Saturday, January 30, 2010

Review Items No. 1-25




nanocephalous: having abnormally small head




firmament: - the arch of the sky - the heavens




magniloquent: bombastic in style or expression

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Detailed Definition:

adjective
- speaking by a bombastic style or manner
- characterized by a bombastic style or manner
- inflated in style or expression
- pompous in style or expression




sapid: - having a strong pleasant flavor - pleasing to the mind




lumpen: one cut off from his/her normal socioeconomic class

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Detailed Definition:

adjective
- relating to displaced people who have been cut off from the socioeconomic class with which they would ordinarily be identified (e.g. lumpen intellectuals unable to find jobs in their fields)
- plebeian
- stupid
- unthinking

noun
- a member of the uneducated lowest class of society




socioeconomic: relating to, or involving both economic and social factors




gadabout: one roaming about in search of amusement or social activity




languor: mental or physical weariness or fatigue

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Detailed Definition:

noun
- mental or physical weariness or fatigue
- physical or mental laziness or weariness
- weakness or weariness of body or mind
- listless indolence
- indolence of one satiated by a luxury life




obtrude: to impose oneself or one's idea on others without request

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Detailed Definition:

transitive verb
- to impose oneself or one's idea without request
- to force oneself or one's idea without warrant or invitation
- to thrust out

intransitive verb
- to become unduly prominent
- to interfere unduly
- to intrude




exemplar: one that serves as a model or example

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Detailed Definition:

noun
- one that serves as a model or example
- a copy of a book or writing
- a model to be copied
- a model to be imitated
- a pattern to be copied
- a pattern to be imitated
- a typical or standard specimen
- an ideal model or type




penchant: - a strong liking - a strong inclination




incongruous: - not harmonious - inconsistent




precarious: dependent on circumstances beyond one's control

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Detailed Definition:

adjective
- depending on the will or pleasure of another
- dependent on uncertain premises
- dubious
- having insufficient foundation (a precarious belief)




esoteric: intended only for a particular group

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Detailed Definition:

adjective
- limited to a small circle
- private
- confidential (an esoteric target)
- of rare interest (esoteric construction materials)




vexatious: distressing

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Detailed Definition:

adjective
- full of stress
- full of disorder
- full of annoyance
- causing vexation
- annoying
- intended to vex
- intended to annoy




pecuniary: monetary

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Detailed Definition:

adjective
- relating to money
- consisting of or measured in money
- requiring payment of money (e.g. a pecuniary offense)




propitious: presenting favorable conditions

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Detailed Definition:

adjective
- favorable
- being a good omen
- auspicious
- benevolent




chicanery: deception by trickery or sophistry




jocund: merry

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Detailed Definition:

adjective
- full of high-spirited merriment
- marked by high spirits
- marked by lively mirthfulness
- of a humorous temperament
- showing high-spirited merriment





languish: to be or become feeble

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Detailed Definition:

intransitive verb
- to be or become feeble
- to be or become weak
- to be or become enervated
- to be or live in a state of depression
- to be or live in a state of decreasing vitality
- to lose strength or vigor




machination: a crafty action intended to accomplish a sinister end




surcease: to desist from action

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Detailed Definition:

1. intransitive verb
- to desist from action
- to come to an end
- to cease
- to stop

2. transitive verb
- to put an end to
- to discontinue

3. noun
- cessation
- a temporary respite or end
- intermission




chapfallen: cast down in spirit

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Detailed Definition:

adjective
- dejected
- downhearted
- crestfallen
- depressed




heliolatry: worship of the sun




wrangle: to dispute something angrily

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Detailed Definition:

1. intransitive verb
- to dispute angrily, noisily or peevishly
- to engage in argument or controversy
- to quarrel noisily or angrily

2. transitive verb
- to win or obtain by argument
- to herd livestock, especially horses

3. noun
- the act of wrangling
- an angry, noisy dispute or argument