A Dictionary of Difficult Words

A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS NORMAN LEWIS

1.

abash cause to be embarrassed 2. abate become less in amount or intensity intensity 3. abdicate give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors 4. aberration a state or condition markedly different from the norm 5. abhor find repugnant 6. abect of the most contemptible kind !. abnegate deny or renounce ". abortive failing to accomplish an intended result #. abridge lessen, diminish, or curtail 1$. absolute perfect or complete or pure 11. absolve grant remission of a sin to 12. abstinent self%restraining 13. abstract e&isting only in the mind 14. abstruse difficult to penetrate 15. abysmal resembling an abyss in depth' so deep as to be immeasurable 16. accolade a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction 1!. accost speak to someone 1". acerbic sour or bitter in taste 1#. ac(uiesce to agree or e&press agreement 2$. acrid strong and sharp, as a taste 21. acrimonious marked by strong resentment or cynicism 22. acumen shrewdness shown by keen insight 23. acute ending in a sharp point 24. adage a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact 25. adamant very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a ge m 26. address


the place where a person or organi)ation organi)ation can be found f ound 2!. adherent someone who believes and helps to spread a doctrine 2". admonish scold or reprimand' take to task 2#. adroit (uick or skillful or adept in action or thought 3$. adulation servile flattery' e&aggerated and hypocritical praise 31. adulterate make impure by adding a foreign f oreign or inferior substance 32. adverse in an opposing direction 33. aesthetic characteri)ed by an appreciation of beauty or good taste 34. affable diffusing warmth and friendliness 35. affectation a deliberate pretense or e&aggerated display 36. affinity a natural attraction or feeling of kinship 3!. affluent having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value 3". agenda a list of matters to be taken up, as at a meeting 3#. aggregate a sum total of man y heterogeneous things taken together 4$. agnostic a person who claims the e&istence of *od is unknowable 41. agrarian relating to rural matters 42. alacrity liveliness and eagerness 43. allege report or maintain 44. alleviate provide physical relief, relief, as from pain 45. allocate distribute according to a plan or set apart for a purpose 46. alloy a mi&ture containing two or more metallic elements 4!. allusion passing reference or indirect indirect mention 4". aloof remote in manner 4#. altruism the (uality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others 5$. ambience the atmosphere of an environment 51. ambiguous having more than one possible meaning


the place where a person or organi)ation organi)ation can be found f ound 2!. adherent someone who believes and helps to spread a doctrine 2". admonish scold or reprimand' take to task 2#. adroit (uick or skillful or adept in action or thought 3$. adulation servile flattery' e&aggerated and hypocritical praise 31. adulterate make impure by adding a foreign f oreign or inferior substance 32. adverse in an opposing direction 33. aesthetic characteri)ed by an appreciation of beauty or good taste 34. affable diffusing warmth and friendliness 35. affectation a deliberate pretense or e&aggerated display 36. affinity a natural attraction or feeling of kinship 3!. affluent having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value 3". agenda a list of matters to be taken up, as at a meeting 3#. aggregate a sum total of man y heterogeneous things taken together 4$. agnostic a person who claims the e&istence of *od is unknowable 41. agrarian relating to rural matters 42. alacrity liveliness and eagerness 43. allege report or maintain 44. alleviate provide physical relief, relief, as from pain 45. allocate distribute according to a plan or set apart for a purpose 46. alloy a mi&ture containing two or more metallic elements 4!. allusion passing reference or indirect indirect mention 4". aloof remote in manner 4#. altruism the (uality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others 5$. ambience the atmosphere of an environment 51. ambiguous having more than one possible meaning


52.

ambivalent uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow 53. ameliorate to make better 54. amenable disposed or willing to comply 55. amenity pleasantness resulting resulting from agreeable conditions conditions 56. amiable diffusing warmth and friendliness 5!. amnesty a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense 5". amorous inclined toward or displaying love 5#. amorphous having no definite form or distinct shape 6$. anachronism something located at a time when it could not have e&isted 61. analogy drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity 62. anarchy a state of lawlessness and disorder 63. anecdote short account of an incident 64. anguish e&treme distress of body or mind 65. animosity a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility 66. anomaly deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule 6!. antecedent a preceding occurrence or cause or event 6". antipathy a feeling of intense dislike 6#. antithesis e&act opposite !$. apartheid a social policy of racial segregation !1. apathy an absence of emotion or enthusiasm !2. aphorism a short pithy instructive saying !3. apocalypse a cosmic cataclysm in which *od destroys the powers of evil !4. apocryphal being of (uestionable (uestionable authenticity !5. apotheosis model of e&cellence or perfection of a kind !6. appease make peace with !!. appreciate


be fully aware of' reali)e fully !". apprehensive in fear or dread of possible evil or harm !#. approbation official approval "$. appropriate suitable for a particular person, place, or situation "1. aptitude inherent ability "2. arbiter someone chosen to udge and decide a disputed issue "3. arbitrary based on or subect to individual discretion or preference "4. arcane re(uiring secret or mysterious knowledge "5. archaic so e&tremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period "6. archetype something that serves as a model "!. ardent characteri)ed by intense emotion "". arduous characteri)ed by effort to the point of e&haustion "#. aristocratic belonging to or characteristic of the nobility #$. artful not straightforward or candid #1. artifice a deceptive maneuver, especially to avoid capture #2. ascendancy the state when one person or group has power over another #3. ascetic someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline #4. assiduous marked by care and persistent effort #5. assimilate make alike #6. assuage provide physical relief, as from pain #!. astute marked by practical hardheaded intelligence #". attrition the act of rubbing together ##. audacity aggressive boldness or unmitigated effrontery 1$$. augment enlarge or increase 1$1. auspicious auguring favorable circumstances and good luck 1$2. austere of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor


1$3. autocratic characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule 1$4. autonomous e&isting as an independent entity 1$5. avarice reprehensible ac(uisitiveness' insatiable desire for wealth 1$6. avow to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true 1$!. avuncular being or relating to an uncle 1$". awry turned or twisted to one side 1$#. a&iom a proposition that is not susceptible of proof or disproof 11$. banal repeated too often' overfamiliar through overuse 111. bane something causing misery or death 112. bastion proecting part of a rampart or other fortification 113. beget generate children 114. belabor beat soundly 115. beleaguer annoy persistently 116. belie be in contradiction with 11!. belittle cause to seem less serious 11". belligerent characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight 11#. bemused perple&ed by many conflicting situations or statements 12$. benefactor a person who helps people or institutions 121. benevolent showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding 122. benign kindness of disposition or manner 123. be(uest a gift of personal property by will 124. bereft sorrowful through loss or deprivation 125. beset assail or attack on all sides 126. blasphemy profane language 12!. blatant without any attempt at concealment' completely obvious 12". blight


any plant disease resulting in withering without rotting 12#. blithe carefree and happy and lighthearted 13$. bourgeois being of the property%owning class 131. bovine any of various wild or domestic cattle 132. brevity the attribute of being brief or fleeting 133. broach bring up a topic for discussion 134. bucolic devoted to raising sheep or cattle 135. bureaucracy a government administered primarily by nonelective officials 136. burgeon grow and flourish 13!. burles(ue a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor 13". cacophony loud confusing disagreeable sounds 13#. cadence the accent in a metrical foot of verse 14$. caole influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering 141. callow young and ine&perienced 142. candor the (uality of being honest and straightforward 143. capitalism an economic system based on private ownership of assets 144. capitulate surrender under agreed conditions 145. capricious determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity 146. caricature a representation of a person e&aggerated for comic effect 14!. castigate inflict severe punishment on 14". catalyst substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction 14#. categorical relating to or included in a class or classes 15$. catharsis purging the body to stimulate evacuation of the bowels 151. catholic free from provincial preudices or attachments 152. caustic capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action 153. celibacy abstaining from se&ual relations


154. censure harsh criticism or disapproval 155. cerebral of or relating to the brain 156. chagrin strong feelings of embarrassment 15!. charisma personal attractiveness that enables you to influence others 15". charlatan a flamboyant deceiver 15#. chasm a deep opening in the earth+s surface 16$. chastise censure severely 161. chicanery the use of tricks to deceive someone 162. chimera a grotes(ue product of the imagination 163. choleric characteri)ed by anger 164. chronic long%lasting or characteri)ed by long suffering 165. chronicle a record or narrative description of past events 166. circuitous deviating from a straight course 16!. circumlocution an indirect way of e&pressing something 16". circumscribe to draw a geometric figure around another figure 16#. circumspect heedful of potential conse(uences 1!$. circumvent surround so as to force to give up 1!1. civil of or occurring between or among citi)ens of the state 1!2. clandestine conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods 1!3. clemency leniency and compassion shown toward offenders 1!4. cliche a trite or obvious remark 1!5. cli(ue an e&clusive circle of people with a common purpose 1!6. coalesce fuse or cause to grow together 1!!. coerce to cause to do through pressure or necessity 1!". cogent powerfully persuasive 1!#. cognitive


relating to or involving the mental process of knowing 1"$. cogni)ant having or showing knowledge or understanding or reali)ation 1"1. coherent marked by an orderly and consistent relation of parts 1"2. collo(uial characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation 1"3. collusion secret agreement 1"4. commensurate corresponding in si)e or degree or e&tent 1"5. compelling driving or forcing 1"6. compendium a publication containing a variety of works 1"!. complacent contented to a fault with oneself or one+s actions 1"". complement something added to embellish or make perfect 1"#. complicity guilt as a confederate in a crime or offense 1#$. comprehensive including all or everything 1#1. comprise be composed of 1#2. conciliatory making or willing to make concessions 1#3. concise e&pressing much in few words 1#4. concord a harmonious state of things and of their properties 1#5. concurrent occurring or operating at the same time 1#6. condescend behave in a patroni)ing manner 1#!. condone e&cuse, overlook, or make allowances for 1#". conducive tending to bring about' being partly responsible for 1##. confluence a place where things merge or flow together 2$$. congenial suitable to your needs 2$1. congenital present at birth but not necessarily hereditary 2$2. conecture to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds 2$3. conure summon into action or bring into e&istence 2$4. connoisseur an e&pert able to appreciate a field


2$5. consecrate give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause 2$6. consensus agreement in the udgment reached by a group as a whole 2$!. consonant a speech sound that is not a vowel 2$". construe make sense of' assign a meaning to 2$#. consummate having or revealing supreme mastery or skill 21$. contentious showing an inclination to disagree 211. contiguous having a common boundary or edge 212. contingent determined by conditions or circumstances that follow 213. contrite feeling or e&pressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses 214. contrived showing effects of planning or manipulation 215. conventional following accepted customs and proprieties 216. convivial occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company 21!. copious large in number or (uantity 21". corollary an inference following from the proof of another proposition 21#. corroborate give evidence for 22$. cosmopolitan composed of people from many parts of the world 221. countenance the appearance conveyed by a person+s face 222. coup a sudden and decisive change of government by force 223. covenant an agreement between *od and his people 224. covert secret or hidden 225. covet wish, long, or crave for 226. credulous showing a lack of udgment or e&perience 22!. criterion the ideal in terms of which something can be udged 22". cryptic having a secret or hidden meaning 22#. culinary of or relating to or used in cooking 23$. culminate


end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage 231. culpable deserving blame or censure as being wrong or inurious 232. cursory hasty and without attention to detail' not thorough 233. curtail terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end 234. cynic someone who is critical of the motives of others 235. daunt cause to lose courage 236. dearth an insufficient (uantity or number 23!. debacle a sudden and violent collapse 23". debauchery a wild gathering involving drinking and promiscuity 23#. debilitate make weak 24$. decadent marked by e&cessive self%indulgence and moral decay 241. decimate kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in oman armies 242. decorous characteri)ed by propriety and dignity and good taste 243. deduce reason from the general to the particular 244. defame charge falsely or with malicious intent 245. deference courteous regard for people+s feelings 246. definitive clearly defined or formulated 24!. degenerate a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable 24". deleterious harmful to living things 24#. delineate represented accurately or precisely 25$. delude be dishonest with 251. deluge a heavy rain 252. demagogue a leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions 253. deni)en a plant or animal naturali)ed in a region 254. depravity moral perversion' impairment of virtue and moral principles 255. deprecate e&press strong disapproval of' deplore


256. deride treat or speak of with contempt 25!. derogatory e&pressive of low opinion 25". desiccate lacking vitality or spirit' lifeless 25#. despondent without or almost without hope 26$. despot a cruel and oppressive dictator 261. destitute poor enough to need help from others 262. desultory marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose 263. dialectical relating to reasoning by the e&change of logical arguments 264. dictum an authoritative declaration 265. didactic instructive, especially e&cessively 266. diffident showing modest reserve 26!. digress wander from a direct or straight course 26". dilettante an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention 26#. discern detect with the senses 2!$. discreet marked by prudence or modesty and wise self%restraint 2!1. discrete constituting a separate entity or part 2!2. discriminate marked by the ability to see or make fine distinctions 2!3. disdain lack of respect accompanied by a f eeling of intense dislike 2!4. disinterested unaffected by concern for one+s own welfare 2!5. disparage e&press a negative opinion of 2!6. disparate fundamentally different or distinct in (uality or kind 2!!. disseminate cause to become widely known 2!". dissipate to cause to separate and go in different directions 2!#. dissolution separation into component parts 2"$. distend cause to e&pand as it by internal pressure 2"1. distinguish


mark as different 2"2. docile easily handled or managed 2"3. doctrinaire a stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions 2"4. dogmatic pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative 2"5. domestic of or relating to the home 2"6. dormant inactive but capable of becoming active 2"!. dubious fraught with uncertainty or doubt 2"". duplicity acting in bad faith 2"#. ebullient oyously unrestrained 2#$. eccentric conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual 2#1. eclectic selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas 2#2. edify make understand 2#3. efface remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing 2#4. effusion an unrestrained e&pression of emotion 2#5. egalitarian favoring social e(uality 2#6. egocentric limited to or caring only about yourself and your own needs 2#!. egoist a conceited and self%centered person 2#". egregious conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible 2##. elicit call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response 3$$. elliptical rounded like an egg 3$1. elusive skillful at evading capture 3$2. emigrate leave one+s country of residence for a new one 3$3. eminent standing above others in (uality or position 3$4. empirical derived from e&periment and observation rather than theory 3$5. emulate strive to e(ual or match, especially by imitating 3$6. encroach advance beyond the usual limit


3$!. endemic native to or confined to a certain region 3$". enervate weaken mentally or morally 3$#. enfranchise grant freedom to, as from slavery or servitude 31$. engender make children 311. enigma something that baffles understanding and cannot be e&plained 312. enormity the (uality of e&treme wickedness 313. ephemeral anything short%lived, as an insect that lives only for a day 314. epigram a witty saying 315. epitome a standard or typical e&le 316. e(uanimity steadiness of mind under stress 31!. e(uitable fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience 31". e(uivocal open to two or more interpretations 31#. erudite having or showing profound knowledge 32$. esoteric understandable only by an enlightened inner circle 321. espouse choose and follow 322. ethereal characteri)ed by lightness and insubstantiality 323. euphemism an inoffensive e&pression substituted for an offensive one 324. evanescent tending to vanish like vapor 325. e&acerbate make worse 326. e&acting severe and unremitting in making demands 32!. e&alt praise, glorify, or honor 32". e&asperate make furious 32#. e&emplify be characteristic of 33$. e&haustive performed comprehensively and completely 331. e&hort spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts 332. e&igency


a pressing or urgent situation 333. e&istential relating to or dealing with the state of being 334. e&onerate pronounce not guilty of criminal charges 335. e&patriate a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country 336. e&pedient appropriate to a purpose 33!. e&pedite process fast and efficiently 33". e&plicit precisely and clearly e&pressed or readily observable 33#. e&tol praise, glorify, or honor 34$. e&traneous not belonging to that in which it is contained 341. e&trapolate draw from specific cases for more general cases 342. e&tricate release from entanglement of difficulty 343. e&trovert a person directed toward others as opposed to the self 344. e&ult feel e&treme happiness or elation 345. fabrication the act of making a product from raw materials 346. facetious cleverly amusing in tone 34!. facile arrived at without due care or effort' lacking depth 34". faction a dissenting cli(ue 34#. farcical broadly or e&travagantly humorous 35$. fastidious giving careful attention to detail 351. fatalist someone who feels powerless to change his or her destiny 352. fatuous devoid of intelligence 353. fauna all the animal life in a particular region or period 354. fecund capable of producing offspring or vegetation 355. felicity pleasing and appropriate manner or style 356. fervor feelings of great warmth and intensity 35!. fetter a shackle for the ankles or feet


35". fidelity the (uality of being faithful 35#. figurative not literal 36$. finesse subtly skillful handling of a situation 361. flagrant conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible 362. flaunt display proudly 363. flout treat with contemptuous disregard 364. foible a minor weakness or peculiarity in someone+s character 365. foment try to stir up 366. forbear a person from whom you are descended 36!. forgo do without or cease to hold or adhere to 36". forsake leave someone who needs or counts on you' leave in the lurch 36#. fortuitous occurring by happy chance 3!$. founder a person who establishes some institution 3!1. fraternal like or characteristic of or befitting a brother 3!2. frenetic e&cessively agitated 3!3. frugal avoiding waste 3!4. furtive secret and sly or sordid 3!5. futile producing no result or effect 3!6. garrulous full of trivial conversation 3!!. genre a kind of literary or artistic work 3!". genteel marked by refinement in taste and manners 3!#. gesticulate show, e&press or direct through movement 3"$. glut supply with an e&cess of 3"1. grandilo(uent lofty in style 3"2. grandiose impressive because of unnecessary largeness or grandeur 3"3. gratuitous


unnecessary and unwarranted 3"4. gravity the force of attraction between all masses in the universe 3"5. gregarious temperamentally seeking and enoying the company of others 3"6. guile shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception 3"!. hackneyed repeated too often' overfamiliar through overuse 3"". hapless deserving or inciting pity 3"#. harbinger something indicating the approach of something or someone 3#$. hedonism an ethical system that values the pursuit of pleasure 3#1. hegemony the dominance or leadership of one social group over others 3#2. heresy a belief that reects the orthodo& tenets of a religion 3#3. hermetic completely sealed or airtight 3#4. heyday the period of greatest prosperity or productivity 3#5. hiatus an interruption in the intensity or amount of something 3#6. hierarchy a series of ordered groupings within a system 3#!. histrionic characteristic of acting or a stage performance 3#". homily a sermon on a moral or religious topic 3##. homogeneous all of the same or similar kind or nature 4$$. husbandry the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock 4$1. hyperbole e&travagant e&aggeration 4$2. hypothetical a conectural possibility or circumstance 4$3. iconoclast someone who attacks cherished ideas or institutions 4$4. ideology an orientation that characteri)es the thinking of a group 4$5. idiosyncrasy a behavioral attribute peculiar to an individual 4$6. idyllic charmingly simple and serene 4$!. ignominy a state of dishonor 4$". illicit contrary to accepted morality or convention


4$#. imminent close in time' about to occur 41$. immutable not subect or susceptible to change or variation 411. impartial free from undue bias or preconceived opinions 412. impeccable without fault or error 413. imperial of a dominion under control of a single authority 414. impervious not admitting of passage or capable of being affected 415. impetuous characteri)ed by undue haste and lack of thought 416. implement a piece of e(uipment or a tool used for a specific purpose 41!. impotent -of a male unable to copulate 41". impugn attack as false or wrong 41#. inane devoid of intelligence 42$. inaugurate commence officially 421. incandescent emitting light as a result of being heated 422. incantation a ritual reciting of words believed to have a magical effect 423. incense make furious 424. incessant uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing 425. incipient only partly in e&istence' imperfectly for med 426. incisive demonstrating ability to recogni)e or draw fine distinctions 42!. incongruous lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness 42". incorrigible impervious to correction by punishment 42#. increment the amount by which something increases 43$. indifferent marked by a lack of interest 431. indigenous originating where it is found 432. indigent poor enough to need help from others 433. indignant angered at something unust or wrong 434. indolent


disinclined to work or e&ertion 435. indulgent given to yielding to the wishes of someone 436. ineffable defying e&pression or description 43!. inept generally incompetent and ineffectual 43". inert unable to move or resist motion 43#. ine&orable not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty 44$. infamous known widely and usually unfavorably 441. infatuated marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness 442. infer conclude by reasoning 443. infinitesimal immeasurably small 444. ingenuous lacking in sophistication or worldliness 445. inherent e&isting as an essential constituent or characteristic 446. inunction a udicial remedy to prohibit a party from doing something 44!. innate present at birth but not necessarily hereditary 44". innocuous not inurious to physical or mental health 44#. inordinate beyond normal limits 45$. insatiable impossible to satisfy 451. insidious working or spreading in a hidden and usually inurious way 452. insinuate suggest in an indirect or covert way' give to understand 453. insipid lacking interest or significance or impact 454. insolent marked by casual disrespect 455. instigate provoke or stir up 456. insular relating to or characteristic of or situated on an island 45!. insurgent in opposition to a civil authority or government 45". integral e&isting as an essential constituent or characteristic 45#. intractable difficult to manage or mold


46$. intransigent impervious to pleas, persuasion, re(uests, reason 461. intrinsic belonging to a thing by its very nature 462. introspective given to e&amining own sensory and perceptual e&periences 463. inundate fill or cover completely, usually with water 464. invective abusive language used to e&press blame or censure 465. inveterate habitual 466. irascible (uickly aroused to anger 46!. ironic displaying incongruity between what is e&pected and what is 46". irrevocable incapable of being retracted 46#. itinerant traveling from place to place to work 4!$. udicious marked by the e&ercise of good udgment in practical matters 4!1. u&tapose place side by side 4!2. kinetic relating to the motion of material bodies and their forces 4!3. labyrinth comple& system of paths in which it is easy to get lost 4!4. laconic brief and to the point 4!5. lament a cry of sorrow and grief 4!6. lampoon ridicule with satire 4!!. languish become feeble 4!". largess liberality in bestowing gifts 4!#. latent potentially e&isting but not presently evident or reali)ed 4"$. laud praise, glorify, or honor 4"1. legacy a gift of personal property by will 4"2. lethargy inactivity' showing an unusual lack of energy 4"3. levity a manner lacking seriousness 4"4. libel a false and malicious publication 4"5. litigate


engage in legal proceedings 4"6. lo(uacious full of trivial conversation 4"!. lucid transparently clear' easily understandable 4"". lugubrious e&cessively mournful 4"#. luminous softly bright or radiant 4#$. machination a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends 4#1. magnanimous noble and generous in spirit 4#2. magnate a very wealthy or powerful businessman 4#3. malaise a general feeling of discomfort, uneasiness, or depression 4#4. malfeasance wrongful conduct by a public official 4#5. malinger avoid responsibilities and duties 4#6. malleable capable of being shaped or bent 4#!. mandate a document giving an official instruction or command 4#". manifest clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or udgment 4##. manifesto a public declaration of intentions 5$$. marshal a military officer of highest rank 1. martial suggesting war or military life 2. martyr one who voluntarily suffers death 3. matriculate enroll as a student 4. maudlin effusively or insincerely emotional 5. maverick someone who e&hibits independence in thought and action 6. ma&im a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits !. mediate act between parties with a view to reconciling differences ". mellifluous pleasing to the ear #. mendacious given to lying 1$. mendicant a pauper who lives by begging


11.

mentor a wise and trusted guide and advisor 12. mercenary a person hired to fight for another country than their own 13. mercurial liable to sudden unpredictable change 14. metamorphosis striking change in appearance or character or circumstances 15. microcosm a miniature model of something 16. milieu the environmental condition 1!. minuscule very small 1". misanthropic hating mankind in general 1#. mitigate lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or e&tent of 2$. mollify cause to be more favorably inclined 21. monolithic imposing in si)e or bulk or solidity 22. moribund being on the point of death 23. morose showing a brooding ill humor 24. mortify cause to feel shame 25. mundane found in the ordinary course of events 26. munificent very generous 2!. myopia eyesight abnormality in which distant obects appear blurred 2". myriad a large indefinite number 2#. narcissism an e&ceptional interest in and admiration for yourself 3$. nebulous lacking definite form or limits 31. nefarious e&tremely wicked 32. neologism a newly invented word or phrase 33. nepotism favoritism shown to relatives or friends by those in power 34. nihilism complete denial of established authority and institutions 35. nominal relating to or constituting or bearing or giving a name 36. nostalgia


3!. 3". 3#. 4$. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 4!. 4". 4#. 5$. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 5!. 5". 5#. 6$. 61.

longing for something past notorious known widely and usually unfavorably novel an e&tended fictional work in prose no&ious inurious to physical or mental health nuance a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude obdurate stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing obfuscate make obscure or unclear obli(ue slanting or inclined in direction or course or position oblivion the state of being disregarded or forgotten obscure not clearly understood or e&pressed obse(uious attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery obtuse of an angle, between #$ and 1"$ degrees officious intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner onerous not easily borne' wearing opa(ue not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy opulent rich and superior in (uality orthodo& adhering to what is commonly accepted ostensible appearing as such but not necessarily so ostentatious intended to attract notice and impress others painstaking characteri)ed by e&treme care and great effort palliate lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or e&tent of palpable capable of being perceived paltry contemptibly small in amount panacea hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases paradigm a standard or typical e&le parado& a statement that contradicts itself


62.

parochial relating to or supported by or located in a parish 63. parody a composition that imitates or misrepresents a style 64. parsimonious e&cessively unwilling to spend 65. partisan a fervent and even militant proponent of something 66. patent a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention 6!. paternal characteristic of a father 6". pathology the branch of medical science that studies diseases 6#. patriarch the male head of family or tribe !$. patrician a person of refined upbringing and manners !1. patroni)e assume sponsorship of !2. paucity an insufficient (uantity or number !3. peccadillo a petty misdeed !4. pedantic marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning !5. pedestrian a person who travels by foot !6. peorative e&pressing disapproval !!. penchant a strong liking !". penitent feeling or e&pressing remorse for misdeeds !#. peremptory putting an end to all debate or action "$. perennial lasting three seasons or more "1. perfidy an act of deliberate betrayal "2. perfunctory hasty and without attention to detail' not thorough "3. peripatetic traveling especially on foot "4. periphery the outside boundary or surface of something "5. perury criminal offense of making false statements under oath "6. permeate spread or diffuse through "!. pernicious


e&ceedingly harmful "". per(uisite an incidental benefit for certain types of employment "#. pertinent being of striking appropriateness #$. perturb disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried #1. peruse e&amine or consider with attention and in detail #2. pervade spread or diffuse through #3. petulant easily irritated or annoyed #4. philanthropy the act of donating money or time to promote human welfare #5. philistine a person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits #6. pious having or showing or e&pressing reverence for a deity #!. pivotal being of crucial importance #". placate cause to be more favorably inclined ##. plaintive e&pressing sorrow 1$$. platitude a trite or obvious remark 1$1. plebeian of or associated with the great masses of people 1$2. plethora e&treme e&cess 1$3. poignant keenly distressing to the mind or feelings 1$4. polari)e cause to concentrate about two conflicting positions 1$5. polemic a controversy, especially over a belief or dogma 1$6. ponderous having great mass and weight and unwieldiness 1$!. portent a sign of something about to happen 1$". postulate maintain or assert 1$#. pragmatic concerned with practical matters 11$. precedent an e&le that is used to ustify similar occurrences 111. precept rule of personal conduct 112. precipitate bring about abruptly


113. precipitous e&tremely steep 114. preclude make impossible, especially beforehand 115. precursor something indicating the approach of something or someone 116. predilection a predisposition in favor of something 11!. preeminent greatest in importance or degree or significance 11". preempt ac(uire for oneself before others can do so 11#. premise a statement that is held to be true 12$. prepossess cause to be preoccupied 121. prerogative a right reserved e&clusively by a person or group 122. prevail be larger in number, (uantity, power, status or importance 123. pristine immaculately clean and unused 124. prodigal recklessly wasteful 125. prodigious great in si)e, force, e&tent, or degree 126. prodigy an unusually gifted or intelligent person 12!. profane grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred 12". profess confess one+s faith in, or allegiance to 12#. proficient having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude 13$. profligate unrestrained by convention or morality 131. profound situated at or e&tending to great depth 132. profuse produced or growing in e&treme abundance 133. proletariat a social class comprising those who do manual labor 134. proliferate grow rapidly 135. prolific intellectually productive 136. promulgate state or announce 13!. propensity a natural inclination 13". propitious


presenting favorable circumstances 13#. proponent a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea 14$. proponent a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea 141. proprietary protected by trademark or patent or copyright 142. propriety correct behavior 143. prosaic lacking wit or imagination 144. proscribe command against 145. proselyti)e convert or try to convert someone to another religion 146. protagonist the principal character in a work of fiction 14!. protract lengthen in time' cause to be or last longer 14". provident giving something useful for the future 14#. provincial associated with an administrative district of a nation 15$. provisional under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon 151. pro&imity the property of being close together 152. prudent marked by sound udgment 153. purportedly believed or reputed to be the case 154. putative purported 155. (ualify describe or portray the character or peculiarities of 156. (ualitative involving distinguishing attributes 15!. (uerulous habitually complaining 15". (ui&otic not sensible about practical matters 15#. ramification a development that complicates a situation 16$. rancor a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill%will 161. rapacious living by preying on other animals 162. rebuke an act or e&pression of criticism and censure 163. rebut overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof


164. recalcitrant stubbornly resistant to authority or control 165. recant formally reect or disavow a formerly held belief 166. reciprocal concerning each of two or more persons or things 16!. reclusive withdrawn from society' seeking solitude 16". recondite difficult to penetrate 16#. recrimination mutual accusations 1!$. redolent having a strong pleasant odor 1!1. redundant more than is needed, desired, or re(uired 1!2. refute overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof 1!3. reiterate to say, state, or perform again 1!4. relegate assign to a lower position 1!5. relentless never%ceasing 1!6. relin(uish turn away from' give up 1!!. remonstrate argue in protest or opposition 1!". enaissance period of /uropean history at the close of the 0iddle ges 1!#. renounce turn away from' give up 1"$. reparation something done or paid in e&piation of a wrong 1"1. repercussion a remote or indirect conse(uence of some action 1"2. replenish fill something that had previously been emptied 1"3. replete filled to satisfaction with food or drink 1"4. reprehensible bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure 1"5. reprisal a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime 1"6. reproach e&press criticism towards 1"!. reprove take to task 1"". repudiate refuse to acknowledge, ratify, or recogni)e as valid 1"#. re(uisite


necessary for relief or supply 1#$. resolute firm in purpose or belief 1#1. respite a pause from doing something 1#2. reticent reluctant to draw attention to yourself 1#3. revere regard with feelings of respect 1#4. rhetoric study of the techni(ue for using language effectively 1#5. rigorous rigidly accurate' allowing no deviation from a standard 1#6. robust sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction 1#!. rogue a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel 1#". rudimentary being in the earliest stages of development 1##. ruminate reflect deeply on a subect 2$$. rustic characteristic of rural life 2$1. saccharine overly sweet 2$2. sacrilege blasphemous behavior 2$3. sacrosanct must be kept sacred 2$4. sagacious acutely insightful and wise 2$5. salient having a (uality that thrusts itself into attention 2$6. salutary tending to promote physical well%being' beneficial to health 2$!. sanctimonious e&cessively or hypocritically pious 2$". sanguine confidently optimistic and cheerful 2$#. sardonic disdainfully or ironically humorous 21$. scintillate emit or reflect light in a flickering manner 211. scrupulous characteri)ed by e&treme care and great effort 212. scrutini)e e&amine carefully for accuracy 213. secular someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person 214. sedition an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority


215. sensory relating to or concerned in sensation 216. sentient endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness 21!. se(uester keep away from others 21". serendipity good luck in making une&pected and fortunate discoveries 21#. servile submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior 22$. singular being a single and separate person or thing 221. slander words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another 222. sloth a disinclination to work or e&ert yourself 223. solicitous full of an&iety and concern 224. solvent capable of meeting financial obligations 225. soporific sleep inducing 226. sordid foul and run%down and repulsive 22!. spawn the mass of eggs deposited by fish or amphibians or mollusks 22". specious plausible but false 22#. sporadic recurring in scattered or unpredictable instances 23$. spurious plausible but false 231. s(ualor sordid dirtiness 232. s(uander spend thoughtlessly' throw away 233. stagnation a state of inactivity 234. static not in physical motion 235. staunch firm and dependable especially in loyalty 236. steadfast marked by firm determination or resolution' not shakable 23!. stigmati)e to condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful 23". stipulate make an e&press demand or provision in an agreement 23#. stoic seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain' impassive 24$. stratum


one of several parallel layers of material 241. stricture severe criticism 242. strife bitter conflict' heated often violent dissension 243. stringent demanding strict attention to rules and procedures 244. stymie hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of 245. subugate make subservient' force to submit or subdue 246. sublime of high moral or intellectual value 24!. subordinate an assistant subect to the authority or control of another 24". substantive having a firm basis in reality and therefore important 24#. subtle difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analy)e 25$. subversive in opposition to a civil authority or government 251. succinct briefly giving the gist of something 252. succumb consent reluctantly 253. supercilious having or showing arrogant superiority to 254. superficial of, affecting, or being on or near the surface 255. superfluous more than is needed, desired, or re(uired 256. surreptitious marked by (uiet and caution and secrecy 25!. surrogate someone who takes the place of another person 25". sycophant a person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage 25#. synthesis the combination of ideas into a comple& whole 26$. tacit implied by or inferred from actions or statements 261. taciturn habitually reserved and uncommunicative 262. tangential of superficial relevance if any 263. tangible perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch 264. tantamount being essentially e(ual to something 265. tautological characteri)ed by unnecessary repetition


266. temerity fearless daring 26!. temperate not e&treme 26". tenable based on sound reasoning or evidence 26#. tenacious stubbornly unyielding 2!$. tenet a religious doctrine proclaimed as true without proof 2!1. tentative hesitant or lacking confidence' unsettled in mind or opinion 2!2. tenuous very thin in gauge or diameter 2!3. terse brief and to the point 2!4. theology the rational and systematic study of religion 2!5. tirade a speech of violent denunciation 2!6. torpor a state of motor and mental inactivity 2!!. touchstone a basis for comparison 2!". tout adverti)e in strongly positive terms 2!#. transcend be greater in scope or si)e than some standard 2"$. transgress act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises 2"1. transient lasting a very short time 2"2. trepidation a feeling of alarm or dread 2"3. turpitude a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice 2"4. ubi(uitous being present everywhere at once 2"5. unconscionable greatly e&ceeding bounds of reason or moderation 2"6. unctuous unpleasantly and e&cessively suave or ingratiating 2"!. uniform clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a group 2"". unremitting uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing 2"#. unwitting not aware or knowing 2#$. urbane showing a high degree of refinement 2#1. usurp


sei)e and take control without authority 2#2. utilitarian having a useful function 2#3. utopia ideally perfect state 2#4. vacillate be undecided about something 2#5. vapid lacking significance or liveliness or spirit or )est 2#6. vehement marked by e&treme intensity of emotions or convictions 2#!. venal capable of being corrupted 2#". venerate regard with feelings of respect and reverence 2##. veracity unwillingness to tell lies 3$$. verbose using or containing too many words 3$1. verisimilitude the appearance of truth' the (uality of seeming to be true 3$2. vernacular the everyday speech of the people 3$3. vestige an indication that something has been present 3$4. ve& disturb, especially by minor irritations 3$5. viable capable of life or normal growth and development 3$6. vicarious e&perienced at secondhand 3$!. vicissitude a variation in circumstances or fortune 3$". vilify spread negative information about 3$#. vindicate show to be right by providing ustification or proof 31$. vindictive disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge 311. virtuoso someone who is da))lingly skilled in any field 312. virulent e&tremely poisonous or inurious' producing venom 313. visionary a person with unusual powers of foresight 314. vitiate make imperfect 315. vitriolic harsh, bitter, or malicious in tone 316. vocation the particular occupation for which you are trained

A Dictionary of Difficult Words

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