or experiences of another. It’s easy for a parent to have empathy for the sorrow of another parent whose child has died.empathetic (adjective).

empirical (adjective) based on experience or personal observation. Although many people believe in ESP, scientists have found no empirical evidence of its existence.empiricism (noun).

emulate (verb) to imitate or copy. The British band Oasis admitted their desire to emulate their idols, the Beatles.emulation (noun).

encroach (verb) to go beyond acceptable limits; to trespass. By quietly seizing more and more authority, Robert Moses continually encroached on the powers of other government leaders.encroachment (noun).

enervate (verb) to reduce the energy or strength of someone or something. The extended exposure to the sun along with dehydration enervated the shipwrecked crew, leaving them almost too weak to spot the passing vessel.

engender (verb) to produce, to cause. Countless disagreements over the proper use of national forests have engendered feelings of hostility between ranchers and environmentalists.

enhance (verb) to improve in value or quality. New kitchen appliances will enhance your house and increase the amount of money you’ll make when you sell it.enhancement (noun).

enmity (noun) hatred, hostility, ill will. Long-standing enmity, like that between the Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland, is difficult to overcome.

enthrall (verb) to enchant or charm. The Swedish singer Jenny Lind enthralled American audiences in the nineteenth century with her beauty and talent.

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

equanimity (noun) calmness of mind, especially under stress. FDR had the gift of facing the great crises of his presidency—the Depression and the Second World War—with equanimity and even humor.

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

espouse (verb) to take up as a cause; to adopt. No politician in America today will openly espouse racism, although some behave and speak in racially prejudiced ways.

euphoric (adjective) a feeling of extreme happiness and well-being; elation. One often feels euphoric during the earliest days of a new love affair.euphoria (noun).

evanescent (adjective) vanishing like a vapor; fragile and transient. As she walked by, the evanescent fragrance of her perfume reached me for just an instant.

exacerbate (verb) to make worse or more severe. The roads in our town already have too much traffic; building a new shopping mall will exacerbate the problem.

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

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

exemplary (adjective) worthy to serve as a model. The Baldrige Award is given to a company with exemplary standards of excellence in products and service.exemplar (noun), exemplify (verb).

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

expansive (adjective) broad and large; speaking openly and freely. The LBJ Ranch is located on an expansive tract of land in Texas. Over dinner, she became expansive in describing her dreams for the future.

expedite (verb) to carry out promptly. As the flood waters rose, the governor ordered state agencies to expedite their rescue efforts.

expertise (noun) skill, mastery. The software company was eager to hire new graduates with programming expertise.

expiate (verb) to atone for. The president’s apology to the survivors of the notorious Tuskegee experiments was his attempt to expiate the nation’s guilt over their mistreatment.expiation (noun).

expropriate (verb) to seize ownership of. When the Communists came to power in China, they expropriated most businesses and turned them over to government-appointed managers.expropriation (noun).

extant (adjective) currently in existence. Of the seven ancient Wonders of the World, only the pyramids of Egypt are still extant.

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

extol (verb) to greatly praise. At the party convention, speaker after speaker rose to extol their candidate for the presidency.

extricate (verb) to free from a difficult or complicated situation. Much of the humor in the TV show I Love Lucy comes in watching Lucy try to extricate herself from the problems she creates by fibbing or trickery.extricable (adjective).

extrinsic (adjective) not an innate part or aspect of something; external. The high price of old baseball cards is due to extrinsic factors, such as the nostalgia felt by baseball fans for the stars of their youth, rather than the inherent beauty or value of the cards themselves.

exuberant (adjective) wildly joyous and enthusiastic. As the final seconds of the game ticked away, the fans of the winning team began an exuberant celebration.exuberance (noun).

facile (adjective) easy; shallow or superficial. The one-minute political commercial favors a candidate with facile opinions rather than serious, thoughtful solutions.facilitate (verb), facility (noun).

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

felicitous (adjective) pleasing, fortunate, apt. The sudden blossoming of the dogwood trees on the morning of Matt’s wedding seemed a felicitous sign of good luck.felicity (noun).

feral (adjective) wild. The garbage dump was inhabited by a pack of feral dogs that had escaped from their owners and become completely wild.

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

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

flamboyant (adjective) very colorful, showy, or elaborate. At Mardi Gras, partygoers compete to show off the most wild and flamboyant outfits.

florid (adjective) flowery, fancy; reddish. The grand ballroom was decorated in a florid style. Years of heavy drinking had given him a florid complexion.

foppish (adjective) describing a man who is foolishly vain about his dress or appearance. The foppish character of the 1890s wore bright-colored spats and a top hat; in the 1980s, he wore fancy suspenders and a shirt with a contrasting collar.fop (noun).

formidable (adjective) awesome, impressive, or frightening. According to his plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame, pitcher Tom Seaver turned the New York Mets “from lovable losers into formidable foes.”

fortuitous (adjective) lucky, fortunate. Although the mayor claimed credit for the falling crime rate, it was really caused by several fortuitous trends.

fractious (adjective) troublesome, unruly. Members of the British Parliament are often fractious, shouting insults and sarcastic questions during debates.

fragility (noun) the quality of being easy to break; delicacy, weakness. Because of their fragility, few stained-glass windows from the early Middle Ages have survived.fragile (adjective).

fraternize (verb) to associate with on friendly terms. Although baseball players aren’t supposed to fraternize with their opponents, players from opposing teams often chat before games.fraternization (noun).

frenetic (adjective) chaotic, frantic. The floor of the stock exchange, filled with traders shouting and gesturing, is a scene of frenetic activity.

frivolity (noun) lack of seriousness; levity. The frivolity of the Mardi Gras carnival is in contrast to the seriousness of the religious season of Lent that follows.frivolous (adjective).

frugal (adjective) spending little. With our last few dollars, we bought a frugal dinner: a loaf of bread and a piece of cheese.frugality (noun).

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

gargantuan (adjective) huge, colossal. The building of the Great Wall of China was one of the most gargantuan projects ever undertaken.

genial (adjective) friendly, gracious. A good host welcomes all visitors in a warm and genial fashion.

grandiose (adjective) overly large, pretentious, or showy. Among Hitler’s grandiose plans for Berlin was a gigantic building with a dome several times larger than any ever built.grandiosity (noun).

gratuitous (adjective) given freely or without cause. Since her opinion was not requested, her harsh criticism of his singing seemed a gratuitous insult.

gregarious (adjective) enjoying the company of others; sociable. Naturally gregarious, Emily is a popular member of several clubs and a sought-after lunch companion.

guileless (adjective) without cunning; innocent. Deborah’s guileless personality and complete honesty make it hard for her to survive in the harsh world of politics.

gullible (adjective) easily fooled. When the sweepstakes entry form arrived bearing the message, “You may be a winner!” my gullible neighbor tried to claim a prize.gullibility (noun).

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

haughty (adjective) overly proud. The fashion model strode down the runway, her hips thrust forward and a haughty expression, like a sneer, on her face.haughtiness (noun).

hedonist (noun) someone who lives mainly to pursue pleasure. Having inherited great wealth, he chose to live the life of a hedonist, traveling the world in luxury.hedonism (noun), hedonistic (adjective).

heinous (adjective) very evil, hateful. The massacre by Pol Pot of more than a million Cambodians is one of the twentieth century’s most heinous crimes.

hierarchy (noun) a ranking of people, things, or ideas from highest to lowest. A cabinet secretary ranks just below the president and vice president in the hierarchy of the executive branch.hierarchical (adjective).

hypocrisy (noun) a false pretense of virtue. When the sexual misconduct of the television preacher was exposed, his followers were shocked at his hypocrisy.hypocritical (adjective).

iconoclast (noun) someone who attacks traditional beliefs or institutions. Comedian Stephen Colbert enjoys his reputation as an iconoclast, though people in power often resent his satirical jabs.iconoclasm (noun), iconoclastic (adjective).

idiosyncratic (adjective) peculiar to an individual; eccentric. Cyndi Lauper sings pop music in an idiosyncratic style, mingling high-pitched whoops and squeals with throaty gurgles.idiosyncrasy (noun).

idolatry (noun) the worship of a person, thing, or institution as a god. In Communist China, Chairman Mao was the subject of idolatry; his picture was displayed everywhere, and millions of Chinese memorized his sayings.idolatrous (adjective).

impartial (adjective) fair, equal, unbiased. If a judge is not impartial, then all of her rulings are questionable.impartiality (noun).

impeccable (adjective) flawless. The crooks printed impeccable copies of the Super Bowl tickets, making it impossible to distinguish them from the real ones.

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

impinge (verb) to encroach upon, touch, or affect. You have a right to do whatever you want, so long as your actions don’t impinge on the rights of others.

implicit (adjective) understood without being openly expressed; implied. Although most clubs had no rules excluding minorities, many had an implicit understanding that no member of a minority group would be allowed to join.

impute (verb) to credit or give responsibility to; to attribute. Although Sarah’s comments embarrassed me, I don’t impute any ill will to her; I think she didn’t realize what she was saying.imputation (noun).

inarticulate (adjective) unable to speak or express oneself clearly and understandably. A skilled athlete may be an inarticulate public speaker, as demonstrated by many post-game interviews.

incisive (adjective) clear and direct expression. Franklin settled the debate with a few incisive remarks that summed up the issue perfectly.

incompatible (adjective) unable to exist together; conflicting. Many people hold seemingly incompatible beliefs: for example, supporting the death penalty while believing in the sacredness of human life.incompatibility (noun).

inconsequential (adjective) of little importance. When the flat screen TV was delivered, it was a different shade of gray than I expected, but the difference was inconsequential.

incontrovertible (adjective) impossible to question. The fact that Sheila’s fingerprints were the only ones on the murder weapon made her guilt seem incontrovertible.

incorrigible (adjective) impossible to manage or reform. Lou is an incorrigible trickster, constantly playing practical jokes no matter how much his friends complain.

incremental (adjective) increasing gradually by small amounts. Although the initial cost of the Medicare program was small, the incremental expenses have grown to be very large.increment (noun).

incriminate (verb) to give evidence of guilt. The fifth amendment to the Constitution says that no one is required to reveal information that would incriminate him in a crime.incriminating (adjective).

incumbent (noun) someone who occupies an office or position. It is often difficult for a challenger to win a seat in Congress from the incumbent.incumbency (noun), incumbent (adjective).

indeterminate (adjective) not definitely known. The college plans to enroll an indeterminate number of students; the size of the class will depend on the number of applicants and how many accept offers of admission.determine (verb).

indifferent (adjective) unconcerned, apathetic. The mayor’s small proposed budget for education suggests that he is indifferent to the needs of our schools.indifference (noun).

indistinct (adjective) unclear, uncertain. We could see boats on the water, but in the thick morning fog their shapes were indistinct.

indomitable (adjective) unable to be conquered or controlled. The world admired the indomitable spirit of Nelson Mandela; he remained courageous despite years of imprisonment.

induce (verb) to cause. The doctor prescribed a medicine that was supposed to induce a lowering of the blood pressure.induction (noun).

ineffable (adjective) difficult to describe or express. He gazed in silence at the sunrise over the Taj Mahal, his eyes reflecting an ineffable sense of wonder.

inevitable (adjective) unable to be avoided. Once the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, American involvement in World War II was inevitable.inevitability (noun).

inexorable (adjective) unable to be deterred; relentless. It’s difficult to imagine how the mythic character of Oedipus could have avoided his evil destiny; his fate appears inexorable.

ingenious (adjective) showing cleverness and originality. The Post-it^®note is an ingenious solution to a common problem—how to mark papers without spoiling them.ingenuity (noun).

inherent (adjective) naturally part of something. Compromise is inherent in democracy, since everyone cannot get his way.inhere (verb), inherence (noun).

innate (adjective) inborn, native. Not everyone who takes piano lessons becomes a fine musician, which shows that music requires innate talent as well as training.

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

inoculate (verb) to prevent a disease by infusing with a disease-causing organism. Pasteur found he could prevent rabies by inoculating patients with the virus that causes the disease.inoculation (noun).

insipid (adjective) flavorless, uninteresting. Some TV shows are so insipid that you can watch them while reading without missing a thing.insipidity (noun).

insolence (noun) an attitude or behavior that is bold and disrespectful. Some feel that news reporters who shout questions at the president are behaving with insolence.insolent (adjective).

insular (adjective) narrow or isolated in attitude or viewpoint. Americans are famous for their insular attitudes; they seem to think that nothing important has ever happened outside of their country.insularity (noun).

insurgency (noun) uprising, rebellion. The angry townspeople had begun an insurgency bordering on downright revolution; they were collecting arms, holding secret meetings, and refusing to pay certain taxes.insurgent (adjective).

integrity (noun) honesty, uprightness; soundness, completeness. “Honest Abe” Lincoln is considered a model of political integrity. Inspectors examined the building’s support beams and foundation and found no reason to doubt its structural integrity.

interlocutor (noun) someone taking part in a dialogue or conversation. Annoyed by the constant questions from someone in the crowd, the speaker challenged his interlocutor to offer a better plan.interlocutory (adjective).

interlude (noun) an interrupting period or performance. The two most dramatic scenes in King Lear are separated, strangely, by a comic interlude starring the king’s jester.

interminable (adjective) endless or seemingly endless. Addressing the United Nations, Castro announced, “We will be brief”—then delivered an interminable 4-hour speech.

intransigent (adjective) unwilling to compromise. Despite the mediator’s attempts to suggest a fair solution, the two parties were intransigent, forcing a showdown.intransigence (noun).

intrepid (adjective) fearless and resolute. Only an intrepid adventurer is willing to undertake the long and dangerous trip by sled to the South Pole.intrepidity (noun).

intrusive (adjective) forcing a way in without being welcome. The legal requirement of a search warrant is supposed to protect Americans from intrusive searches by the police.intrude (verb), intrusion (noun).

intuitive (adjective) known directly, without apparent thought or effort. An experienced chess player sometimes has an intuitive sense of the best move to make, even if she can’t explain it.intuit (verb), intuition (noun).

inundate (verb) to flood; to overwhelm. As soon as playoff tickets went on sale, eager fans inundated the box office with orders.

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

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

inveterate (adjective) persistent, habitual. It’s very difficult for an inveterate gambler to give up the pastime.inveteracy (noun).

invigorate (verb) to give energy to, to stimulate. As her car climbed the mountain road, Lucinda felt invigorated by the clear air and the cool breezes.

invincible (adjective) impossible to conquer or overcome. For three years at the height of his career, boxer Mike Tyson seemed invincible.

inviolable (adjective) impossible to attack or trespass upon. In the president’s remote hideaway at Camp David, guarded by the Secret Service, his privacy is, for once, inviolable.

irrational (adjective) unreasonable. Charles knew that his fear of insects was irrational, but he was unable to overcome it.irrationality (noun).

irresolute (adjective) uncertain how to act, indecisive. The line in the ice cream shop grew as the irresolute child wavered between her two favorite ice cream flavors before finally choosing one.irresolution (noun).

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

juxtapose (verb) to put side by side. Juxtaposing the two editorials revealed the enormous differences in the writers’ opinions.juxtaposition (noun).

languid (adjective) without energy; slow, sluggish, listless. The hot, humid weather of late August can make anyone feel languid.languish (verb), languor (noun).

latent (adjective) not currently obvious or active; hidden. Although he had committed only a single act of violence, the psychiatrist who examined him said he had probably always had a latent tendency toward violence.latency (noun).

laudatory (adjective) giving praise. The ads for the movie are filled with laudatory comments from critics.

lenient (adjective) mild, soothing, or forgiving. The judge was known for his lenient disposition; he rarely imposed long jail sentences on criminals.leniency (noun).

lethargic (adjective) lacking energy; sluggish. Visitors to the zoo are surprised that the lions appear so lethargic, but, in the wild, lions sleep up to 18 hours a day.lethargy (noun).

liability (noun) an obligation or debt; a weakness or drawback. The insurance company had a liability of millions of dollars after the town was destroyed by a tornado. Slowness afoot is a serious liability in an aspiring basketball player.liable (adjective).

lithe (adjective) flexible and graceful. The ballet dancer was almost as lithe as a cat.

longevity (noun) length of life; durability. The reduction in early deaths from infectious diseases is responsible for most of the increase in human longevity over the past two centuries.

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

lurid (adjective) shocking, gruesome. While the serial killer was on the loose, the newspapers were filled with lurid stories about his crimes.

malediction (noun) curse. In the fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty,” the princess is trapped in a death-like sleep because of the malediction uttered by an angry witch.

malevolence (noun) hatred, ill will. Critics say that Iago, the villain in Shakespeare’s Othello, seems to exhibit malevolence with no real cause.malevolent (adjective).

malinger (verb) to pretend incapacity or illness to avoid a duty or work. During the labor dispute, hundreds of employees malingered, forcing the company to slow production and costing it millions in profits.

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

mandate (noun) order, command. The new policy of using only organic produce in the restaurant went into effect as soon as the manager issued his mandate about it.mandate (verb), mandatory (adjective).

maturation (noun) the process of becoming fully grown or developed. Free markets in the former Communist nations are likely to operate smoothly only after a long period of maturation.mature (adjective and verb), maturity (noun).

mediate (verb) to act to reconcile differences between two parties. During the baseball strike, both the players and the club owners were willing to have the president mediate the dispute.mediation (noun).

mediocrity (noun) the state of being middling or poor in quality. The New York Mets finished in ninth place in 1968 but won the world’s championship in 1969, going from horrible to great in a single year and skipping mediocrity.mediocre (adjective).

mercurial (adjective) changing quickly and unpredictably. The mercurial personality of Robin Williams, with his many voices and styles, made him perfect for the role of the ever-changing genie in Aladdin.

meticulous (adjective) very careful with details. Repairing watches calls for a craftsperson who is patient and meticulous.

mimicry (noun) imitation, aping. The continued popularity of Elvis Presley has given rise to a class of entertainers who make a living through mimicry of “The King.”mimic (noun and verb).

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

mitigate (verb) to make less severe; to relieve. Wallace certainly committed the assault, but the verbal abuse he’d received helps to explain his behavior and somewhat mitigates his guilt.mitigation (noun).

modicum (noun) a small amount. The plan for your new business is well designed; with a modicum of luck, you should be successful.

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

morose (adjective) gloomy, sullen. After Chuck’s girlfriend dumped him, he lay around the house for a couple of days, feeling morose.

mundane (adjective) everyday, ordinary, commonplace. Moviegoers in the 1930s liked the glamorous films of Fred Astaire because they provided an escape from the mundane problems of life during the Great Depression.

munificent (adjective) very generous; lavish. Ted Turner’s billion-dollar donation to the United Nations was one of the most munificent acts of charity in history.munificence (noun).

mutable (adjective) likely to change. A politician’s reputation can be highly mutable, as seen in the case of Harry Truman—mocked during his lifetime, revered afterward.

narcissistic (adjective) showing excessive love for oneself; egoistic. Andre’s room, decorated with photos of himself and the sports trophies he has won, suggests a narcissistic personality.narcissism (noun).

nocturnal (adjective) of the night; active at night. Travelers on the Underground Railroad escaped from slavery to the North by a series of nocturnal flights. The eyes of nocturnal animals must be sensitive in dim light.

nonchalant (adjective) appearing to be unconcerned. Unlike the other players on the football team who pumped their fists when their names were announced, John ran on the field with a nonchalant wave.nonchalance (noun).

nondescript (adjective) without distinctive qualities; drab. The bank robber’s clothes were nondescript; none of the witnesses could remember their color or style.

notorious (adjective) famous, especially for evil actions or qualities. Warner Brothers produced a series of movies about notorious gangsters such as John Dillinger and Al Capone.notoriety (noun).

novice (noun) beginner. Lifting your head before you finish your swing is a typical mistake committed by the novice at golf.

nuance (noun) a subtle difference or quality. At first glance, Monet’s paintings of water lilies all look much alike, but the more you study them, the more you appreciate the nuances of color and shading that distinguish them.

nurture (verb) to nourish or help to grow. The money given by the National Endowment for the Arts helps nurture local arts organizations throughout the country.nurture (noun).

obdurate (adjective) unwilling to change; stubborn, inflexible. Despite the many pleas he received, the governor was obdurate in his refusal to grant clemency to the convicted murderer.

objective (adjective) dealing with observable facts rather than opinions or interpretations. When a legal case involves a shocking crime, it may be hard for a judge to remain objective in his rulings.

oblivious (adjective) unaware, unconscious. Karen practiced her oboe with complete concentration, oblivious to the noise and activity around her.oblivion (noun), obliviousness (noun).

obscure (adjective) little known; hard to understand. Mendel was an obscure monk until decades after his death, when his scientific work was finally discovered. Most people find the writings of James Joyce obscure; hence the popularity of books that explain his books.obscure (verb), obscurity (noun).

obsessive (adjective) haunted or preoccupied by an idea or feeling. His concern with cleanliness became so obsessive that he washed his hands twenty times every day.obsess (verb), obsession (noun).

obsolete (adjective) no longer current; old-fashioned. W. H. Auden said that his ideal landscape would include water wheels, wooden grain mills, and other forms of obsolete machinery.obsolescence (noun).

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

obtrusive (adjective) overly prominent. Philip should sing more softly; his bass is so obtrusive that the other singers can barely be heard.obtrude (verb), obtrusion (noun).

ominous (adjective) foretelling evil. Ominous black clouds gathered on the horizon, for a violent storm was fast approaching.omen (noun).

onerous (adjective) heavy, burdensome. The hero Hercules was ordered to clean the Augean Stables, one of several onerous tasks known as “the labors of Hercules.”onus (noun).

opportunistic (adjective) eagerly seizing chances as they arise. When Princess Diana died suddenly, opportunistic publishers quickly released books about her life and death.opportunism (noun).

opulent (adjective) rich, lavish. The mansion of newspaper tycoon Hearst is famous for its opulent decor.opulence (noun).

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

ostentatious (adjective) overly showy, pretentious. To show off his wealth, the millionaire threw an ostentatious party featuring a full orchestra, a famous singer, and tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of food.

ostracize (verb) to exclude from a group. In Biblical times, those who suffered from the disease of leprosy were ostracized and forced to live alone.ostracism (noun).

pallid (adjective) pale; dull. Working all day in the coal mine had given him a pallid complexion. The new musical offers only pallid entertainment: the music is lifeless, the acting dull, the story absurd.

parched (adjective) very dry; thirsty. After two months without rain, the crops were shriveled and parched by the sun.parch (verb).

pariah (noun) outcast. Accused of robbery, he became a pariah; his neighbors stopped 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 was strictly partisan: every member of the president’s party voted yes, and all others voted no.partisan (noun).

pathology (noun) disease or the study of disease; extreme abnormality. Some people believe that high rates of crime are symptoms of an underlying social pathology.pathological (adjective).

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

penitent (adjective) feeling sorry for past crimes or sins. Having grown penitent, he wrote a long letter of apology, asking forgiveness.

penurious (adjective) extremely frugal; stingy. Haunted by memories of poverty, he lived in penurious fashion, driving a twelve-year-old car and wearing only the cheapest clothes.penury (noun).

perceptive (adjective) quick to notice, observant. With his perceptive intelligence, Holmes was the first to notice the importance of this clue.perceptible (adjective), perception (noun).

perfidious (adjective) disloyal, treacherous. Although he was one of the most talented generals of the American Revolution, Benedict Arnold is remembered today as a perfidious betrayer of his country.perfidy (noun).

perfunctory (adjective) unenthusiastic, routine, or mechanical. When the play opened, the actors sparkled, but by the thousandth night their performance had become perfunctory.

permeate (verb) to spread through or penetrate. Little by little, the smell of gas from the broken pipe permeated the house.

persevere (adjective) to continue despite difficulties. Although several of her teammates dropped out of the marathon, Laura persevered.perseverance (noun).

perspicacity (noun) keenness of observation or understanding. Journalist Murray Kempton was famous for the perspicacity of his comments on social and political issues.perspicacious (adjective).

peruse (verb) to examine or study. Mary-Jo perused the contract carefully before she signed it.perusal (noun).

pervasive (adjective) spreading throughout. As news of the disaster reached the town, a pervasive sense of gloom could be felt.pervade (verb).

phlegmatic (adjective) sluggish and unemotional in temperament. It was surprising to see Tom, who is normally so phlegmatic, acting excited.

placate (verb) to soothe or appease. The waiter tried to placate the angry customer with the offer of a free dessert.placatory (adjective).

plastic (adjective) able to be molded or reshaped. Because it is highly plastic, clay is an easy material for beginning sculptors to use.

plausible (adjective) apparently believable. According to the judge, the defense attorney’s argument was both powerful and plausible.plausibility (noun).

polarize (verb) to separate into opposing groups or forces. For years, the abortion debate polarized the American people, with many people voicing extreme views and few trying to find a middle ground.polarization (noun).

portend (verb) to indicate a future event; to forebode. According to folklore, a red sky at dawn portends a day of stormy weather.

potentate (noun) a powerful ruler. The Tsar of Russia was one of the last hereditary potentates of Europe.

pragmatism (noun) a belief in approaching problems through practical rather than theoretical means. Roosevelt’s approach to the Great Depression was based on pragmatism: “Try something,” he said. “If it doesn’t work, try something else.”pragmatic (adjective).

preamble (noun) an introductory statement. The preamble to the Constitution begins with the famous words, “We the people of the United States of America…”

precocious (adjective) mature at an unusually early age. Picasso was so precocious as an artist that, at nine, he is said to have painted far better pictures than his teacher.precocity (noun).

predatory (adjective) living by killing and eating other animals; exploiting others for personal gain. The tiger is the largest predatory animal native to Asia. Microsoft has been accused of predatory business practices that prevent other software companies from competing with it.predation (noun), predator (noun).

predilection (noun) a liking or preference. To relax from his presidential duties, Kennedy had a predilection for spy novels featuring James Bond.

predominant (adjective) greatest in numbers or influence. Although hundreds of religions are practiced in India, the predominant faith is Hinduism.predominance (noun), predominate (verb).

prepossessing (adjective) attractive. Smart, lovely, and talented, she has all the prepossessing qualities that mark a potential movie star.

presumptuous (adjective) going beyond the limits of courtesy or appropriateness. The senator winced when the presumptuous young staffer addressed him as “Chuck.”presume (verb), presumption (noun).

pretentious (adjective) claiming excessive value or importance. For a shoe salesman to call himself a “Personal Foot Apparel Consultant” seems awfully pretentious.pretension (noun).

procrastinate (verb) to put off, to delay. If you habitually procrastinate, try this technique: never touch a piece of paper without either filing it, responding to it, or throwing it out.procrastination (noun).

profane (adjective) impure, unholy. It is inappropriate and rude to use profane language in a church.profane (verb), profanity (noun).

proficient (adjective) skillful, adept. A proficient artist, Louise quickly and accurately sketched the scene.proficiency (noun).

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

prolific (adjective) producing many offspring or creations. With more than 300 books to his credit, Isaac Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time.

prominence (noun) the quality of standing out; fame. Barack Obama rose to political prominence after his keynote address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention.prominent (adjective).

promulgate (verb) to make public, to declare. Lincoln signed the proclamation that freed the slaves in 1862, but he waited several months to promulgate it.

propagate (verb) to cause to grow; to foster. John Smithson’s will left his fortune for the founding of an institution to propagate knowledge, without saying whether that meant a university, a library, or a museum.propagation (noun).

propriety (noun) appropriateness. The principal questioned the propriety of the discussion the teacher had with her students about another instructor’s gambling addiction.

prosaic (adjective) everyday, ordinary, dull. “Paul’s Case” tells the story of a boy who longs to escape from the prosaic life of a clerk into a world of wealth, glamour, and beauty.

protagonist (noun) the main character in a story or play; the main supporter of an idea. Leopold Bloom is the protagonist of James Joyce’s great novel Ulysses.

provocative (adjective) likely to stimulate emotions, ideas, or controversy. The demonstrators began chanting obscenities, a provocative act that they hoped would cause the police to lose control.provoke (verb), provocation (noun).

proximity (noun) closeness, nearness. Neighborhood residents were angry over the proximity of the sewage plant to the local school.proximate (adjective).

prudent (adjective) wise, cautious, and practical. A prudent investor will avoid putting all of her money into any single investment.prudence (noun), prudential (adjective).

pugnacious (adjective) combative, bellicose, truculent; ready to fight. Ty Cobb, the pugnacious outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, got into more than his fair share of brawls, both on and off the field.pugnacity (noun).

punctilious (adjective) very concerned about proper forms of behavior and manners. A punctilious dresser like James would rather skip the party altogether than wear the wrong color tie.punctilio (noun).

pundit (noun) someone who offers opinions in an authoritative style. The Sunday morning talk shows are filled with pundits, each with his or her own theory about the week’s political news.

punitive (adjective) inflicting punishment. The jury awarded the plaintiff one million 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 the drinking water provided to everyone in the nearby towns.purification (noun).

quell (verb) to quiet, to suppress. It took a huge number of police to quell the rioting.

querulous (adjective) complaining, whining. The nursing home attendant needed a lot of patience to care for the three querulous, unpleasant residents on his floor.

rancorous (adjective) expressing bitter hostility. Many Americans are disgusted by recent political campaigns, which seem more rancorous than ever before.rancor (noun).

rationale (noun) an underlying reason or explanation. Looking at the sad faces of his employees, it was hard for the company president to explain the rationale for closing the business.

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

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

reclusive (adjective) withdrawn from society. During the last years of her life, actress Greta Garbo led a reclusive existence, rarely appearing in public.recluse (noun).

reconcile (verb) to make consistent or harmonious. FDR’s greatness as a leader can be seen in his ability to reconcile the demands and values of the varied groups that supported him.reconciliation (noun).

recrimination (noun) a retaliatory accusation. After the governor called his opponent unethical, his opponent angrily replied with recriminations that the governor was a hypocrite.recriminate (verb), recriminatory (adjective).

recuperate (verb) to regain health after an illness. Although she left the hospital two days after her operation, it took her a few weeks to fully recuperate.recuperation (noun), recuperative (adjective).

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

refurbish (verb) to fix up; renovate. It took three days’ work by a team of carpenters, painters, and decorators to completely refurbish the apartment.

refute (verb) to prove false. The company invited reporters to visit their plant in an effort to refute the charges of unsafe working conditions.refutation (noun).

relevance (noun) connection to the matter at hand; pertinence. Testimony in a criminal trial may be admitted only if it has clear relevance to the question of guilt or innocence.relevant (adjective).

remedial (adjective) serving to remedy, cure, or correct some condition. Affirmative action can be justified as a remedial step to help minority members overcome the effects of past discrimination.remediation (noun), remedy (verb).

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

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

renovate (verb) to renew by repairing or rebuilding. The television program This Old House shows how skilled craftspeople renovate houses.renovation (noun).

renunciation (noun) the act of rejecting or refusing something. King Edward VII’s renunciation of the British throne was caused by his desire to marry an American divorcee, something he couldn’t do as king.renounce (verb).

replete (adjective) filled abundantly. Graham’s book is replete with wonderful stories about the famous people she has known.

reprehensible (adjective) deserving criticism or censure. Although Pete Rose’s misdeeds were reprehensible, not all fans agree that he deserves to be excluded from the Baseball Hall of Fame.reprehend (verb), reprehension (noun).

repudiate (verb) to reject, to renounce. After it became known that Duke had been a leader of the Ku Klux Klan, most Republican leaders repudiated him.repudiation (noun).

reputable (adjective) having a good reputation; respected. Find a reputable auto mechanic by asking your friends for recommendations based on their own experiences.reputation (noun), repute (noun).

resilient (adjective) able to recover from difficulty. A professional athlete must be resilient, able to lose a game one day and come back the next with confidence and enthusiasm.resilience (noun).

resplendent (adjective) glowing, shining. In late December, midtown New York is resplendent with holiday lights and decorations.resplendence (noun).

responsive (adjective) reacting quickly and appropriately. The new director of the Internal Revenue Service has promised to make the agency more responsive to public complaints.respond (verb), response (noun).

restitution (noun) return of something to its original owner; repayment. Some Native American leaders are demanding that the U.S. government make restitution for the lands taken from them.

revere (verb) to admire deeply, to honor. Millions of people around the world revered Mother Teresa for her saintly generosity.reverence (noun), reverent (adjective).

rhapsodize (verb) to praise in a wildly emotional way. That critic is such a huge fan of Toni Morrison that she will surely rhapsodize over the writer’s next novel.rhapsodic (adjective).

sagacious (adjective) discerning, wise. Only a leader as sagacious as Nelson Mandela could have united South Africa so successfully and peacefully.sagacity (noun).

salvage (verb) to save from wreck or ruin. After the earthquake destroyed her home, she was able to salvage only a few of her belongings.salvage (noun), salvageable (adjective).

sanctimonious (adjective) showing false or excessive piety. The sanctimonious prayers of the TV preacher were interspersed with requests that the viewers send him money.sanctimony (noun).

scapegoat (noun) someone who bears the blame for others’ acts; someone hated for no apparent reason. Although Buckner’s error was only one reason the Red Sox lost, many fans made him the scapegoat, booing him mercilessly.

scrupulous (adjective) acting with extreme care; painstaking. Disney theme parks are famous for their scrupulous attention to small details.scruple (noun).

scrutinize (verb) to study closely. The lawyer scrutinized the contract, searching for any sentence that could pose a risk for her client.scrutiny (noun).

secrete (verb) to emit; to hide. Glands in the mouth secrete saliva, a liquid that helps in digestion. The jewel thieves secreted the necklace in a tin box buried underground.

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

sequential (adjective) arranged in an order or series. The courses for the chemistry major are sequential; you must take them in order, since each course builds on the previous ones.sequence (noun).

serendipity (noun) the act of lucky, accidental discoveries. Great inventions sometimes come about through deliberate research and hard work, sometimes through pure serendipity.serendipitous (adjective).

servile (adjective) like a slave or servant; submissive. The tycoon demanded that his underlings behave in a servile manner, agreeing quickly with everything he said.servility (noun).

simulated (adjective) imitating something else; artificial. High-quality simulated gems must be examined under a magnifying glass to be distinguished from real ones.simulate (verb), simulation (noun).

solace (verb) to comfort or console. There was little the rabbi could say to solace the husband after his wife’s death.solace (noun).

spontaneous (adjective) happening without plan. When the news of Kennedy’s assassination broke, people everywhere gathered in a spontaneous effort to share their shock and grief.spontaneity (noun).

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

squander (verb) to use up carelessly, to waste. Those who had made donations to the charity were outraged to learn that its director had squandered millions on fancy dinners and first-class travel.

stagnate (verb) to become stale through lack of movement or change. Having had no contact with the outside world for generations, Japan’s culture gradually stagnated.stagnant (adjective), stagnation (noun).

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

stimulus (noun) something that excites a response or provokes an action. The arrival of merchants and missionaries from the West provided a stimulus for change in Japanese society.stimulate (verb).

stoic (adjective) showing little feeling, even in response to pain or sorrow. A soldier must respond to the death of his comrades in stoic fashion, since the fighting will not stop for his grief.stoicism (noun).

strenuous (adjective) requiring energy and strength. Hiking in the foothills of the Rockies is fairly easy, but climbing the higher peaks can be strenuous.

submissive (adjective) accepting the will of others; humble, compliant. At the end of Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House, Nora leaves her husband and abandons the role of submissive housewife.

substantiate (verb) verified or supported by evidence. The charge that Nixon had helped to cover up crimes was substantiated by his comments about it on a series of audio tapes.substantiated (adjective), substantiation (noun).

sully (verb) to soil, stain, or defile. Nixon’s misdeeds as president did much to sully the reputation of the American government.

superficial (adjective) on the surface only; without depth or substance. Her wound was superficial and required only a light bandage. His superficial attractiveness hides the fact that his personality is lifeless and his mind is dull.superficiality (noun).

superfluous (adjective) more than is needed, excessive. Once you’ve won the debate, don’t keep talking; superfluous arguments will only bore and annoy the audience.

suppress (verb) to put down or restrain. As soon as the unrest began, thousands of helmeted police were sent into the streets to suppress the riots.suppression (noun).

surfeit (noun) an excess. Most American families have a surfeit of food and drink on Thanksgiving Day.surfeit (verb).

surreptitious (adjective) done in secret. Because Iraq avoided weapons inspections, many believed it had a surreptitious weapons development program.

surrogate (noun) a substitute. When the congressman died in office, his wife was named to serve the rest of his term as a surrogate.surrogate (adjective).

sustain (verb) to keep up, to continue; to support. Because of fatigue, he was unable to sustain the effort needed to finish the marathon.

tactile (adjective) relating to the sense of touch. The thick brush strokes and gobs of color give the paintings of van Gogh a strongly tactile quality.tactility (noun).

talisman (noun) an object supposed to have magical effects or qualities. Superstitious people sometimes carry a rabbit’s foot, a lucky coin, or some other talisman.

tangential (adjective) touching lightly; only slightly connected or related. Having enrolled in a class on African-American history, the students found the teacher’s stories about his travels in South America of only tangential interest.tangent (noun).

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

temerity (noun) boldness, rashness, excessive daring. Only someone who didn’t understand the danger would have the temerity to try to climb Everest without a guide.temerarious (adjective).

temperance (noun) moderation or restraint in feelings and behavior. Most professional athletes practice temperance in their personal habits; too much eating or drinking, they know, can harm their performance.temperate (adjective).

tenacious (adjective) clinging, sticky, or persistent. Tenacious in pursuit of her goal, she applied for the grant unsuccessfully four times before it was finally approved.tenacity (noun).

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

terminate (verb) to end, to close. The Olympic Games terminate with a grand ceremony attended by athletes from every participating country.terminal (noun), termination (noun).

terrestrial (adjective) of the Earth. The movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind tells the story of the first contact between beings from outer space and terrestrial humans.

therapeutic (adjective) curing or helping to cure. Hot-water spas were popular in the nineteenth century among the sickly, who believed that soaking in the water had therapeutic effects.therapy (noun).

timorous (adjective) fearful, timid. The cowardly lion approached the throne of the wizard with a timorous look on his face.

toady (noun) someone who flatters a superior in hopes of gaining favor; a sycophant. “I can’t stand a toady!” declared the movie mogul. “Give me someone who’ll tell me the truth—even if it costs him his job!”toady (verb).

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

toxin (noun) poison. DDT is a powerful toxin once used to kill insects but now banned in the United States because of the risk it poses to human life.toxic (adjective).

tranquillity (noun) freedom from disturbance or turmoil; calm. She moved from New York City to rural Vermont seeking the tranquillity of country life.tranquil (adjective).

transgress (verb) to go past limits; to violate. No one could fathom why the honor student transgressed by shoplifting hundreds of dollars of merchandise from her favorite clothing store.transgression (noun).

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

transitory (adjective) quickly passing. Public moods tend to be transitory; people may be anxious and angry one month but relatively content and optimistic the next.transition (noun).

translucent (adjective) letting some light pass through. Panels of translucent glass let daylight into the room while maintaining privacy.

transmute (verb) to change in form or substance. In the Middle Ages, the alchemists tried to discover ways to transmute metals such as iron into gold.transmutation (noun).

treacherous (adjective) untrustworthy or disloyal; dangerous or unreliable. Nazi Germany proved to be a treacherous ally, first signing a peace pact with the Soviet Union, then invading. Be careful crossing the rope bridge; parts are badly frayed and treacherous.treachery (noun).

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

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

truculent (adjective) aggressive, hostile, belligerent. Hitler’s truculent behavior in demanding more territory for Germany made it clear that war was inevitable.truculence (noun).

truncate (verb) to cut off. The poor copying job truncated the playwright’s manuscript: the last page ended in the middle of a scene, halfway through the first act.

turbulent (adjective) agitated or disturbed. The night before the championship match, Martina was unable to sleep, her mind turbulent with fears and hopes.turbulence (noun).

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

unpalatable (adjective) distasteful, unpleasant. Although I agree with the candidate on many issues, I can’t vote for her, because I find her position on capital punishment unpalatable.

unparalleled (adjective) with no equal; unique. Tiger Woods’s victory in the Masters golf tournament by a full twelve strokes was an unparalleled accomplishment.

unstinting (adjective) giving freely and generously. Eleanor Roosevelt was much admired for her unstinting efforts on behalf of the poor.

untenable (adjective) impossible to defend. The theory that this painting is a genuine van Gogh became untenable when the artist who actually painted it came forth.

untimely (adjective) out of the natural or proper time. The untimely death of a youthful Princess Diana seemed far more tragic than Mother Teresa’s death of old age.

unyielding (adjective) firm, resolute, obdurate. Despite criticism, Cuomo was unyielding in his opposition to capital punishment; he vetoed several death penalty bills as governor.

usurper (noun) someone who takes a place or possession without the right to do so. Kennedy’s most devoted followers tended to regard later presidents as usurpers, holding the office they felt he or his brothers should have held.usurp (verb), usurpation (noun).

utilitarian (adjective) purely of practical benefit. The design of the Model T car was simple and utilitarian, lacking the luxuries found in later models.

utopia (noun) an imaginary, perfect society. Those who founded the Oneida community dreamed that it could be a kind of utopia—a prosperous state with complete freedom and harmony.utopian (adjective).

validate (verb) to officially approve or confirm. The election of the president is validated when the members of the Electoral College meet to confirm the choice of the voters.valid (adjective), validity (noun).

variegated (adjective) spotted with different colors. The brilliant, variegated appearance of butterflies makes them popular among collectors.variegation (noun).

venerate (verb) to admire or honor. In Communist China, Chairman Mao Zedong was venerated as an almost god-like figure.venerable (adjective), veneration (noun).

verdant (adjective) green with plant life. Southern England is famous for its verdant countryside filled with gardens and small farms.verdancy (noun).

vestige (noun) a trace or remainder. Today’s tiny Sherwood Forest is the last vestige of a woodland that once covered most of England.vestigial (adjective).

vex (verb) to irritate, annoy, or trouble. It vexes me that she never helps with any chores around the house.vexation (noun).

vicarious (adjective) experienced through someone else’s actions by way of the imagination. Great literature broadens our minds by giving us vicarious participation in the lives of other people.

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

virtuoso (noun) someone very skilled, especially in an art. Vladimir Horowitz was one of the great piano virtuosos of the twentieth century.virtuosity (noun).

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

volatile (adjective) quickly changing; fleeting, transitory; prone to violence. Public opinion is notoriously volatile; a politician who is very popular one month may be voted out of office the next.volatility (noun).

whimsical (adjective) based on a capricious, carefree, or sudden impulse or idea; fanciful, playful. Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs is filled with the kind of goofy jokes that are typical of his whimsical sense of humor.whim (noun).

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