English Vocabulary

Lethargic Meaning: Without energy Usage: I was feeling tired and lethargic. Broach Meaning: Start to discuss Usage: He was unwilling to broach the delicate subject with anyone. Titter Meaning: Giggle quietly Usage: A couple of the younger teachers tittered at his smutty jokes. Retraction Meaning: Withdrawal Usage: The newspaper printed a retraction for their previous error. Portend Meaning: Foretell Usage: It was a deeply superstitious country, where earthquakes were commonly believed to portend the end of dynasties. Obstreperous Meaning: Noisy and boisterous Usage: The obstreperous children made it hard for their parents to take them any where. Decoy Meaning: Trap Usage: A carved, painted duck may be used as a decoy by hunters to lure real ducks for the hunters to shoot. Histrionic Meaning: Theatrical Usage: She put on a histrionic display of grief at her ex-husband's funeral.

Erratic Meaning: Irregular Usage: He drove in an erratic course down the road. Bristle Meaning: A short stiff hair Usage: The old woman had a few grey bristles sprouting from her chin. Tirade Meaning: Stream of verbal abuse Usage: She launched into an angry tirade about how she had been unfairly treated. Adulation Meaning: Strong admiration Usage: She loves the adulation. Pontificate Meaning: Speak pompously or dogmatically Usage: I think it should be illegal for non-parents to pontificate on parenting. Hinder Meaning: Obstruct Usage: Her progress certainly hasn't been hindered by her lack of experience. Largess Meaning: Generosity Usage: The national theatre will be the main beneficiary of the millionaire's largess. Err Meaning: Make a mistake Usage: He erred in agreeing to her appointment. Decorum Meaning: Correct behavior Usage: As young ladies we were expected to act with proper decorum.

Brevity Meaning: Being brief Usage: His essays are models of clarity and brevity. Adroit Meaning: Skillful Usage: She became adroit at dealing with difficult questions. Timorous Meaning: Cowardly Usage: The timorous child was hiding under the bed. Retention Meaning: Preservation Usage: The retention of old technology has slowed the company's growth.

Obsession Meaning: A dominating concern Usage: He's always wanted to find his natural mother but recently it's become an obsession. Larceny Meaning: Theft Usage: Once the trial ended, the man was charged with the crime of larceny. Hieroglyphics Meaning: Picture writing Usage: The Egyptians left hieroglyphics on the walls of their pyramids to tell stories of their past life. Decathlon Meaning: An athletic competition with ten events Usage: The athlete lost the decathlon because he had been convicted of using steroids.

Brawny Meaning: Muscular Usage: He was a big brawny man with huge hands. Adamant Meaning: Inflexible Usage: The mayor is adamantly opposed to any tax increase. Thwart Meaning: Prevent Usage: My holiday plans have been thwarted by the strike. Restorative Meaning: A tonic Usage: Ginseng is used as a restorative and preventive remedy. Polemical Meaning: Causing debate or argument Usage: She has published a fierce anti-war polemic. Obsequious Meaning: Servile Usage: She is almost embarrassingly obsequious to anyone in authority. Languish Meaning: Get weaker Usage: He has been languishing in jail for the past twenty years. Hidebound Meaning: Rigid in opinions Usage: He's hidebound on immigration and cannot be convinced that there is any other opinion worth entertaining. Epitomized Meaning: Characterized Usage: That last sentence epitomized her own life work. Debunking Meaning: Exposing false claims or myths Usage: The writer's aim was to debunk the myth that had grown up around the actress.

Braggart Meaning: Someone who boasts Usage: The braggart will not stop talking out his high shcool trophies. Acuity Meaning: Sharpness Usage: Tiredness also affects visual acuity. Therapeutic Meaning: Curative Usage: I find gardening very therapeutic. Resplendent Meaning: Shining Usage: I saw Anna at the other end of the room, resplendent in a red sequined cocktail dress. Poised Meaning: Self-possessed Usage: Facing the oncoming storm, the city was poised with disaster. Languid Meaning: Slow Usage: The Queen dismissed her courtiers with a languid wave of her hand. Hiatus Meaning: Interruption Usage: The Company expects to resume production of the vehicle again after a twomonth hiatus. Epistolary Meaning: Concerned with letters Usage: Epistolary novels have made several memorable appearances in more recent literature. Debility Meaning: Weakness Usage: Debility prevented him from getting out of bed.

Bourgeois Meaning: Middle class Usage: Most radicals are bourgeois coffee drinkers with attitude. Acrophobia Meaning: Fear of heights Usage: The boy's acrophobia prevented him from climbing the ladder. Word: Lax Meaning: Careless Usage: He took a gun through baggage control to highlight the lax security. Espouse Meaning: Support Usage: Vegetarianism is one cause she does not espouse. Defoliate Meaning: Cause leaves to fall off Usage: The cat had completely defoliated some of the bushes. Revere Meaning: Worship Usage: Nelson Mandela is revered for his brave fight against apartheid. Brusque Meaning: Blunt Usage: His secretary was rather brusque with me. Tome Meaning: Large book Usage: She's written several weighty tomes on the subject. Obtuse Meaning: Mentally dull Usage: I don't mean to sound obtuse, but I really don't understand your question. Portent Meaning: Omen Usage: He looked for a portent before going into battle.

Hoary Meaning: Old Usage: He told a few hoary old jokes and nobody laughed. Esoteric Meaning: Obscure and difficult to understand Usage: He has an esoteric collection of old toys and games. Deference Meaning: Respect Usage: He treats her with such deference. Burgeon Meaning: Flourish Usage: The company hoped to profit from the burgeoning communications industry. Alacrity Meaning: Eagerness Usage: She accepted the money with alacrity. Totter Meaning: Walk unsteadily Usage: She tottered unsteadily down the stairs in her high-heeled shoes. Posthumous Meaning: After death Usage: His last novel was published posthumously.

Officious Meaning: Meddlesome Usage: He's an officious little man and widely disliked in the company. Hypochondriac Meaning: A person obsessed with health Usage: She's a terrible hypochondriac as she's always at the doctor's.

Eulogy Meaning: Praise Usage: The song was a eulogy to the joys of travelling. Torpor Meaning: Sluggishness Usage: He fell into a deep torpor. Rife Meaning: Common Usage: Dysentery and malaria are rife in the refugee camps. Posterity Meaning: Future generations Usage: Every attempt is being made to ensure that these works of art are preserved for posterity. Etymology Meaning: The study of word origins Usage: At university she developed an interest in etymology. Bulwark Meaning: Fortification Usage: My savings were to be a bulwark against unemployment. Aesthetic Meaning: Concerning art or beauty Usage: The new building has little aesthetic value. Poseur Meaning: Someone who puts on an act Usage: You look like a real poseur in your fancy sports car with your expensive clothes. Robust Meaning: Strong Usage: He looks robust and healthy enough.

Ogle Meaning: Observe in an obvious manner Usage: I saw you ogling the woman in the red dress. Lethargic Meaning: Without energy Usage: I was feeling tired and lethargic. Hypocritical Meaning: Insincere Usage: Their accusations of corruption are hypocritical. Euphemism Meaning: A polite phrase to cover something unpleasant Usage: The article made so much use of euphemism that often its meaning was unclear. Deleterious Meaning: Harmful Usage: These drugs have a proven deleterious effect on the nervous system. Jocular Meaning: Meant as a joke Usage: He was very jocular, and was about as good of walking on his hands as feet. Reactionary Meaning: Opposing progress Usage: Charles Darwin was considered a reactionary by his peers when he first proposed the theory of evolution Writ Meaning: Written order Usage: His lecture that night was like an exposition of holy writ. Weigh Meaning: Measure how heavy something is Usage: How much do you weigh?

Slur Meaning: Join sounds/words Usage: The rest of the night was very slurred indeed. Rejuvenation Meaning: Becoming young in nature or appearance Usage: I watered the dead grass, and hopefully it will rejuvenate. Penurious Meaning: Poor Usage: The penurious school system had to lay off several teachers. Ponderous Meaning: Slow and awkward because of being very heavy or large Usage: He had a rather slow and ponderous manner. Ascend Meaning: Go or come up Usage: They slowly ascended the steep path up the mountain. Bedizen Meaning: To adorn especially in a cheap showy manner Usage: Claudia dressed in a bedizened manner, causing her to look less attractive. Conciliatory Meaning: Reconciling, soothing, comforting, mollifying Usage: The men were arguing but finally they came into concilatory. Embellish Meaning: Make beautiful Usage: Girls like to embellish their dolls when they are little. Audacious Meaning: Daring foolishly Usage: This investor is audacious, he's always willing to take risks.

Bequest Meaning: A gift of personal property by will Usage: He makes several bequest to his staff. Congeal Meaning: Make or become stiff and solid Usage: Congealed mass of material appears to emerge from a blank surface. Detumescence Meaning: Diminishing or lessening of swelling Usage: Detumescent apple left a rancid odor in the refrigerator. Encomium Meaning: Warm or glowing praise Usage: Do not compose an encomium for yourself. Efficacy Meaning: Effectiveness Usage: They recently ran a series of tests to measure the efficacy of the drug. Fulsome Meaning: Disgusting, offensive due to excessiveness Usage: They have been fulsome in their praise. Infuse Meaning: Put, pour, fill Usage: Early physicians would infuse water with flower petals and plant leaves to make medicines. Infuriate Meaning: Fill with fury or rage Usage: Sometimes was nullified when I lost my notes. Middling Meaning: Fairly good but not very good Usage: The weather wasn't particularly good nor bad, it was mostly fair to middling. Perjury Meaning: Willful false statement, unlawful act Usage: The crown's star witness has also made a statement admitting perjury.

Procrastination Meaning: Keeping on, putting off Usage: Winners don't make excuses and they never procrastinate. Rancorous Meaning: Feeling bitterness, spitefulness Usage: Many people became rancorous because of the man's ignorant speech. Veritable Meaning: Real, rightly named Usage: He is a veritable gold mine of good ideas. Torment Meaning: Severe pain or suffering Usage: The film captures perfectly the inner torment that the women face. Somatic Meaning: Of the body Usage: Somatic mutation is being used to follow the clonal history of the tumor cell clone. Soggy Meaning: Heavy with water Usage: Make sure the soil is not soggy or poorly drained. Petrify Meaning: To make hard like rock Usage: I was petrified when i heard the fireworks go off Onerous Meaning: Needing effort, burdensome Usage: These responsibilities seem onerous for an unpaid office holder to bear. Miser Meaning: Person who loves wealth and spends little Usage: He was only too glad to make his uncle pay for them, as he swore he was an old miser.

Ignoble Meaning: Dishonorable Usage: He's done many ignoble things in his life but he finally did something to benefit his fellow man. Ensign Meaning: Flag, badge Usage: As a hospital ship she would be manned by a merchant service crew and wear the red ensign. Forgery Meaning: Counterfeit Usage: She was shocked to learn that the painting she inherited was a forgery. Remonstrate Meaning: To protest Usage: The more I remonstrate with him, the less he listens to me. Boisterous Meaning: Loud, noisy, rough, lacking restraint Usage: At the table next to us were about 20 rather boisterous American tourists. Aggravate Meaning: Make worse irritate Usage: Don't walk on your sprained ankle, you will aggravate it. Avid Meaning: Eager, greedy Usage: I am an avid supporter of my local football team Commemorate Meaning: Keep the memory of Usage: On Memorial Day, we commemorate those who have died. Fluster Meaning: Make nervous or confused Usage: Before getting too flustered ask yourself some questions and see if you can figure out why this is happening.

Incumbents Meaning: Official duties Usage: He became incumbent of Shoe Factory. Macabre Meaning: Something that is very strange Usage: She has a rather macabre sense of humour. Prodigious Meaning: Wonderful Usage: We went on a prodigious research grant. Depict Meaning: To represent or show something in a picture or story Usage: Her paintings depict the lives of ordinary people in the last century. Yarn Meaning: Fibers for knitting Usage: The cat pawed the yarn playfully Vitiate Meaning: Lower the quality, weaken the strength Usage: In critical circumstances the decision of the tribunal was not vitiated. Agog Meaning: Excited Usage: We waited agog for news. Severance Meaning: The act of ending a connection Usage: The minister announced the severance of aid to the country. Terse Meaning: Concise Usage: The teacher's instructions were very terse after the student's disruptive behavior

Poignant Meaning: Strongly affecting the emotions Usage: The photograph awakens poignant memories of happier days. Obscure Meaning: Partially hidden Usage: It is an obscure island in the Pacific. Lance Meaning: Spear Usage: Ancient Greek foot soldiers were usually armed with a lance and a shield. Heresy Meaning: Against orthodox opinion Usage: She committed the heresy of playing a rock song on a classical music station. Epistle Meaning: A letter (form of communication) Usage: Many thanks for your lengthy epistle which arrived in this morning's post. Cynical Meaning: Believing that people act only out of selfish motives Usage: I think she takes a rather cynical view of men. Boorish Meaning: Ill-mannered Usage: I found him rather boorish and aggressive. Acrid Meaning: Sharp Usage: We have seen the clouds of acrid smoke issued from the building. Lurk Meaning: Be out of view, ready to attack Usage: Please don't lurk in the corner like expecting that I won't notice you.

Pertain Meaning: Belong as a part, have reference Usage: The question was ignored because it did not pertain to the subject. Stigma Meaning: Mark of shame or disgrace Usage: The Senator's racial remark will be a political stigma difficult to overlook in next year's election. Sundry Meaning: Various Usage: I have in my kitchen lemon rinds and sundry herbs. Torque Meaning: Twisting force causing rotation Usage: You need to torque the engine for maximum performance. Turbid Meaning: Muddy, stirred up Usage: He projected such a calm face despite his turbid feelings. Indigence Meaning: Poverty Usage: A general state of indigence exists among the homeless Tractable Meaning: Easy to deal with Usage: The problem turned out to be rather less tractable than I had expected. Jabber Meaning: Talk excitedly, utter rapidly Usage: The kid next to me in study hall would jabber so much that I could not concentrate. Muffler Meaning: Cloth worn round the neck Usage: He was wearing a beautiful muffler.

Florid Meaning: Very much ornamented, naturally red Usage: I want to be florid during the difficult situations that I face in my life time. Expiation Meaning: Ending, expiring Usage: After breaking the plate, she expiated by buying a new one. Precipice Meaning: A very steep side of a cliff or a mountain Usage: The film opens with a shot of a climber dangling from a precipice. Volatile Meaning: Likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly Usage: Food and fuel prices are very volatile in a war situation. Sobriety Meaning: Quality or condition of being sober Usage: Sobriety was not a state David found himself in very often. Steeply Meaning: Rising or falling sharply Usage: The main reason that home values have fallen steeply is foreclosure. Vituperate Meaning: Curse, abuse in words Usage: Your extreme use of vituperate words and phrases tends to negate the valid points of your argument. Timid Meaning: Shy Usage: I spoke timidly when it was my first day of school. Empirical Meaning: Relying on experiment Usage: Because her father had already passed away, she was empirical to her friend's pain.

Drawl Meaning: Slow way of speaking Usage: He liked to act like a cowboy and always spoke with a laconic drawl. Rebuff Meaning: Snub Usage: The old woman rebuffed at the young man's offer of assistance and walked away. Profuse Meaning: Produced or given in large amounts Usage: The company accepted blame and sent us profuse apologies. Pliant Meaning: Pliable, easily bent shaped or twisted Usage: Shiny vinyls are supple and pliant. Partisan Meaning: Biased or prejudiced Usage: Look, she is over there where you see that group of partisans. Mischievous Meaning: Harmful, causing mischief Usage: That mischievous boy broke the flask. Limp Meaning: Lacking strength, walking unevenly Usage: The flag on the tower had gone limp as the breeze died down. Irresolute Meaning: Hesitating, undecided Usage: The irresolute woman hesitated between which ice cream she wanted to order. Indelible Meaning: That cannot be rubbed out Usage: The yacht slammed into the dock so hard that it left an indelible impression in the wood.

Imbroglio Meaning: Complicated and embarrassing situation Usage: The small town was caught up in an imbroglio over missing funds. Ford Meaning: Shallow place in a river (to cross) Usage: Due to the rapid water and uncertain depth of the river, I was not sure that I could ford the river. Erudite Meaning: Scholarly Usage: An erudite fool is a greater fool than an ignorant fool. Dwarf Meaning: Person much below the usual size Usage: In snow white there are 7 dwarfs. Chary Meaning: Cautious, wary Usage: He was chary of investing in oilwells. Appease Meaning: Make quiet or calm Usage: She claimed that the government had only changed the law in order to appease their critics. Beautify Meaning: To bless, make happy or ascribe a virtue to Usage: His presence beautified my tour. Chastened Meaning: Corrected, punished Usage: He was chastened by the defeat and determined to work harder. Extort Meaning: Obtain by threats, violence Usage: He extorted a false confession from her. Ignominious Meaning: Shameful Usage: She looked at him with an ignominious look of hate.

Inculcate Meaning: Fix firmly by repetition Usage: Our football coach has worked hard to inculcate a team spirit in the players. Objective Meaning: Unbiased, not subjective Usage: Her main/prime objective now is simply to stay in power. Accolade Meaning: Tribute, honor, praise Usage: Her approval was the highest accolade he could have received. Oblivious Meaning: Totally unaware Usage: Absorbed in her work, she was totally oblivious of her surroundings. Kindle Meaning: To start a fire Usage: Love for my country was kindled in me. Word: Temper Meaning: To moderate, soften Usage: The children behaved so badly that I lost my temper. Nullify Meaning: To counter, Make unimportant Envenom Meaning: To cause bitterness and bad feeling Usage: His speech envenomed the member of opposition party. Acquiesce Meaning: To agree to, Give in to Usage: Reluctantly, he acquiesced in the plans. Plagiarism Meaning: Taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas Usage: The book contains numerous plagiarized passages.

Billowing Meaning: Swelling, Fluttering, Waving Usage: Smoke billowed (out) from the burning building. Bolster Meaning: Support, prop up Usage: More money is needed to bolster the industry. Tenacious Meaning: Stubborn, resolute, holding firm to a purpose Usage: The baby took my finger in its tenacious little fist. Obdurate Meaning: Stubborn Usage: The President remains obdurate on the question of tax cuts. Hangar Meaning: Storage area (like garage) for a plane Usage: The new aircraft fleet was sent to hanger. Plaudit Meaning: Statement giving strong praise Usage: She's received plaudits for her work with homeless people. Blasphemy Meaning: Speech which offends religious sentiments Usage: To be accused of blasphemy. Nuance Meaning: Something subtle, a fine shade of meaning Usage: The effect of the music is nuanced by the social situation of listeners. Euphony Meaning: Pleasant sounds Usage: The wonderful euphonic sound of the band totally captivated everyone. Burnish Meaning: Polish Usage: The company is currently trying to burnish its socially responsible image.

Alchemy Meaning: Attempt to change base metal into gold Usage: The study of alchemy was an early form of chemistry. Rejuvenation Meaning: Becoming young in nature or appearance Usage: I watered the dead grass, and hopefully it will rejuvenate. Tonic Meaning: Something giving strength or energy Usage: Consider using a liver tonic to help detoxify the body. Shun Meaning: Keep away from, avoid Usage: Historians of political thought have largely shunned the work. Recompense Meaning: Reward for something Usage: The lord preserves the faithful and fully recompenses the proud doer. Purvey Meaning: Provide, supply Usage: Purveying fundamental ideas and politics is not limited to him. Transitory Meaning: Brief Usage: Transitory stage in a star's evolution is rarely seen. Impending Meaning: Being about to happen, expected Usage: She could sense the feeling of impending doom settling down upon the courtyard as the army rode closer. Foster Meaning: Nurture, care for Usage: Children are privately fostered for a variety of reasons. Floe Meaning: A sheet of floating ice Usage: A baby seal being clubbed to death on the canadian ice floes.

Extinct Meaning: No longer active Usage: There is concern that the giant panda will soon become extinct. Deviance Meaning: Being different in moral standards (from normal) Usage: Don't go for a confrontation with the sick deviants, that is probably what they want. Alcove Meaning: Recess,partially enclosed place Usage: I found an alcove with a statue of a Hindu deity. Laconic Meaning: Using few words, brief, to the point Usage: His laconic reply suggested a lack of interest in the topic. Plaintiff Meaning: Petitioner (in court of law) Usage: The plaintiff sued in the County Court for personal injuries due to the negligence of the defendant. Remuneration Meaning: Payment for work done Usage: The mechanic demanded high remuneration for tuning my engine. Tawdry Meaning: Of little value, gaudy Usage: You thought it was just another tawdry late-night TV show. Blatant Meaning: Obvious Usage: The whole episode was a blatant attempt to gain publicity. Tentative Meaning: Uncertain, Probable Usage: A tentative report on her findings was sent to the directors. Harangue Meaning: Noisy, Attacking speech Usage: The team were given the usual half-time harangue by their manager.

Bigot Meaning: Narrow-minded, Prejudiced person Usage: He's so bigoted that he refuses to accept anyone who doesn't think like him. Talisman Meaning: Lucky charm Usage: Keep this talisman with you all the time, it will bring good luck to you. Heed Meaning: Listen to Usage: The airline has been criticized for failing to heed advice about lack of safety routines. Oblique Meaning: Indirect, slanting Usage: She made several oblique references to the current financial situation. Harbingers Meaning: Indicators, Bringers of warnings Usage: To make matters worse, a terrifying figure now emerges from the sea like a harbinger of doom. Enhance Meaning: Improve, Make better or clearer Usage: These scandals will not enhance the organization's reputation. Hasten Meaning: Hurry, accelerate, rush Usage: I was grateful for his letter which hastened the course of the enquiry. Abasement Meaning: Humiliation, Degradation Usage: The pilgrims knelt in self-abasement. Hamper Meaning: Hinder, Obstruct Usage: Heavy rains have been hampering rescue efforts and there is now little chance of finding more survivors.

Epicure Meaning: Someone who appreciates good food and drink Usage: He had a peculiar taste for sudden and isolated luxuries; he was an abstemious epicure. Tardy Meaning: Slow, Late Usage: Dinner was somewhat delayed on account of David's rather tardy arrival. Repudiate Meaning: Shun, refuse to accept Usage: He repudiated the allegation that he had tried to deceive them. Ephemeral Meaning: Short-lived Usage: Fame in the world of rock and pop is largely ephemeral. Reprehensible Meaning: Shameful, Very bad Usage: He is known for his reprehensible conduct. Hedonism Meaning: Self indulgence, pleasure-seeking Usage: Many groups exist, among people of all ages, which resist and reject mindless hedonism. Abstemious Meaning: Self denying, refraining from indulging Usage: Despite his abstemious personal habits, he was endlessly generous to his students. Abrasive Meaning: Rough, coarse, harsh Usage: This guy is quite abrasive with poor people. Lampoon Meaning: Ridicule, spoof Usage: The magazine is famed for its merciless political lampoons.

Rescind Meaning: Retract, repeal Usage: The policy of charging air travellers for vegetarian meals proved unpopular and has already been rescinded. Cringe Meaning: Recoil, Shy away Usage: I cringed at the sight of my dad dancing. Cower Meaning: Recoil in fear or servility Usage: Stop cowering! I'm not going to hit you. Podium Meaning: Raised platform Usage: Tears ran down her face as she stood on the winner's podium. Cryptic Meaning: Puzzling, enigmatic Usage: I received a cryptic message through the post. Enigma Meaning: Puzzle, Mystery Usage: The newspapers were full of stories about the enigma of Lord Lucan's disappearance. Creditable Meaning: Praiseworthy Usage: Our team came in a creditable third in the competition.