®

The 45-Day
GRE Vocab Book

Sample Copy

GRE is a registered trademark of the Educational Testing Service, which neither sponsors nor endorses this product.
 3

Copyright, Legal Notice and Disclaimer:

All contents copyright by Aristotle Prep. No part of this document may be

reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission
of Aristotle Prep

Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are

assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are used only for
reference. There is no implied endorsement if we use one of these terms.

Although the authors and publisher have made every reasonable attempt to
achieve complete accuracy of the content in this Guide, they assume no
responsibility for errors or omissions. You should use this information at
your own risk.

Aristotle Prep 45-Day Vocab Book

10-digit International Standard Book Number: 81-926637-2-8

13-digit International Standard Book Number: 978-81-926637-2-2

Publisher: Aristotle Prep

Copyright © 2013 Aristotle Prep

www.aristotleprep.com
 Contents

Introduction ……………………………………..…..……………..………… 5

Basic Word Lists 1- 25………………………………………………………..7

Advanced Word Lists 1-20…………………………………………………67

Answers………………………………………………………………………112
 5

Introduction

The GRE Revised General test comprises two verbal sections (barring any unscored section) of 30 minutes
duration each, with 20 questions in each section. The questions will be divided into three question types –
Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence, and Reading Comprehension.

The following is the break-up of these question types within each verbal reasoning section:

1) Text Completion – 6 questions in each section

2) Sentence Equivalence - 4 questions in each section

3) Reading Comprehension - 10 questions in each section from approximately 5 passages

Essentially, the GRE Verbal Reasoning section will test students’ abilities in the following two areas -
Vocabulary and Comprehension. The Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions will test students
on their vocabulary skills while the Reading Comprehension questions will test students’ understanding of
unfamiliar textual matter.

Here it is important to point out the importance of vocabulary on the GRE. There seems to be a general
consensus among students that the Revised GRE lays much less stress on vocabulary compared to the older
GRE test. However, if you look at the break-up of the verbal reasoning section, you will notice that 50% of
the test still comprises questions that are primarily a test of vocabulary. Thus a lot of effort will still have to
be put in to improve vocabulary, especially by those students who are non-native speakers of English. So,
does this mean students need to cram thousands of words to do well on the GRE?

Absolutely not.

We have spent considerable time and effort debriefing students who have taken the revised GRE Test and
there is a set of words that seems to be tested regularly on the GRE. Accordingly we have made a
compilation of these words and added some more, based on our understanding and experience, to arrive at a
list of 1000 high frequency words i.e. words that have a very high probability of appearing on the GRE. We
have further divided these words into two categories of 500 words each – Basic and Advanced. Once you
complete these words, if you still have time on your hands, you can easily do more words beyond these 1000.

To ensure that you stay motivated through this task, we have divided these words into 45 groups, each
comprising around 20-25 words. You need to complete one group on one day i.e. you will complete the
entire list of 1000 words 45 days from now. To make it more fun to absorb new words, we have also
provided a vocabulary exercise after each word group which could be in the form of a story (in which you
need to fill the blanks), or a crossword puzzle, or simply plain old fashioned antonyms and synonyms
exercises.

We hope that you will find this book useful in your quest to achieve a high GRE score. Please send us your
thoughts on this book at feedback@aristotleprep.com.

Good luck!

www.aristotleprep.com
 Basic Word List

Words 1-20

1. Abash – embarrass

2. Abate – lessen; reduce in intensity

3. Aberrant – not normal; varying from the usual

4. Abject – hopeless and downtrodden

5. Abrasive – irritating in manner

6. Abscond – run away; depart secretly

7. Abstain – hold back from doing; refrain

8. Abysmal – great extent; immeasurable

9. Acquiesce – agree with some reluctance

10. Acrid – bitter; sour to taste

11. Adherent – supporter or follower

12. Admonish – warn; strongly criticize

13. Adulterate – to mix or to make impure

14. Adversity – bad luck; difficulties

15. Advocate – to support or speak in favour of something

16. Aesthetic – related to or pertaining to beauty

17. Affable – friendly

18. Affectation – pretended behaviour to make an impression

19. Aggravate – to worsen; to make more severe

20. Aggregate – forming a collection from separate parts

 7

Exercise 1: Match the words in the box with their meanings below

1. Abash 6. Abscond 11. Adherent 16. Aesthetic

2. Abate 7. Abstain 12. Admonish 17. Affable
3. Aberrant 8. Abysmal 13. Adulterate 18. Affectation
4. Abject 9. Acquiesce 14. Adversity 19. Aggravate
5. Abrasive 10. Acrid 15. Advocate 20. Aggregate

a. Markedly different from an accepted norm ______

b. Sharply disagreeable ______

c. Depart secretly and hide ______

d. To choose not to do something ______

e. Most unfortunate or miserable ______

f. To agree or express agreement ______

g. Harsh in taste or odour; sharp in manner or temper ______

h. Unnatural or artificial behaviour, usually intended to impress ______

i. Extreme or unfathomable ______

j. Someone who believes in and helps to spread the doctrine of another ______

k. To caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty ______

l. A state of misfortune or affliction ______

m. Speak, plead, or argue in favour of ______

n. Concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste ______

o. Courteous and pleasant; sociable; easy to speak to ______

p. Make worse ______

q. Gather in a mass, sum, or whole ______

r. Cause to be embarrassed ______

s. Corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance ______

t. Become less in amount or intensity ______

www.aristotleprep.com
Words 21-40

21. Aghast – horrified

22. Alchemy – ancient chemistry pertaining to converting metals into gold

23. Allege – to assert without proof or confirmation

24. Allusion – passing reference or indirect mention

25. Amalgamate – to bring or combine together

26. Ambience – the atmosphere or environment of a place

27. Ambiguous – having more than one possible meaning

28. Ameliorate – to make better

29. Amenable – agreeable; someone who can be persuaded

30. Amiable – friendly; warm

31. Amorous – pertaining to love

32. Amorphous – having no definite form or distinct shape

33. Amortize – to diminish by instalment payments

34. Anarchy – a state of lawlessness and disorder

35. Ancillary – subordinate or supplementary

36. Androgynous – having both male and female characteristics

37. Anaesthetic – drug that causes temporary loss of bodily sensations

38. Animosity – a feeling of ill will or hostility

39. Antediluvian – old; archaic; outdated

40. Anomaly – deviation from the normal or common order

 9

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the box

1. Aghast 6. Ambience 11. Amorous 16. Androgynous

2. Alchemy 7. Ambiguous 12. Amorphous 17. Anaesthetic
3. Alleged 8. Ameliorate 13. Amortize 18. Animosity
4. Allusion 9. Amenable 14. Anarchy 19. Antediluvian
5. Amalgamate 10. Amiable 15. Ancillary 20. Anomaly

a. Anti-inflammatory treatment can ______________ injury-induced neuropathic pain, making things

better for the sufferer.

b. He had been ____________ of her since his college days because he found her very attractive.

c. The gentle music and soft lighting helped create a romantic ____________ in the restaurant.

d. Temperatures in England have reached an unprecedented high, an ____________ in an otherwise

cool country.

e. The musician Pennine Wilson, with her short, cropped hair, dark pants and masculine blazer has an

____________ look on stage.

f. Several accounting experts have pointed out that the company’s failure to ____________, or reduce

the value of the assets on its books over time, has had a negative impact on business.

g. John is a friendly individual, described as ____________ by most of his acquaintances.

h. Most people would be put off by the looting, arson, and general____________ prevailing in the

country.

i. Mostly, songwriters avoid direct expression of their feelings, preferring to speak through a veil of

____________ and imagery.

j. There are some countries which have failed to keep up with the times and whose citizens still have

an extremely ____________mindset.

k. Earlier, doctors and dentists widely used cocaine as a form of ____________ to numb patients.

l. In addition to its primary use as a bonding agent, the compound also has several other ____________

uses.

m. Water is an ____________substance, taking the shape of its container.

n. The ____________ of the two competing firms led to the creation of a behemoth in the retail industry.

o. In the aftermath of the stock market crash, people watched____________ as their assets lost value.

www.aristotleprep.com
p. The ____________ and ill-will among the staff members threaten the lab's ability to provide essential

prosecution evidence.

q. The bank has ____________ that its chief cashier was involved in an embezzlement scam.

r. Marilyn Monroe’s life and personality have always been ____________, sometimes appearing

promising and sometimes tragic.

s. Jerry knew his boss was an ____________ person and hence could be persuaded to grant him a ten-

day leave from work.

t. Modern chemistry was born out of the futile ambitions of ____________ , or the chemistry of the

ancient times.
 11

Words 41-60

41. Antecedent – a preceding occurrence or event

42. Anthology – a collection of selected literary passages

43. Antipathy – a feeling of intense dislike

44. Antithesis – opposite

45. Apprise – make aware of

46. Approbation – official recognition or approval

47. Arbitrary – based on individual discretion or preference

48. Arcane – difficult to understand; mysterious

49. Archaic – extremely old

50. Archetype – an original model on which something is patterned

51. Ardent – characterized by intense emotion

52. Ardour – feelings of great warmth and intensity

53. Arduous – difficult to accomplish

54. Arrest – cause to stop

55. Articulate – characterized by clear expressive language

56. Assimilate – absorb; become similar to one's environment

57. Assuage – to make easier or milder; relieve

58. Astute – marked by practical intelligence

59. Audacious – extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave

60. Augment – add on; enlarge or increase

www.aristotleprep.com
Exercise 3: Story Time Exercise - Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the box

1. Antecedent 4. Antithesis 7. Arbitrary 10. Archetype

2. Anthology 5. Apprised 8. Arcane
3. Antipathy 6. Approbation 9. Archaic

The dilapidated building at the end of Andover road had always been a point of dispute in the
neighbourhood. In an_____(a)______to the modern buildings around it, its _____(b)______ porch was
on the verge of collapse. Professor Raymond had, however, managed to secure _____(c)______ for the
building as a heritage site – making it impossible to demolish. He was oblivious to the ___(d)_____ of
the neighbours as he had lived in this building for 30 years and was very comfortable here.

In fact, the professor had more important things on his mind. On top of the list was the rare American
___(e)_____ which contained accounts of the Founding Fathers. These were not the result of
an___(f)_____ whim; they were his life’s work. The passages were also the ____(g)______ of his new
upcoming book. The neighbourhood had been _____(h)_____ of the Professor’s work by his student
researchers – but the knowledge did not make him any more popular than he already was. The general
consensus was that going to such lengths to simply write such ____(i)____ books was unnecessary. For
them it was merely an___(j)_______ to more eccentric behaviour from the Professor.

11. Ardent 14. Arrest 17. Assuaged 20. Augment

12. Ardour 15. Articulate 18. Astute
13. Arduous 16. Assimilate 19. Audacious

It was to _____(k)______ his meagre income that Paulo had taken to sculpturing, an_____(l)_____
attempt on his part given his lack of professional training in the field. According to his _____(m)____
mother, these were pieces of marble which could ___(n)_____the viewer’s attention. She could, of
course, be excused for such a description on the basis of her ___(o)____ for her first born. It was Paulo
who knew that the ___(p)______ process was nothing close to poetry. He was merely fuelled with
an___(q)____ desire to create. The time and effort he spent on his sculptures, instead of his job,
sometimes made him feel guilty. However, these feelings were easily ____(r)_____ by the happiness he
felt in the studio. He was ____(s)____ enough to realize that his work had the potential to be the best
since he had the ability to ____(t)____ seemingly unmatched pieces of stone into seamless harmony.
 13

Advanced Word List

Advanced Words 26-50

1. Apogee – farthest point from the earth in the orbit of a heavenly body

2. Apostate – a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause

3. Apotheosis – elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something

4. Apposite – appropriate; fitting

5. Appal – fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised

6. Appropriate – to set aside or allocate

7. Arrogate – seize and take control forcefully

8. Arrant – blatant; notorious

9. Artless – without guile; open and honest

10. Ascetic – practicing great self-denial; austere

11. Asperity – difficulty; harshness; bitterness

12. Aspersion – an abusive attack on a person's character or good name

13. Assay – an appraisal of the state of affairs

14. Asseverate – to affirm earnestly and with emphasis

15. Assiduous – marked by care and persistent effort

16. Astringent – harshly biting; caustic

17. Attenuate – become weaker in strength, value, or magnitude

18. Attrition – a reduction or decrease in numbers

19. Augury – an omen or prophecy

20. August – profoundly honoured

21. Auspice – patronage

22. Auspicious – attended by favourable circumstances

23. Avarice – extreme greed for material wealth

24. Axiomatic – evident without proof or argument

25. Baleful – deadly or sinister

www.aristotleprep.com
Exercise 27: Match the words in Table A with their Synonyms in Table B

Table A Table B

1. Apogee a. Innocent; naive

2. Apostate b. Assessment; evaluation
3. Apotheosis c. Diligent; sedulous
4. Apposite d. Acrimony; acerbity
5. Appal e. Aegis; protection
6. Appropriate f. Acrid; biting
7. Arrogate g. Forewarning; harbinger
8. Arrant h. Cupidity; covetousness
9. Artless i. Acme; crest
10. Ascetic j. Erosion; thinning
11. Asperity k. Abate; lessen
12. Aspersion l. Malevolent; threatening
13. Assay m. Grand; lofty
14. Asseverate n. Certain; indubitable
15. Assiduous o. Disconcert; astound
16. Astringent p. Suitable; relevant
17. Attenuate q. Advantageous; fortunate
18. Attrition r. Allot; apportion
19. Augury s. Flagrant; glaring
20. August t. Aver; avow
21. Auspice u. Idolization; elevation
22. Auspicious v. Abstemious; disciplined
23. Avarice w. Confiscate; usurp
24. Axiomatic x. Calumny; defamation
25. Baleful y. Renegade; dissenter
 15

Advanced Words 51-75

26. Banal – obvious and dull; predictable

27. Bane – something that causes misery or death

28. Beatify – make blessedly happy

29. Bedizen – dress up garishly and tastelessly

30. Beget – to produce; to make happen

31. Bent – determined; set upon doing something

32. Bilge – to bulge or swell out

33. Blandish – to coax by using flattery

34. Blithe – carefree and happy; light-hearted

35. Brook – put up with something or somebody unpleasant

36. Byzantine – highly involved or intricate

37. Cabal – a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue

38. Cachinnate – laugh loudly and in an unrestrained way

39. Cacophony – loud confusing disagreeable sounds

40. Cadge – to beg; to borrow without any intent to repay

41. Cajole – influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

42. Calumniate – charge falsely or with malicious intent

43. Calumny – an abusive attack on a person's character or good name

44. Canard – a deliberately misleading statement

45. Canon – a rule or a principle

46. Canonical – recognized; accepted; authorized

47. Caparison – to adorn or to dress richly

48. Capitulate – to surrender under agreed conditions

49. Captious – excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism

50. Caret – a mark used by an author or editor to indicate where something is to be inserted into a text

www.aristotleprep.com
Exercise 28: Coffee break Crossword (Words 51-75)
1 16 23

18 2

3 14

22 25

7 8

19

15 24

10 11

12
 17

Across:
1. A small group of intriguers, especially one formed for political purposes
2. Trite; commonplace
3. To laugh loudly or immoderately
4. Resolved; determined to do something
5. Dress in a gaudy manner
6. Slander; defamation
7. Baseless rumour
8. To bulge or swell out
9. Music: frequent use of discords of a harshness and relationship difficult to understand
10. To bear; suffer; tolerate
11. Produce as an effect
12. To dress richly; deck; trappings

Down:
2. To make holy or to glorify
3. To make false and malicious statements about
4. Complex or intricate
5. To seek to persuade or influence by mild flattery; coax
14. Lawful; sanctioned
15. To find faults with others
16. Joyous, merry, or gay in disposition;
18. To give up resistance
19. A fundamental principle or general rule
22. To irritate
23. Obsolete: that which causes death or destroys life
24. To coax someone by flattery to do what one wants
25. Latin: there is missing

www.aristotleprep.com
 Answers

Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3

1 r 1 o 1 j
2 t 2 t 2 e
3 a 3 q 3 d
4 e 4 i 4 a
5 b 5 n 5 h
6 c 6 c 6 c
7 d 7 r 7 f
8 i 8 a 8 i
9 f 9 s 9 b
10 g 10 g 10 g
11 j 11 b 11 q
12 k 12 m 12 o
13 s 13 f 13 p
14 l 14 h 14 n
15 m 15 i 15 m
16 n 16 e 16 t
17 o 17 k 17 r
18 h 18 p 18 s
19 p 19 j 19 l
20 q 20 d 20 k
 19

Exercise 27 Exercise 28
1 i 1 Ac Cabal
2 y 2 Banal
3 u 3 Cachinnate
4 p 4 Bent
5 o 5 Bedizen
6 r 6 Calumny
7 w 7 Canard
8 s 8 Bilge
9 a 9 Cacophony
10 v 10 Brook
11 d 11 Beget
12 x 12 Caparison
13 b 2 Dn Beatify
14 t 3 Calumniate
15 c 4 Byzantine
16 f 5 Blandish
17 k 14 Canonical
18 j 15 Captious
19 g 16 Blithe
20 m 18 Capitulate
21 e 19 Canon
22 q 22 Cadge
23 h 23 Bane
24 n 24 Cajole
25 l 25 Caret

www.aristotleprep.com