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Unit 1

adage - a proverb, wise saying
bonanza - a rich mass of ore in a mine; something very valuable, profitable, or rewarding; a source of wealth or prosperity; a very large amount; sudden profit or gain
churlish - lacking politeness or good manners; lacking sensitivity; difficult to work with or deal with; rude
citadel - a fortress that overlooks and protects a city; any stronger or commanding place
collaborate - to work with, work together
decree - an order having the force of law; to issue such an order; to command firmly or forcefully
discordant - disagreeable in sound, jarring; lacking in harmony
evolve - to develop gradually; to rise to a higher level
excerpt - a passage taken from a book, article, etc.; to take such a passage; to quote
grope - to feel about hesitantly with the hands; to search blindly and uncertainly
hover - to float or hang suspended over; to move back and forth uncertainly over or around
jostle - to make or force one's way by pushing or elbowing; to bump, brush against; to compete for
laggard - a person who moves slowly or falls behind; falling behind; slow to move, act, or respond
plaudits - applause; enthusiastic praise or approval
preclude - to make impossible, prevent, shut out
revert - to return, go back
rubble - broken stone or bricks; ruins
servile - of or relating to a slave; behaving like or suitable for a slave or a servant, menial; lacking spirit or independence, abjectly submissive
vigil - a watch, especially at night; any period of watchful attention
wrangle - to quarrel or argue in a noisy, angry way; to obtain by argument; to herd; a noisy quarrel

Unit 2

antics - ridiculous and unpredictable behavior or actions
avowed - declared openly and without shame, acknowledged
banter - to exchange playful remarks, tease; talk that is playful and teasing
bountiful - giving freely, generous; plentiful, given abundantly
congested - overcrowded, filled or occupied to excess
detriment - harm or loss; injury, damage; a disadvantage; a cause of harm, injury, loss, or damage
durable - sturdy, not easily worn out or destroyed; lasting for a long time; consumer goods used repeatedly over a series of years
enterprising - energetic, willing and able to start something new; showing boldness and imagination
frugal - economical, avoiding waste and luxury; scanty, poor, meager
gingerly - with extreme care or caution
glut - to provide more than is needed or wanted; to feed or fill to the point of overstuffing; an oversupply
incognito - in a disguised state, under an assumed name or identity; the state of being disguised; a person in disguise
invalidate - to make valueless, take away all force or effect
legendary - described in well-known stories; existing in old stories (legends) rather than in real life
maim - to cripple, disable, injure, mar, disfigure, mutilate
minimize - to make as small as possible, make the least of; to make smaller than before
oblique - slanting or sloping; not straightforward or direct
veer - to change direction or course suddenly, turn aside, shift
venerate - to regard with reverence, look up to with great respect
wanton - reckless; heartless, unjustifiable; loose in morals; a spoiled, pampered person; one with low morals

Unit 3

allot - to assign or distribute in shares or portions
amass - to bring together, collect, bather especially for oneself; to come together, assemble
audacious - bold, adventurous, recklessly daring
comply - to yield to a request or command
devoid - not having or using, lacking
elite - the choice part of a group of people or things; superior
grapple - an iron hook used to grab and hold; to come to grips with, wrestle or fight with
incapacitate - to deprive of strength or ability; to make legally ineligible
instigate - to urge on; to stir up, start, incite
longevity - long life, long duration, length of life
myriad - in very great numbers; a very great number
perspective - a point of view or general standpoint from which different things are viewed, physically or mentally; the appearance to the eye of various objects at a given time, place, or distance
perturb - to trouble, make uneasy; to disturb greatly; to throw into confusion
prodigious - immense; extraordinary in bulk, size, or degree
relevant - connected with or related to the matter at hand
skittish - extremely nervous and easily frightened; shy or timid; extremely cautious; unstable, undependable
tether - a rope or chain used to fasten something to a fixed object; the outer limit of strength or resources; to fasten with a rope or chain
unison - a sounding together; agreement or accord
vie - to compete; to strive for victory or superiority
willful - stubbornly self-willed; done on purpose, deliberate

Unit 4

annul - to reduce to nothing; to make ineffective or inoperative; to declare legally invalid or void
blasé - indifferent, bored as a result of having enjoyed many pleasures; apathetic
bolster - to support, give a boost to; a long pillow or cushion; a supporting post
deplore - to feel or express regret or disapproval
frivolous - of little importance, not worthy of serious attention; not meant seriously
muster - to bring together for service or battle; to gather or summon; to amount to, comprise, include; a list of military personnel; a gathering, accumulation
nonentity - a person or thing of no importance
obsess - to trouble, haunt, or fill the mind
ornate - elaborately decorated; showily splendid
oust - to remove, drive out of a position or place
peruse - to read thoroughly and carefully
porous - full of tiny holes; able to be penetrated by air or water
promontory - a high point of land extending into water
prone - lying face down; inclined, likely
qualm - a pang of conscience, uneasiness, misgiving, or doubt; a feeling of faintness or nausea
recourse - a person or thing turned to for help or advice; the act of seeking help or protection
residue - a remainder, that which remains when a part has been used up or removed
solicitous - showing concern or care; fearful or anxious about someone or something
staid - serious and dignified; quiet or subdued in character or conduct
sustain - to support, nourish, keep up; to suffer, undergo; to bear up under, withstand; to affirm the validity of

Unit 5

addendum - a thing that is added; an appendix or addition to a book or written document
aghast - filled with amazement, disgust, fear, or terror
ample - more than enough, large, spacious
apparition - a ghost or ghostly figure; an unexplained or unusual appearance
assert - to declare or state as truth, maintain or defend, put forward forcefully
cower - to crouch or shrink away in fear or shame
disdain - to look upon with scorn; to refuse scornfully; a feeling of contempt
epitaph - a brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone
ethical - having to do with morals, values, right and wrong; in accordance with standards of right conduct; requiring a prescription for purchase
facetious - humorous, not meant seriously
inaudible - not able to be heard
indiscriminate - without restraint or control; unselective
intrigue - crafty dealings, underhanded plotting; to form and carry out plots; to puzzle or excite the curiosity
jurisdiction - an area of authority or control; the right to administer justice
plausible - appearing true, reasonable, or fair
plebeian - common, vulgar; belonging to the lower class; a common person, member of the lower class
prodigal - wastefully extravagant; lavishly or generously abundant; one who is wasteful and self-indulgent
proximity - nearness, closeness
pulverize - to grind or pound to a powder or dust; to destroy or overcome (as though by smashing into fragments)
volatile - highly changeable, fickle; tending to become violent or explosive; changing readily from the liquid to the gaseous state

Unit 6

abashed - embarrassed, ashamed, or nonplussed
aloof - withdrawn, standing apart from others by choice
anguish - great mental suffering, distress, or pain; to cause deep pain or sorrow
articulate - to pronounce distinctly; to express well in words; to fit together into a system; able to use language effectively; expressed clearly and forcefully
bask - to be in, or expose oneself to, pleasant warmth; to take pleasure in or derive enjoyment from
defect - an imperfection, flaw, or blemish of some kind; to desert a cause or organization
finesse - delicate skill; tact and cleverness; to accomplish something by cleverness, good judgment, or skillful evasion
flaunt - to wave or flutter showily; to display in a conceited, offensive way
forthright - frank, direct, straightforward
genial - cordial, pleasantly cheerful or warm
instill - to add gradually; to introduce or cause to be taken in
ostracize - to exclude from a group, banish, send away
premonition - forewarning or foreboding of a future event
pseudonym - a pen name, name assumed by a writer
purge - to wash away impurities, clean up; the process of getting rid of something or someone decisively
rehabilitate - to make over in good form; to restore to good condition or to a former position
repercussion - an effect or consequence of some action or event, result; an echo or reverberation
resolute - bold, determined; firm
retentive - able to hold, keep, or recall; retaining knowledge easily
scapegoat - a person or thing carrying the blame for others

Unit 7

acme - the highest point
attribute - a quality or characteristic belonging to or associated with someone or something; to assign to, credit with; to regard as caused by or resulting from
belittle - to make something appear smaller than it is; to refer to in a way that suggests lack of importance or value
convey - to transport; to transmit; to communicate, make known; to transfer ownership or title to
doctrine - a belief, principle or teaching; a system of such beliefs or principles; a formulation of such beliefs or principles
excise - to remove by cutting; an indirect tax on the manufacture, sale, or distribution of a commodity or service
exotic - foreign, charmingly unfamiliar or strikingly unusual
haggard - thin, pale, and careworn as a result of worry or suffering; wild-looking
jaunty - lively, easy, and carefree in manner; smart or trim in appearance
juncture - a joining together; the point at which two things are joined; any important point in time
menial - lowly, humble, lacking importance or dignity; a person who does the humble and unpleasant tasks
parry - to ward off, fend off, evade, avoid; a defensive movement in fencing and other sports
predatory - preying on, plundering, or piratical
ravage - to destroy, lay waste, ruin; ruinous damage, destruction
stance - a way of holding the body; an attitude or position on an issue
tawdry - showy and flashy but lacking in good taste
turncoat - a person who switches to an opposing side or party
unassuming - not putting on airs, unpretentious; modest
wallow - to roll about in a lazy clumsy, or helpless way; to overindulge in; to have in abundance; a wet muddy, or dusty area used by animals as a sort of bath; a state of moral or physical collapses
waver - to move to and fro, become unsteady; to show lack of firmness or decision

Unit 8

abut - to join at one end or be next to; to support, prop up
attire - clothes, apparel, garb
avail - to be of use or benefit to; to make use of; to take advantage of; to profit or benefit; use benefit, or value
crony - a very close friend, chum, buddy
cryptic - puzzling, mystifying, or enigmatic
divergent - going in different directions; different from each other; departing from convention, deviant
enmity - hatred, ill-will
fervent - very earnest, emotional, passionate; extremely hot
gaunt - thin and bony, starved looking; bare, barren
infiltrate - to pass through or gain entrance to gradually or stealthily
nullify - to make of no value or consequence, cancel, wipe out
perceptible - capable of being grasped by the senses or mind
plummet - to plunge straight down; a weight fastened to a line
proclaim - to declare publicly or officially
proxy - an agent, substitute; a written permission allowing one person to act in another's place
rankle - to cause anger, irritation, or bitterness (with the suggestion that the pain grows worse with time)
scavenger - a person who collects or removes usable items from waste materials; an animal that feeds on refuse or dead bodies
stint - to limit, be sparing or frugal; a limit or restriction; a fixed share of word or duty; a period of activity
stoical - self-controlled, not showing feeling in response to pleasure or pain
unflagging - tireless, continuing with vigor

Unit 9

apt - suitable, fitting, likely; quick to learn
awry - in a turned or twisted position or direction; wrong, out of the right or hoped-for course
bludgeon - a short club used as a weapon; to strike with a heavy club; to use force or strong arguments to gain some point
capitulate - to end resistance, give up, throw in the towel
chafe - to warm by rubbing; to wear sore by rubbing; to feel
defile - to make unclean or dirty, destroy the purity of; to march in a single line or in columns; a narrow passage; gorge canyon
dire - dreadful, causing fear or suffering; warning of trouble to come; demanding immediate action to avoid disaster
disarming - charming, tending to soften unfriendliness or suspicion
disgruntled - in bad humor, discontented, annoyed
encroach - to advance beyond the usual or proper limits, trespass
endow - to furnish, equip, provide with funds or some other desirable thing or quality
fend - to ward off, resist; to get along, manage
impunity - freedom from punishment
mien - air, manner; appearance; expression
penal - having to do with punishment
pertinent - related to the matter at hand, to the point
predominant - the greatest in strength or power; most common
prodigy - something wonderful or marvelous; an unusual feat; a child or young person with extraordinary ability or talent
recluse - a person who leads a life shut up or withdrawn from the world
renown - fame, glory

Unit 10

accord - agreement, harmony; to agree, be in harmony or bring into harmony; to grant bestow on
barter - an exchange in trade; to exchange goods
curt - short, rudely brief
devise - to think out, plan, figure out, invent, create
dexterous - skillful in the use of hands or body; clever
engross - to occupy the complete attention of, absorb fully
entail - to put a burden on, impose, involve; to restrict ownership of property by limiting inheritance; such a restriction
ferret - a kind of weasel; to search or hunt out
habituate - to become used to; to cause to become used to
impending - about to happen, hanging over in a menacing way
personable - pleasing in appearance or personality, attractive
rue - to regret, be sorry for; a feeling of regret
scoff - to make fun of; to show contempt for
transition - a change from one state or condition to another
trepidation - fear, fright, trembling
upbraid - to blame, scold, find fault with
veritable - actual, true, real
vex - to annoy, anger, exasperate; to confuse, baffle
vitality - strength, energy; the capacity to live and develop; the power to endure or survive
whimsical - subject to odd ideas, notions, or fancies; playful; unpredictable

Unit 11

appease - to make calm, soothe; to relieve, satisfy; to yield to
belated - late, tardy
calamitous - causing great misfortune
cite - to quote; to mention; to summon to appear in court; to commend, recommend
conventional - in line with accepted ideas or standards; trite
decoy - to lure into a trap; a person or thing used to lure into a trap
delve - to dig; to search deeply and thoroughly into
ensue - to follow in order, come immediately after, and as a result
gallantry - heroic courage; respect and courtesy; an act or statement marked by a high level of courtesy
impart - to make known, tell; to give, pass something on
judicious - using or showing good judgment, wise, sensible
mediate - to bring about an agreement between persons or groups, act as a go-between; occupying a middle position; indirect, acting through an intermediary
milieu - the setting, surroundings, environment
outlandish - strange, freakish, weird, foreign-looking; out-of-the-way, geographically remote; exceeding reasonable limits
overbearing - domineering, haughty, bullying; overpowering, predominant
pert - high-spirited; lively; bold, saucy; jaunty
quirk - a peculiar way of acting; a sudden twist or turn
regale - to feast, entertain agreeably
shiftless - lazy, lacking in ambition and energy; inefficient
taint - a stain or spot; a mark of corruption or dishonor; to stain or contaminate

Unit 12

abdicate - to resign, formally give up an office or a duty; to disown, discard
bestow - to give as a gift; to provide with lodgings
capacious - able to hold much, roomy
caustic - able to burn or eat away by chemical action; biting, sarcastic
crusade - a strong movement to advance a cause or idea; to campaign, work vigorously
deface - to injure or destroy the surface or appearance of; to damage the value, influence, or effect of; to face down, outshine
embargo - an order forbidding the trade in or movement of commercial goods; any restraint or hinderance; to forbid to enter or leave port; to forbid trade with
fallacy - a false notion or belief; an error in thinking
levity - a lack of seriousness or earnestness, especially about things that should be treated with respect; buoyancy, lightness in weight
mendicant - beggar; depending on begging for a living
nauseate - to make sick to the stomach; to fill with disgust
negate - to nullify, deny, bring to nothing
pivotal - vitally important, essential
recipient - one who receives; receiving; able or willing to receive
ruse - an action designed to confuse or mislead, a trick
teem - to become filled to overflowing; to be present in large quantities
tenet - an opinion, belief, or principle held to be true
tractable - easily managed, easy to deal with; easily wrought, malleable
ungainly - clumsy, awkward; unwieldy
voracious - having a huge appetite, greedy, ravenous; excessively eager

Unit 13

Unit 14

amplify - to make stronger, larger, greater, louder, or the like
armistice - a temporary peace, halt in fighting
arrogant - haughty, too convinced of one's own importance
bland - gentle, soothing, mild; lacking interest or taste
disclaim - to deny interest in or connection with; to give up all claim to
epoch - a distinct period of time, age
estrange - to drift apart or become unfriendly; to cause such a separation; to remove or keep at a distance
gratify - to please, satisfy; to indulge or humor
infinite - exceedingly great, inexhaustible, without limit, endless; (preceded by "the") an incalculable number, the concept of infinity; a name for God (with a capital "I")
irascible - easily made angry, hot-tempered
kindred - a person's relatives; a family relationship; related by blood; like, similar
naive - innocent, unsophisticated, showing lack of worldly knowledge and experience
niche - a decorative recess in a wall; a suitable place or position for a person or thing
obliterate - to blot out completely, destroy utterly
ramshackle - appearing ready to collapse, loose and shakey
ransack - to search or examine thoroughly; to rob, plunder
rote - unthinking routine or repetition, a fixed or mechanical way of doing something; based on a mechanical routine
solvent - able to meet one's financial obligations; having the power to dissolve other substances; a liquid used to dissolve other substances; something that solves, explains, eliminates, or softens
tedious - long and tiresome
vendor - a person who sells something

Unit 15