GRE/CAT VOCABULARY LIST 15
egoism = excessive interest in one.s self; belief that one
should be interested in one.s self rather than in others;
selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical
gazette = official periodical publication; newspaper
scurvy = contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by
deficiency of Vitamin C
stringent = (of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of
money; Ex. stringent economic conditions
unwitting = not knowing; unaware; unintentional; Ex.
She was their unwitting accomplice; Ex. unwitting insult;
CF. wit: know
patois = local or provincial dialect
exact = demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise
from him; N. exaction
emaciated = thin and wasted (from hunger or illness)
guileless = without deceit
centaur = mythical figure, half man and half horse
droop = bend or hang downward; become weakened; Ex.
His shoulders drooped with tiredness; N.
finished = properly made and complete; Ex. finished
product/performance
imbibe = drink in
dissertation = formal essay; treatise
discursive = (of a person or writing) digressing; rambling
(without any clear plan)
dappled = spotted
servitude = slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a punishment
humor = indulge; comply with the wishes of; N. quality
that makes something amusing; state of mind; mood;
Ex. in a bad humor; Ex. out of humor
drudgery = hard unpleasant work; menial work
apex = tip; summit; climax; highest point
lancet = small surgical tool for making incisions
smart = intelligent; quick and energetic; fashionable; Ex.
smart pace/restaurant; V: cause or feel a sharp pain; N:
smarting pain
foul = very bad or disagreeable; very dirty; Ex. foul
smell/flavor/temper/language/air/deed/weather/means;
N. act against the rules; V. make or become foul; commit
a foul
negate = cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny;
N. negation
comestible = something fit to be eaten
plump = pleasantly fat; nicely rounded
interdict = prohibit; forbid; N.
urgent = compelling immediate action; pressing; persistent;
importunate; Ex. urgent in his demands
isotope = varying from of an element
gusto = eager enjoyment; zest; enthusiasm
nihilist = one who considers traditional beliefs to be
groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic;
revolutionary terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief that nothing
has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing
political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement
obliterate = destroy completely; wipe out; Ex. obliterate
the village
sleek = smooth and shining (as from good health); V.
relapse = return to a former state (esp. after improvement);
N.
acetic = vinegary
frivolous = lacking in seriousness; flippant; selfindulgently
carefree; unworthy of serious attention;
relatively unimportant; trivial
anomaly = irregularity
insouciant = without concern or care; unconcerned; indifferent
commodious = spacious and comfortable
prize = pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex.
his most prized possession; N: something captured during
war-time (esp. an enemy ship)
rapture = great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
grotto = small cavern
macerate = soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex.
macerate powdered wood to make paper
incite = arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist;
Ex. incite a riot/the crowd to rebellion
crass = very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and
undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
yore = time long past; Ex. in the days of yore
calorific = heat-producing; N. calorie
rake = immoral or dissolute person
invective = abuse
judicious = sound on judgment; wise
categorical = without exceptions; made without any
doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute
chafe = warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.
captious = faultfinding; too critical
expropriate = take possession of (often for public use and
without payment)
palm = conceal in the palm of the hand; palm off: pass
off; Ex. palm off some bad oranges onto the lady/the
painting as a real Renoir
intermediary = intermediate; acting as a mediator; N: mediator;
go-between
implode = burst inward; CF. vaccum tube
credo = creed
malapropism = comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs.
Malaprop
pretension = pretentiousness; claim (without foundation);
Ex. I make no pretensions to skill as an artist.
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