I thought I was ready, but after going through two 5000 word vocab lists I found a ton of hard words to try to remember for tomorrow. I just noted them down as I went through the lists, and used http://www.easydefine.com/ once I was done.
These are all words that I’ve either never heard before, or previously learned but never used and forgot the definitions to. I’ll be lucky if I can remember a third of these tomorrow! All you smart readers out there, see how many you already know:
abjure – verb formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
ablution – noun the ritual washing of a priest’s hands or of sacred vessels
acclivity – noun an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
animadversion – noun harsh criticism or disapproval
apothegm – noun a short pithy instructive saying
apotheosis – noun the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god); model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
argot – noun a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
arroyo – noun a stream or brook
askance – adj. (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy; adv. with a side or oblique glance; with suspicion or disapproval
assiduous – adj. marked by care and persistent effort
atavism – noun a reappearance of an earlier characteristic
badinage – noun frivolous banter
bivouac – noun temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers; a site where people on holiday can pitch a tent; verb live in or as if in a tent
burlesque – noun a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor; consists of comic skits and short turns (and sometimes striptease); adj. relating to or characteristic of a burlesque; noun a composition that imitates somebody’s style in a humorous way; verb make a parody of
calumny – noun an abusive attack on a person’s character or good name; a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone’s words or actions
cantata – noun a musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text
captious – adj. tending to find and call attention to faults
chary – adj. characterized by great cautious and wariness
coda – noun the closing section of a musical composition
codicil – noun a supplement to a will; a testamentary instrument intended to alter an already executed will
coeval – noun a person of nearly the same age as another; adj. of the same period
cogent – adj. powerfully persuasive
coiffure – noun the arrangement of the hair (especially a woman’s hair); verb arrange attractively
comity – noun a state or atmosphere of harmony or mutual civility and respect
comport – verb behave in a certain manner; behave well or properly
compunction – noun a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
concomitant – noun an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another; adj. following as a consequence
contumacious – adj. wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient
cozen – verb cheat or trick; act with artful deceit; be false to; be dishonest with
decollete – adj. (of a garment) having a low-cut neckline
demur – noun (law) a formal objection to an opponent’s pleadings; verb take exception to; enter a demurrer
denouement – noun the final resolution of the main complication of a literary or dramatic work; the outcome of a complex sequence of events
desultory – adj. marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another
diffidence – noun lack of self-confidence
dilatory – adj. wasting time; inclined to waste time and lag behind; using cautious slow strategy to wear down opposition; avoiding direct confrontation
dilettante – adj. showing frivolous or superficial interest; amateurish; noun an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
dint – noun interchangeable with `means’ in the expression `by means of’
diphthong – noun a vowel sound that starts near the articulatory position for one vowel and moves toward the position for another
disconsolate – adj. causing dejection; sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled
dissimulate – verb hide (feelings) from other people
dun – noun horse of a dull brownish grey color; a color or pigment varying around a light grey-brown color; verb make a dun color; cure by salting; persistently ask for overdue payment; adj. of a dull greyish brown to brownish grey color; verb treat cruelly
durance – noun imprisonment (especially for a long time)
dyne – noun a unit of force equal to the force that imparts an acceleration of 1 cm/sec/sec to a mass of 1 gram
educe – verb deduce (a principle) or construe (a meaning); develop or evolve from a latent or potential state
effete – adj. marked by excessive self-indulgence and moral decay
effluvium – noun a foul-smelling outflow or vapor (especially a gaseous waste)
effrontery – noun audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to
effulgence – noun the quality of being bright and sending out rays of light
euphonious – adj. having a pleasant sound; (of speech or dialect) pleasing in sound; not harsh or strident
evince – verb give expression to
excoriate – verb express strong disapproval of; tear or wear off the skin or make sore by abrading
expiate – verb make amends for
explicate – verb elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses; make plain and comprehensible
expostulate – verb reason with (somebody) for the purpose of dissuasion
extemporaneous – adj. with little or no preparation or forethought
extempore – adj. with little or no preparation or forethought; adv. without prior preparation
factious – adj. dissenting (especially dissenting with the majority opinion)
factious – adj. dissenting (especially dissenting with the majority opinion)
febrile – adj. of or relating to or characterized by fever
fecundity – noun the intellectual productivity of a creative imagination; the quality of something that causes or assists healthy growth; the state of being fertile; capable of producing offspring
foible – noun the weaker part of a sword’s blade from the forte to the tip; a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
foist – verb insert surreptitiously or without warrant; to force onto another
foppish – adj. affecting extreme elegance in dress and manner
fractious – adj. unpredictably difficult in operation; likely to be troublesome; stubbornly resistant to authority or control; easily irritated or annoyed
fugacious – adj. lasting a very short time
fulminate – noun a salt or ester of fulminic acid; verb cause to explode violently and with loud noise; come on suddenly and intensely; criticize severely
furlong – noun a unit of length equal to 220 yards
fusible – adj. capable of being melted and fused
fusillade – noun rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms; verb attack with fusillade
gadfly – noun any of various large flies that annoy livestock; a persistently annoying person
gainsay – verb take exception to
garrulous – adj. full of trivial conversation
genuflect – verb bend the knees and bow in church or before a religious superior or image; bend the knees and bow in a servile manner
gossamer – noun a gauze fabric with an extremely fine texture; filaments from a web that was spun by a spider; adj. characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy; so thin as to transmit light
gourmand – noun a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
hackney – noun a compact breed of harness horse; a carriage for hire
haggard – noun British writer noted for romantic adventure novels (1856-1925); adj. very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold; showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
hardihood – noun the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger
histrionic – adj. characteristic of acting or a stage performance; often affected
hussar – noun a member of a European light cavalry unit; renowned for elegant dress
illiberal – adj. narrow-minded about cherished opinions
imbroglio – noun a very embarrassing misunderstanding; an intricate and confusing interpersonal or political situation
impolitic – adj. not politic
importune – verb beg persistently and urgently
imprecation – noun the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult); a slanderous accusation
impuissance – noun powerlessness revealed by an inability to act
impute – verb attribute or credit to; attribute (responsibility or fault) to a cause or source
inapt – adj. not elegant or graceful in expression
inchoate – adj. only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
inchoative – noun aspect with regard to the beginning of the action of the verb; adj. beginning to develop
indigent – adj. poor enough to need help from others
ineffable – adj. too sacred to be uttered; defying expression or description
ineluctable – adj. impossible to avoid or evade:”inescapable conclusion”
ingraft – verb cause to grow together parts from different plants
inimical – adj. not friendly
insouciant – adj. marked by blithe unconcern
insular – adj. narrowly restricted in outlook or scope; suggestive of the isolated life of an island; relating to or characteristic of or situated on an island
insularity – noun the state of being isolated or detached
intercessor – noun a negotiator who acts as a link between parties
interpolation – noun (mathematics) calculation of the value of a function between the values already known; a message (spoken or written) that is introduced or inserted; the action of interjecting or interposing an action or remark that interrupts
interpose – verb introduce; be or come between; to insert between other elements; get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force
interregnum – noun the time between two reigns, governments, etc.
intestacy – noun the situation of being or dying without a legally valid will
intestate – adj. having made no legally valid will before death or not disposed of by a legal will
invective – noun abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will
inveigh – verb speak against in an impassioned manner; complain bitterly
inveigle – verb influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
inveterate – adj. having a habit of long standing
invidious – adj. containing or implying a slight or showing prejudice
isobar – noun (meteorology)an isogram connecting points having equal barometric pressure at a given time
jocose – adj. characterized by jokes and good humor
litany – noun a prayer consisting of a series of invocations by the priest with responses from the congregation; any long and tedious address or recital
littoral – noun the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean; adj. of or relating to a coastal or shore region
liturgy – noun a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship; a Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper by consecrating bread and wine
lough – noun Irish word for a lake; a long narrow (nearly landlocked) cove in Ireland
lucre – noun the excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time (including depreciation and other non-cash expenses); informal terms for money
lugubrious – adj. excessively mournful
lurid – adj. shining with an unnatural red glow as of fire seen through smoke; ghastly pale; glaringly vivid and graphic; marked by sensationalism; horrible in fierceness or savagery
macadamize – verb surface with macadam; “macadam the road”
macerate – verb soften, usually by steeping in liquid, and cause to disintegrate as a result; become soft or separate and disintegrate as a result of excessive soaking; separate into constituents by soaking; cause to grow thin or weak
madrigal – noun an unaccompanied partsong for 2 or 3 voices; follows a strict poetic form; verb sing madrigals
malapropism – noun the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar
malingerer – noun someone shirking their duty by feigning illness or incapacity
manumit – verb free from slavery or servitude
maudlin – adj. effusively or insincerely emotional
mawkish – adj. effusively or insincerely emotional
mawkish – adj. effusively or insincerely emotional
mealy-mouthed – adj. hesitant to state facts or opinions simply and directly as from e.g. timidity or hypocrisy
meretricious – adj. like or relating to a prostitute; based on pretense; deceptively pleasing; tastelessly showy
meretricious – adj. like or relating to a prostitute; based on pretense; deceptively pleasing; tastelessly showy
miasma – noun unhealthy vapors rising from the ground or other sources; an unwholesome atmosphere
mien – noun dignified manner or conduct
militate – verb have force or influence; bring about an effect or change
millet – noun small seed of any of various annual cereal grasses especially Setaria italica; French painter of rural scenes (1814-1875); any of various small-grained annual cereal and forage grasses of the genera Panicum, Echinochloa, Setaria, Sorghum, and Eleusine
minatory – adj. threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
ministration – noun assistance in time of difficulty
monomania – noun a mania restricted to one thing or idea
mordant – noun a substance used to treat leather or other materials before dyeing; aids in dyeing process; adj. of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action; harshly ironic or sinister
mordant – noun a substance used to treat leather or other materials before dyeing; aids in dyeing process; adj. of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action; harshly ironic or sinister
moribund – adj. being on the point of death; breathing your last; not growing or changing; without force or vitality
munificent – adj. very generous
natty – adj. marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
neologism – noun the act of inventing a word or phrase; a newly invented word or phrase
nonpareil – noun a flat disk of chocolate covered with beads of colored sugar; colored beads of sugar used as a topping on e.g. candies and cookies; model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal; adj. eminent beyond or above comparison
nostrum – noun patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable; hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists
nugatory – adj. of no real value
nugatory – adj. of no real value
numismatist – noun a collector and student of money (and coins in particular)
oakum – noun loose hemp or jute fiber obtained by unravelling old ropes; when impregnated with tar it was used to caulk seams and pack joints in wooden ships
obdurate – adj. showing unfeeling resistance to tender feelings; stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
obsequious – adj. attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
officious – adj. intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
opprobrium – noun a state of extreme dishonor; state of disgrace resulting from public abuse
osseous – adj. composed of or containing bone
paean – noun (ancient Greece) a hymn of praise (especially one sung in ancient Greece to invoke or thank a deity); a formal expression of praise
panegyric – noun a formal expression of praise; adj. formally expressing praise
paramour – noun a woman who cohabits with an important man; a woman’s lover
parquet – noun seating on the main floor between the orchestra and the parquet circle; a floor made of parquetry
pastiche – noun a work of art that imitates the style of some previous work; a musical composition consisting of a series of songs or other musical pieces from various sources
pedant – noun a person who pays more attention to formal rules and book learning than they merit
pedant – noun a person who pays more attention to formal rules and book learning than they merit
peevish – adj. easily irritated or annoyed
pejorative – adj. expressing disapproval
pillory – noun a wooden instrument of punishment on a post with holes for the wrists and neck; offenders were locked in and so exposed to public scorn; verb punish by putting in a pillory; expose to ridicule or public scorn; criticize harshly or violently
piquant – adj. engagingly stimulating or provocative; having an agreeably pungent taste; attracting or delighting
platitude – noun a trite or obvious remark
plaudit – noun enthusiastic approval
plebeian – noun one of the common people; adj. of the common people of ancient Rome; of or associated with the great masses of people
plenary – adj. full in all respects
poesy – noun literature in metrical form
polemics – noun the branch of Christian theology devoted to the refutation of errors
poseur – noun a person who habitually pretends to be something he is not
prate – noun idle or foolish and irrelevant talk; verb speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
prate – noun idle or foolish and irrelevant talk; verb speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
prevaricate – verb be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information
probity – noun complete and confirmed integrity; having strong moral principles
prolixity – noun boring verbosity
proscenium – noun the wall that separates the stage from the auditorium in a modern theater; the part of a modern theater stage between the curtain and the orchestra (i.e., in front of the curtain)
prurient – adj. characterized by lust
puerile – adj. of or characteristic of a child; displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
puissant – adj. powerful
pulchritude – noun physical beauty (especially of a woman)
punctilious – adj. marked by precise accordance with details
purl – noun a basic knitting stitch; gold or silver wire thread; verb make a murmuring sound; embroider with gold or silver thread; edge or border with gold or silver embroidery; knit with a purl stitch; flow in a circular current, of liquids
pusillanimous – adj. lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearful
pyx – noun any receptacle in which wafers for the Eucharist are kept; a chest in which coins from the mint are held to await assay
quotidian – adj. found in the ordinary course of events
raconteur – noun a person skilled in telling anecdotes
ragamuffin – noun a dirty shabbily clothed urchin
redoubtable – adj. inspiring fear; having or worthy of pride
repartee – noun adroitness and cleverness in reply
reproof – noun an act or expression of criticism and censure; verb censure severely or angrily
retinue – noun the group following and attending to some important person
ribald – noun a ribald person; someone who uses vulgar and offensive language; adj. humorously vulgar
rigmarole – noun a long and complicated and confusing procedure; a set of confused and meaningless statements
risible – adj. arousing or provoking laughter
rondo – noun a musical form that is often the last movement of a sonata
ruth – noun a book of the Old Testament that tells the story of Ruth who was not an Israelite but who married an Israelite and who stayed with her mother-in-law Naomi after her husband died; the great-grandmother of king David whose story is told in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament; United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948); a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
salubrious – adj. favorable to health of mind or body; promoting health; healthful
sapid – adj. full of flavor
sardonic – adj. disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking
saturnine – adj. bitter or scornful; showing a brooding ill humor
scintilla – noun a sparkling glittering particles; a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
scurrilous – adj. expressing offensive reproach
sedulous – adj. marked by care and persistent effort
sedulous – adj. marked by care and persistent effort
sibilant – noun a consonant characterized by a hissing sound (like s or sh); adj. of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as `f’, `s’, `z’, or `th’ in both `thin’ and `then’)
sidereal – adj. (of divisions of time) determined by daily motion of the stars; of or relating to the stars or constellations
sinecure – noun an office that involves minimal duties; a benefice to which no spiritual or pastoral duties are attached
sinecure – noun an office that involves minimal duties; a benefice to which no spiritual or pastoral duties are attached
sirocco – noun a windstorm that lifts up clouds of dust or sand
skinflint – noun a selfish person who is unwilling to give or spend
slapdash – adv. in a careless or reckless manner; adj. marked by great carelessness; adv. directly
slipshod – adj. marked by great carelessness
somniferous – adj. sleep inducing
sonorous – adj. full and loud and deep
sophistical – adj. plausible but misleading
sophistry – noun a deliberately invalid argument displaying ingenuity in reasoning in the hope of deceiving someone
specious – adj. plausible but false; based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
sprightly – adj. full of spirit and vitality
stanchion – noun any vertical post or rod used as a support
stratum – noun one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock); an abstract place usually conceived as having depth
stricture – noun severe criticism; abnormal narrowing of a bodily canal or passageway
stultify – verb cause to appear foolish; prove to be of unsound mind or demonstrate someone’s incompetence; deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless
subtend – verb be opposite to; of angles and sides, in geometry
subtrahend – noun the number to be subtracted from the minuend
suffuse – verb cause to spread or flush or flood through, over, or across; to become overspread as with a fluid, a colour, a gleam of light
superannuate – verb retire or become ineligible because of old age or infirmity; become obsolete; declare to be obsolete; retire and pension (someone) because of age or physical inability
surfeit – noun the state of being more than full; verb indulge (one’s appetite) to satiety; supply or feed to surfeit; noun eating until excessively full; the quality of being so overabundant that prices fall
swarthy – adj. naturally having skin of a dark color
sybarite – noun a person addicted to luxury and pleasures of the senses
sylph – noun an elemental being believed to inhabit the air; a slender graceful young woman
syneresis – noun the separation of liquid from a gel that is caused by contraction (as in cheese making); the contraction of two vowels into a diphthong
synod – noun a council convened to discuss ecclesiastical business
temporize – verb draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time
termagant – noun a scolding nagging bad-tempered woman
testator – noun a person who makes a will
thrall – noun someone held in bondage; the state of being under the control of another person
tilth – noun the state of aggregation of soil and its condition for supporting plant growth; arable land that is worked by plowing and sowing and raising crops
tincture – noun (pharmacology) a medicine consisting of an extract in an alcohol solution; a substances that colors metals; verb stain or tint with a color; noun a quality of a given color that differs slightly from a primary color; an indication that something has been present; verb fill, as with a certain quality
tortious – adj. of or pertaining to the nature of a tort
tractable – adj. easily managed (controlled or taught or molded); readily reacting to suggestions and influences
trammel – noun a restraint that is used to teach a horse to amble; an adjustable pothook set in a fireplace; a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner); a fishing net with three layers; the outer two are coarse mesh and the loose inner layer is fine mesh; verb place limits on (extent or access); catch in or as if in a trap
transfuse – verb give a transfusion (e.g., of blood) to; pour out of one vessel into another; treat by applying evacuated cups to the patient’s skin; impart gradually
truculence – noun obstreperous and defiant aggressiveness
turbid – adj. (of especially liquids) clouded as with sediment
tureen – noun large deep serving dish with a cover; for serving soups and stews
turpitude – noun a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice
tutelar – adj. providing protective supervision; watching over or safeguarding
tyro – noun someone new to a field or activity
upbraid – verb express criticism towards
urbanity – noun the quality or character of life in a city or town; polished courtesy; elegance of manner
usurious – adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
uxorious – adj. foolishly fond of or submissive to your wife
vainglory – noun outspoken conceit
variegate – verb change the appearance of, especially by marking with different colors; make something more diverse and varied
venal – adj. capable of being corrupted
venal – adj. capable of being corrupted
venial – adj. easily excused or forgiven; warranting only temporal punishment
verisimilitude – noun the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true
viand – noun a choice or delicious dish
vicissitude – noun mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another); a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something
vicissitude – noun mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another); a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something
virago – noun a noisy or scolding or domineering woman; a large strong and aggressive woman
virtu – noun objet d’art collectively (especially fine antiques); artistic quality; love of or taste for fine objects of art
viscid – adj. having the sticky properties of an adhesive
vitiate – verb take away the legal force of or render ineffective; make imperfect; corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
vituperative – adj. marked by harshly abusive criticism
vocable – noun a word that is spoken aloud
voluble – adj. marked by a ready flow of speech
votary – noun a devoted (almost religiously so) adherent of a cause or person or activity; a priest or priestess (or consecrated worshipper) in a non-Christian religion or cult; one bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service
weal – noun a raised mark on the skin (as produced by the blow of a whip); characteristic of many allergic reactions
wizen – adj. lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
yearling – noun an animal in its second year; a racehorse considered one year old until the second Jan. 1 following its birth; a young child