aberration

(n) 1. a departure from what is right, true, correct, etc. 2. a deviation from the normal or the typical 3. mental derangement or lapse

banal

(adj) 1. common, ordinary 2. dull or stale as because of overuse; trite; hackneye; commonplace

cacophony

(n) 1. harsh, jarring sound; dissonance

dalliance

(n) 1. the act of dallying; flirting, toying, or trifling

eccentric

(adj) 1. not having the same center, as two circles one inside the other; opposed to CONCENTRIC 2. not having the axis exactly in the center; off-center (an eccentric wheel) 3. not exactly circular in shape or motion

facilitate

(vt) 1.to make easy or easier

gesture

(n) 1.a movement, or movements collectively, of the body, or of part of the body, to express or emphasize ideas, emotions, etc.

vitriolic

(adj) 1. of, like, or derived from a vitriol 2. extremely biting or caustic; sharp and bitter

invocation

(n) 1. the act of calling on God, a god, a saint, the Muses, etc. for blessing, help, inspiration, support, or the like 2a) a formal prayer used in invoking, as at the beginning of a church service

unimpeachable

(adj) 1. not impeachable; that cannot be doubted, questioned, or discredited; irreproachable

resolute

(adj) 1. having or showing a fixed, firm purpose; determined; resolved; unwavering

voracious

(adj) 1. greedy in eating; devouring or eager to devour large quantities of food; ravenous; gluttonous

unwitting

(adj) 1. not knowing; unaware

insubordinate

(adj) 1. not submitting to authority; disobedient

abolish

(vt) 1. to do away with completely; put an end to; esp., to make (a law, etc.) null and void

baneful

(adj) 1. causing distress, death, or ruin; deadly

cajole

(vt) 1. to coax with flattery and insincere talk; wheedle

daunt

(vt) 1. to make afraid or discouraged; intimidate; dishearten

eclectic

(adj) 1. selecting from various systems, doctrines, or sources 2. composed of material gathered from various sources, systems, etc.

facile

(adj) 1. not hard to do or achieve; easy

glacial

(adj) 1. of or like ice or glaciers 2. of or produced by a glacier or a glacial epoch or period 3. freezing; frigid

naiveté

(n) 1. the quality or state of being naïve; simplicity; artlessness

myopia

(n) 1. an abnormal eye condition in which light rays from distant objects are focused in front of the retina instead of on it, so that the objects are not seen distinctly; nearsightedness. 2. lack of understanding or foresight

knack

(n) 1 a) a trick; device b) a clever expedient or way of doing something 2. ability to do something easily; particular skill; dexterity

radical

(adj) 1 a). of or from the root or roots; going to the foundation or source of something; fundamental; basic (a radical principle) b) extreme; thorough (a radical change in ones’s life)

levity

(n) 1. (Rare) lightness of weight; buoyancy. 2. lightness or gaiety of disposition, conduct, or speech; esp., improper or unbecoming gaiety or flippancy; lack of seriousness; frivolity

stalwart

(adj) 1. strong and well-built; sturdy; robust 2, brave; valiant

inconspicuous

(adj) 1. not conspicuous; hard to see or perceive; attracting little attention; not striking

absolve

(vt) 1. to pronounce free from guilt or blame; acquit

barrage

(n) 1. a curtain of artillery fire laid down to keep enemy forces from moving, or to cover or prepare the way for one’s own forces, esp. in attack 2. a heavy, prolonged attack of words, blows, etc.

callous

(adj) 1 a). having calluses b) thick and hardened 2. lacking pity, mercy, etc.; unfeeling

dawdle

(vt) 1. to waste (time) in trifling or by being slow; idle: often with away

efface

(vt) 1. to rub out, as from a surface; erase; wipe out; obliterate

faction

(n) 1. a group of people inside a political party, club, government, etc. working in a common cause against other such groups or against the main body 2. partisan conflict within an organization or a country; dissension

gluttonous

(adj) 1. of or like a person who is a glutton

viscous

(adj) 1. having a cohesive and sticky fluid consistency; viscid

intuition

(n) 1. the direct knowing or learning of something without the conscious use of reasoning; immediate understanding

unequivocal

(adj) 1. not equivocal; not ambiguous; plain; clear

resilience

(n) 1. the quality of being resilient; esp., a) the ability to bounce or spring back into shape, position, etc. b) the ability to recover strength, spirits, good humor, etc. quickly; buoyancy

voluminous

(adj) 1. writing, producing, consisting of, or forming enough material to fill volumes 2. of great volume; large; bulky; full

unremitting

(adj) 1. not stopping, relaxing, or slackening; incessant; persistent

insolvent

(adj) 1. not solvent; unable to pay debts as they become due; bankrupt

abstemious

(adj) 1. moderate, esp. in eating and drinking; temperate

belabor

(vt) 1. to beat severely; hit or whip 2. to attack with words; scold 3. to spend too much time and effort on; develop in too great detail

candid

(adj) 1. free from prejudice or bias; fair; just; impartial

dearth

(n) 1. costliness; dearness 2. scarcity of food 3. any scarcity or lack

effervescent

(adj) 1. giving off gas bubbles; bubbling up; foaming 2. lively and high-spirited; vivacious

fallacious

(adj) 1. containing a fallacy; erroneous 2 a). misleading or deceptive b) causing disappointment; delusive

grating

(adj) 1.harsh and rasping 2. irritating or annoying

negligence

(n) 1. the quality or condition of being negligent; specif., a) habitual failure to do the required thing b) carelessness in manner or appearance; indifference

warp

(n) 1 a). a distortion, as a twist or bend, in wood or in an object made of wood, caused by contraction in drying b) any similar distortion, as in metal c) the state or fact of being so distorted

tangential

(adj) 1. of, like, or in the direction of a tangent 2. drawn as a tangent 3. going off at a tangent; diverging or digressing 4. merely touching a subject, not dealing with it at length

ratify

(vt) 1. to approve or confirm; esp., to give official sanction to

litigious

(adj) 1 a) . given to carrying on lawsuits b) quarrelsome

stipulate

(vt) –lated --lating 1. to include specifically in the terms of an agreement, contract, etc.; arrange definitely

indigenous

(adj) 1. existing, growing, or produced naturally in a region or country; belonging (to) as a native

abstract

(adj) 1. thought of apart from any particular instances or material objects; not concrete

belie

(vt) --lied, --lying 1. (Archaic) to tell lies about 2. to give a false idea of; disguise or misrepresent

capricious

(adj) 1. subject to caprices; tending to change abruptly and without apparent reason; erratic; flighty

debacle

(n) 1. a breaking up of ice in a river, etc. 2. a rush of debris-filled waters 3. an overwhelming defeat or rout 4. a total, often ludicrous, collapse or failure

effrontery

(n) 1. unashamed boldness; impudence; audacity; presumption

fallow

(n) 1. land plowed but not seeded for one or more growing seasons, to kill weeds, make the soil richer, etc.

gratuitous

(adj) 1 a). given or received without charge or payment; free b) granted without obligation

nihilism

(n) 1 a). a denial of the existence of any basis for knowledge or truth b) the general rejection of customary beliefs in morality, religion, etc.

winnow

(vt) 1 a). to blow the chaff from (grain) by wind or a forced current of air b) to blow off (chaff) in this manner 2. to blow away; scatter

temerity

(n) 1. foolish or rash boldness; foolhardiness; recklessness

raze

(vt) 1. to scrape or graze; wound slightly 2. to scrape or shave off; erase 3. to tear down completely; level to the ground; demolish

lucid

(adj) 1. bright, shinning 2. transparent

substantiate

(vt) 1. to give substance or true existence to 2. to give concrete form or body to; convert into substance; embody 3. to show to be true or real by giving evidence; prove; confirm

indiscernible

(adj) 1. that cannot be discerned; imperceptible

abstruse

(adj) 1. hard to understand because of being extremely complex, intellectually demanding, highly abstract, etc.; deep; recondite

belittle

(vt) 1. to make seem little, less important, etc.; speak slightingly of; depreciate

castigate

(vt) 1. to punish or rebuke severely, esp. by harsh public criticism

debilitate

(vt) 1. to make weak or feeble; enervate

egotist

(n) 1. a person who is self-centered or selfish

fastidious

(adj) 1. not easy to please; very critical or discriminating

grievous

(adj) 1. causing grief

vicarious

(adj) 1 a). taking the place of another thing or person; substitute; deputy b) held or handled by one person as the deputy of another; delegated

insurrection

(n) 1. a rising up against established authority; rebellion; revolt

tribulation

(n) 1. great misery or distress, as from oppression; deep sorrow

reprieve

(vt) 1, to postpone the punishment of; esp., to postpone the execution of (a person condemned to death)

inane

(adj) 1. empty; vacant 2. lacking sense or meaning; foolish; silly

rousing

(adj) 1. that rouses; stirring 2. very active or lively; vigorous; brisk

innate

(adj) 1 a). existing naturally rather than acquired; that seems to have been in one from birth b) existing as an inherent attribute

accolade

(n) 1. an embrace formerly used in conferring knighthood 2. a touch on the shoulder with the flat side of a sword, now used in conferring knighthood 3 a). anything done or given as a sign of great respect, approval, appreciation, etc. b) words of praise

extirpate

(vt) to pull out by the roots; root out 2. to destroy or remove completely; exterminate; abolish

censure

(n) 1. a condemning as wrong; strong disapproval

debunk

(vt) 1. to expose the false or exaggerated claims, pretensions, glamour, etc. of

elate

(vt) -lated -lating 1. to raise the spirits of; make very proud, happy, or joyful

fawn

(vi) --fawner (n), fawningly, (adv.) 1. to show friendliness by licking hands, wagging its tail, etc.; said of a dog 2. to act servilely; cringe and flatter (courtiers fawning on a king)

grime

(n) 1. dirt, esp. sooty dirt, rubbed into or covering a surface, as of the skin (vt. grimed, griming – to make very dirty or grimy)

anomalous

(adj) 1. deviating from the regular arrangement, general rule, or usual method; abnormal

malevolence

(n) 1. the quality or state of being malevolent; malice; spitefulness; ill will

contentious

(adj) 1. always ready to argue; quarrelsome

discordant

(adj) 1. not in accord; disagreeing; conflicting

exasperation

(n) 1.an exasperating or being exasperated; great irritation or annoyance

sedate

(adj) 1. calm, quiet or composed; esp., serious and unemotional; staid; decorous

pontificate

(n) 1. to officiate as a pontiff 2. to speak or act in a pompous or dogmatic way

acquiesce

(vi) 1. to agree or consent quietly without protest , but without enthusiasm; often with in (to acquiesce in a decision)

belligerent

(adj) 1. at war; designating or a state recognized under international law as being engaged in a war 2. of war; of fighting 3. seeking war; warlike 4. showing a readiness to fight or quarrel

cerebral

(adj) 1. of the brain of the cerebrum 2. of, appealing to, or conceived by the intellect rather than the emotions; intellectual

deference

(n) 1. a yielding in opinion, judgment, or wishes

elitist

(n) 1. one who advocates elitism 2. a person who is or who believes himself or herself to be a member of an elite group

fertile

(adj) 1. producing abundantly; rich in resources or invention; fruitful; prolific

guile

(n) 1. slyness and cunning in dealing with others; craftiness

vindictive

(adj) 1. revengeful in spirit; inclined to seek vengeance

intermittent

(adj) 1. stopping and starting at intervals; pausing from time to time; periodic

unbiased

(adj) 1. without bias or prejudice; objective; impartial

repudiate

(vt) 1. to refuse to have anything to do with; disown or cast off publicly

irresolute

(adj) 1. not resolute; wavering in decision, purpose, or opinion; indecisive; vacillating

irony

(n) 1 a). a method of humorous or subtly sarcastic expression in which the intended meaning of the words is the direct opposite of their usual sense (the irony of calling a stupid plan “clever”) b) an instance of this

insinuate

(vt) 1. to introduce or work into gradually, indirectly, and artfully (to insinuate oneself into another’s favor) 2. to hint or suggest indirectly; imply

acumen

(n) 1. keenness and quickness in understand and dealing with a situation; shrewdness

benefactor

(n) 1. a person who has given help, esp. financial help; patron

chicanery

(n) 1. the use of clever but tricky talk or action to deceive, evade, etc., as in legal dealings

deferment

(n) 1. a deferring or being deferred; postponement

elusive

(adj) 1. tending to elude 2. hard to grasp or retain mentally; baffling

fervor

(n) 1. intense heat 2. great warmth of emotion; ardor; zeal

gullible

(adj) 1. easily cheated or tricked; credulous

nullify

(vt) 1. to make legally null; make void; annul

hackneyed

(adj) 1. made trite by overuse

temporize

(vi) 1. to suit one’s actions to the time, occasion, or circumstances, without reference to principle

rectitude

(n) 1. conduct according to moral principles; strict honesty; uprightness of character

ignoramus

(n) 1. an ignorant and stupid person

superficial

(adj) 1 a) of or being on the surface b) of or limited to surface area; plane 2. concerned with and understanding only the easily apparent and obvious; not profound; shallow

indulgent

(adj) 1. indulging or inclined to indulge; kind or lenient, often to excess

acute

(adj) 1. having a sharp point 2. keen or quick of mind; shrewd

benevolent

(adj) 1. doing or inclined to do good; kindly; charitable

circumspect

(adj) 1. careful to consider all related circumstances before acting, judging, or deciding; cautious; careful

deleterious

(adj) 1. harmful to health or well-being; injurious

emancipate

(vt) 1. to set free (a slave, etc.); release from bondage, servitude, or serfdom

fickle

(adj) 1. changeable or unstable in affection, interest, loyalty, etc; capricious

palliative

(adj) 1. serving or tending to palliate; specif., a0 alleviating b) excusing; extenuating

notoriety

(n) 1. the quality or state of being notorious

wrath

(n) 1. intense anger; rage; fury

temperamental

(adj) 1. of or caused by temperament 2. having an excitable temperament; easily upset

recluse

(adj) 1. shut away from the world; secluded; solitary (n) 1. a person who lives a secluded, solitary life

idiosyncrasy

(n) 1. the temperament or mental constitution peculiar to a person or group 2. any personal peculiarity, mannerism, etc.

succulent

(adj) 1. full of juice; juicy 2. full of interest, vigor, etc.; not dry or dull

indolent

(adj) 1. disliking or avoiding work; idle; lazy

adroit

(adj) 1. skillful in a physical or mental way; clever; expert

bizarre

(adj) 1. very odd in manner, appearance, etc.; grotesque

circumstantial

(adj) 1. having to do with, or depending on, circumstances 2. not of primary importance; incidental

deliberation

(n) 1. a deliberating, or considering carefully 2. consideration and discussion of alternatives before reaching a decision

embellish

(vt) 1. to decorate or improve by adding detail; ornament; adorn

fidelity

(n) 1. faithful devotion to duty or to one’s obligations or vows; loyalty; faithfulness

panegyric

(n) 1. a formal speech or piece of writing praising a person or event

venality

(n) 1. state, quality, or instance of being venal; willingness to be bribed or bought off, or to prostitute one’s talents for mercenary considerations

hilarity

(n) 1. the state or quality of being hilarious; noisy merriment; boisterous gaiety

thwart

(adj) 1. lying or extending across something else; transverse; oblique

rehash

(vt) 1. to work up again or go over again

imperious

(adj) 1. overbearing, arrogant, domineering, etc. 2. urgent; imperative

sustain

(vt) 1. to keep in existence; keep up; maintain or prolong

infamous

(adj) 1. having a very bad reputation; notorious; in disgrace or dishonor

adulate

(vt) 1. to praise too highly or flatter servilely 2. to admire intensely or excessively

blunder

(vi) 1. to move clumsily or carelessly; flounder; stumble

circumvent

(vt) 1. to surround or circle around

delineate

(vt) 1. to trace the outline of; sketch out 2. to draw; depict

embitter

(vt) 1. to make bitter; make resentful or remorse 2. to make more bitter; exacerbate; aggravate

finagle

(vt) 1. to get, arrange, or maneuver by cleverness, persuasion, etc., or esp. by craftiness, trickery, etc.

pariah

(n) 1. a member of one of the lowest social castes in India 2. any person despised or rejected by others; outcast

agnostic

(n) 1. a person who believes tat the human mind cannot know whether there is a God or an ultimate cause, or anything beyond material phenomena

bypass

(n) 1. a way, path, etc. between two points that avoids or is auxiliary to the main way; specif., an alternative highway route, as for skirting an urban area

cognition

(n) 1. the process of knowing in the broadest sense, including perception, memory, and judgment

deplete

(vt) 1 a). to make less by gradually using up (resources, funds, strength, etc.) b) to use up gradually the resources, strength, etc. of 2. to empty wholly or partly

encroach

(vi) 1. to trespass or intrude (on or upon the rights, property, etc. of another), esp. in a gradual or sneaking way

flagrant

(adj) 1. glaringly bad; notorious; outrageous

peevish

(adj) 1. hard to please; irritable; fretful; cross 2. showing ill humor or impatience, as a glance or remark

advocate

(n) 1. a person who pleads another’s cause; specif., a lawyer

boorish

(adj) 1. like or characteristic of a boor; rude; awkward; ill-mannered

clemency

(n) 1. forbearance, leniency, or mercy, as toward an offender or enemy

demagogue

(n) 1. a leader of the common people

embodiment

(n) 1. an embodying or being embodied 2. that which something is embodied; concrete expression of some idea, quality, etc.

finesse

(n) 1. adroitness and delicacy of performance 2. the ability to handle delicate and difficult situations skillfully and diplomatically

parsimony

(n) 1. a tendency to be over-careful in spending; unreasonable economy; stinginess

validate

(vt) 1. to make binding under the law; give legal force to; declare legally valid

haughty

(adj) 1. having or showing great pride in oneself and disdain, contempt, or scorn for others; proud; arrogant; supercilious

tenacity

(n) the quality or state of being tenacious

redress

(vt) 1. to set right; rectify or remedy, often by making compensation for (a wrong, grievance, etc.)

immutable

(adj) 1. never changing or varying; unchangeable

supple

(adj) 1. easily bent or twisted; flexible; pliant

ineptitude

(n) 1. the quality or condition of being inept

aesthetic

(adj) 1. of or in relation to aesthetics 2. of beauty 3. sensitive to art and beauty; showing good taste; artistic

bountiful

(adj) 1. giving freely and graciously; generous

coalesce

(vi) 1. to grow together, as the halves of a broken bone

demonstrative

(adj) 1. that demonstrates or shows; illustrative

empathetic

(adj) 1. of or characterized by empathy

fitful

(adj) 1. characterized by irregular or intermittent activity, impulses, etc.; spasmodic, restless

pathos

(n) 1. suffering 2. the quality in something experienced or observed which arouses feelings of pity, sorrow, sympathy, or compassion

virulent

(adj) 1 a). extremely poisonous or injurious; deadly b) bitterly antagonistic or spiteful; full of hate and enmity; venomous; rancorous

intrigue

(vi) –trigued, --triguing 1. to carry on a secret love affair 2. to plot or scheme secretly or underhandedly

undermine

(vt) –mined, --mining 1. to dig beneath; excavate ground from under, so as to form a tunnel or mine 2 to wear away and weaken the supports of 3. to injure, weaken, or impair, esp. by subtle, stealthy, or insidious means