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| TORPOR |
:Extreme mental and physical sluggishness
Ex. After surgery, the patient experienced TORPOR until the anesthesia wore off. |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| TACITURN |
:Silent, not talkative
Ex. The clerk's TACITURN nature earned him the nickname, "Silent Bob." |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| TACIT |
:Done without using words
Ex. Although not a word had been said, everyone in the room knew that a TACIT agreement had been made about which course of action to take. |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| STOLID |
:Unemotional; lacking sensitivity
Ex. The prisoner appeared STOLID and unaffected by the judge's harsh sentence |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| SPECIOUS |
:Deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
Ex. The student's SPECIOUS excuse for being late sounded legitimate, but was proved otherwise when his teacher called his home. |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| SOPORIFIC |
:Causing sleep or lethargy
Ex. The movie proved to be SOPORIFIC that soon loud snores were heard throughout the theatre. |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| SATIATE |
:To satisfy fully or overindulge
Ex. His desire for power was so great that nothing less than complete control of the country could SATIATE it. |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| RETICENT |
:Silent, reserved
Ex. Physically small and RETICENT in her speech, Joan Didion often went unnoticed by those upon whom she went reporting. |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| RAREFY |
:To make thinner or sparser
Ex. Since the atmosphere RAREFIES as altitudes increase, the air at the top of very tall mountains is too thin to breathe. |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| QUIESCENT |
:Motionless
Ex. Many animals are QUIESCENT over the winter months, minimizing activity in order to conserve energy. |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| PROPITIATE |
:To conciliate; to appease
Ex. The management PROPITIATED the irate union by agreeing to raise wages for its members. |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| PREVARICATE |
:To lie or deviate from the truth
Ex. Rather than admit that he had overslept again, the employee PREVARICATED and claimed that heavy traffic had prevented him from arriving at work on time. |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| PRECIPITATE |
:To throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation
Ex. Upon learning that the couple married after knowing each other only two months, friends and family members expected such a PRECIPITATE marriage to end in divorce. |
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theresacrnavarro Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:15:38 GMT |
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| OCCLUDE |
:To stop up; to prevent the passage of
Ex. A shadow is thrown across the Earth's surface during a solar exlipse, when the light from the sun is OCCLUDED by the moon |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:50:03 GMT |
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| PERFIDIOUS |
:Willing to betray one's trust
Ex. The actress's PERFIDIOUS companion revealed all of her intimate secrets to the gossip columnist |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:50:03 GMT |
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| MOLLIFY |
:To calm or make less severe
Ex. Their argument was so intense that it was difficult to believe any compromise would MOLLIFY them |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:50:03 GMT |
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| OBSEQUIOUS |
:Overly submissive and eager to please
Ex. The OBSEQUIOUS new associate made sure to compliment her supervisor's tie and agree with him on every issue |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:50:03 GMT |
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| OSTENTATION |
:Excessive showiness
Ex. The OSTENTATION of the Sun King's court is evident in the lavish decoration and luxuriousness of his palace at Versailles |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:47:34 GMT |
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| OPPROBRIUM |
:Public disgrace
Ex. After the scheme to embezzle the elderly was made public, the treasurer resigned in utter OPPROBRIUM |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:47:34 GMT |
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| OBVIATE |
:To prevent; to make unnecessary
Ex. The river was shallow enough to wade across at many points, which OBVIATED the need for a bridge |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:47:34 GMT |
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| OBDURATE |
:Hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion
Ex. The President was completely OBDURATE onthe issue, and no amount of persuasion would change his mind |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:47:34 GMT |
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| LACONIC |
:Using few words
Ex. She was a LACONIC poet who built her reputation on using words as sparingly as possible |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:38:43 GMT |
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| IRASCIBLE |
:Easily made angry
Ex. Atila the Hun IRASCIBLE and violent nature made all who dealt with him fear for their lives |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:38:43 GMT |
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| INTRANSIGENT |
:Uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
Ex. The professor was INTRANSIGENT on the deadline, insisting that everyone turn the assignment in at the same time |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:38:43 GMT |
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| INSIPID |
:Lacking interest or flavor
Ex. The critic claimed that the painting was INSIPID, containing no interesting qualities at all |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:38:43 GMT |
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| INNOCUOUS |
:Harmless
Ex. Some snakes are poisonous, but most species are INNOCUOUS and pose no danger to humans |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:35:51 GMT |
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| INIMICAL |
:Hostile, unfriendly
Ex. Even though the children had grown up together they were INIMICAL to each other at school |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:35:51 GMT |
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| INCHOATE |
:Not fully formed; disorganized
Ex. The ideas expressed in Nietzsche's mature work also appear in an INCHOATE form in his earliest writings |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:35:51 GMT |
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| IMPERTURBABLE |
:Not capable of being disturbed
Ex. The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that she seemed IMPERTURBABLE, even when faced wit the wildest tantrums |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:35:51 GMT |
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| ICONOCLAST |
:One who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
Ex. His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an ICONOCLAST |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:32:33 GMT |
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| GARRULOUS |
:Tending to talk a lot
Ex. The GARRULOUS parakeet distracted its owner with its continuous talking |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:32:33 GMT |
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| FOMENT |
:To arouse or incite
Ex. The protesters tried to FORMENT feelign against the war through their speeches and demonstrations |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:32:33 GMT |
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| FLORID |
:Excessively decorate or embellished
Ex. The palace had been decorated in an excessively FLORID style; every surface had been carved and gilded |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:32:33 GMT |
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| EXIGENT |
:Urgent, requiring immediate action
Ex. THe patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was EXIGENT to stop the source of the bleeding |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:29:37 GMT |
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| ESOTERIC |
:Known or understood by only a few
Ex. Only a handful of experts are knowledgable about the ESOTERIC world of particle physics |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:29:37 GMT |
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| ERUDITE |
:Learned, scholarly, bookish
Ex. The annual meeting of philosophy professors was a gathering of the most ERUDITE, well-published individuals in the field |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:29:37 GMT |
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| ENERVATE |
:To reduce in strength
Ex. The guerrillas hoped that a series of suprise attacks would ENERVATE the regular army |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:29:37 GMT |
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| DISSEMBLE |
:To present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character
Ex. The villain could DISSEMBLE to the police no longer - he admitted the deed |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:27:05 GMT |
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| DISABUSE |
:To set right; to free from error
Ex. Galileo's observations DISABUSED scholars of the notion that the Sun revolved around the Earth |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:27:05 GMT |
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| DILETTANTE |
:Someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
Ex. Jerry's friends were such DILETTANTES that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:27:05 GMT |
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| DILATORy |
:Intended to delay
Ex. The congressman used DILATORY measures to delay the passage of the bill |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:27:05 GMT |
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| DESULTORY |
:Jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
Ex. Diane had a DESULTORY academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in three years |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:24:50 GMT |
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| DESUCCATE |
:To dry out thoroughly
Ex. After a few weeks of lying on the desert's baking sands, the cow's carcass became completely DESSICATED |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:24:50 GMT |
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| AUSTERE |
:Severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
Ex. The lack of decoration makes Zen temples seem AUSTERE to the untrained eye |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:24:50 GMT |
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| ATTENUATE |
:To reduce in force or degree; to weaken
Ex. The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of government to change laws at will |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:24:50 GMT |
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| ASSUAGE |
: To make something unpleasant less severe
Ex. Serena used aspirin to ASSUAGE her pounding headache |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:21:30 GMT |
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| AGGRANDIZE |
:To increase in power, influence, and reputation
Ex. The supervisor sought to AGGRANDIZE himself by claiming that the achievements of his staff were actually his own |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:21:30 GMT |
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| ABSCOND |
:To leave secretly
Ex. The patron ABSCONDED from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:21:30 GMT |
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| ABATE |
:To reduce in amount, degree, or severity
Ex. As the hurricane's force ABATED, the winds dropped and the sea became calm |
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theresacrnavarro Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:21:30 GMT |
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