GRE/CAT VOCABULARY LIST 49
cavalcade = procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages;
parade; CF. cavalry
idiosyncrasy = individual trait usually odd in nature; behavioral
peculiarity; eccentricity; attitude, behavior, or
opinion peculiar to a person; anything highly individual
or eccentric; ADJ. idiosyncratic
constitution = constituting; system of laws; composition
of something; physical makeup or structure of a person;
Ex. men with strong constitutions
enterprising = full of initiative; showing enterprise
invulnerable = incapable of injury; impossible to damage
or injure
prime = period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or beginning
stage; Ex. in the prime of life; Ex. prime of the
year(spring); ADJ: first in importance or rank; first; V:
make ready; prepare
corollary = natural consequence (which naturally follows
from something else)
brocade = rich, figured(patterned) fabric
laceration = torn ragged wound; V. lacerate: tear (the skin
as with broken glass); wound
pretentious = ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified
claims; overambitious; Ex. pretentious films
that claim to be art
pharisee = Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group
that emphasized strict observance of the Mosaic law
(considering themselves very holy); hypocritical selfrighteous
person
chore = daily domestic task (such as cleaning, cooking,
and shopping); unpleasant task
ethnic = relating to races
cognate = having a common origin; related linguistically;
allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate
languages; N.
stagnant = (of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling);
motionless; stale; not developing; inactive; dull; Ex.
stagnant industrial output
hide = skin of an animal
consternation = great shock; dismay
torrid = (of weather) hot or scorching; passionate; Ex. torrid
love affairs
delirium = mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled
excitement; ADJ. delirious
wastrel = waster; profligate
overthrow = topple; N.
smattering = slight knowledge; small scattered number
or amount; Ex. smattering of German
throng = crowd (of people or things); V.
document = provide written evidence (for a claim);
record with documents; N.
mongrel = plant or animal (esp. a dog) of mixed breed;
ADJ.
dazzle = make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze;
fill with wonder
vouch = give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his
integrity; N. voucher
lopsided = heavier or larger on one side than the other;
Ex. lopsided way of walking
indigenous = native; Ex. plant indigenous to the New
World
rivet = metal pin used for fastening metal plates together;
V: fasten with a rivet; engross
overture = musical introduction to a long musical piece;
first offer or proposal (to begin talks in the hope of
reaching an agreement); Ex. overtures for peace
solecism = nonstandard grammatical construction; construction
that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation
of social etiquette
jaunty = cheerful and pleased with life; lighthearted; animated;
easy and carefree; dapper in appearance; Ex.
jaunty person/hat
practical = based on experience; of or acquired through
practice (rather than theory); useful; Ex. practical man
factotum = handyman; person who does all kinds of
work; CF. do everything
parable = short simple story teaching a moral
voluble = fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility
castrate = remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)
malevolent = wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence
camaraderie = good-fellowship; CF. comrade
implore = beg
nettle = irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
blackball = vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative
vote
ecosystem = ecological community together with its environment
discredit = defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve;
N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful
bilious = suffering from indigestion; sick from having too
much bile; irritable; easily irritated
rococo = ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century
disapprobation = disapproval; condemnation
shear = remove (fleece or hair) by cutting; remove the hair
or fleece from; cut with or as if with shears; N: shears;
pair of scissors
verbiage = pompous array of words; too many unnecessary
words; wordiness
invincible = unconquerable
truncate = cut the top off; shorten
allay = calm; pacify
disdain = treat with scorn or contempt
surmount = overcome
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