GRE/CAT VOCABULARY LIST 59
illusion = misleading vision or visual image; false idea or
belief; CF. delusion
artifacts = object made by human beings, either handmade
or mass-produced
mirth = merriment; laughter
nomadic = wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates
from place to place
summation = act of finding the total; summing-up; summary
(esp. one given by the judge at the end of a trial)
knit = contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together
closely; make (a fabric or garment) by interwining yarn
or thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex. The bones should knit
together in a few weeks.
gruel = thin liquid porridge
alias = an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to
mislead people); ADV. alias
forge = counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently; form by
heating in a forge and hammering into shape; move
with a sudden increase of speed or power; Ex. forged
ahead in the last two years; N: furnace where metals are
heated
crux = essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem;
ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
pied = piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored
hysteria = excessive or uncontrollable excitement; N. hysteric:
person suffering from hysteria; CF. hysterics: attack
of hysteria
condescend = (derog.) bestow courtesies with a superior
air; descend to the level of one considered inferior
surveillance = close observation of a person (esp. one under
suspicion); watching; guarding
balk = stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse
to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate
complement = complete; consummate; make perfect; N.
indenture = bind as servant or apprentice to master; bind
by indenture; N: contract binding one party into the service
of another for a specified time (as between an apprentice
and his master)
swagger = walk or behave with an over-confident manner
ornate = excessively or elaborately decorated
exertion = effort; expenditure of much physical work; V.
exert oneself: make a great effort
ethnology = study of humankind; study of the different
races of human beings; CF. anthropology
circumspect = prudent; cautious; acting after careful
thought
debut = d´ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation
of a young woman to society
taxonomist = specialist in classifying (animals, etc.); CF.
taxonomy: science of classification
insipid = lacking in flavor; lacking interest; dull; Ex. insipid
food/character
contentious = quarrelsome; controversial; likely to cause
arguments
pensive = dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful;
thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative;
CF. think over
d´ebris = rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something
broken or destroyed
presume = take for granted; assume; act overconfidently;
take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair advantage
of (someone.s kindness or connection); N. presumption
pivotal = of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
decant = pour off gently (wine or liquid)
marked = noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex.
marked improvement/man
renounce = abandon; give up (by formal announcement);
disown; repudiate; Ex. renounce one.s claim to the
property/one.s religion; N. renunciation
boon = blessing; benefit; something very helpful
embargo = ban on commerce or other activity
purported = alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex.
purported Satanists
prot´eg´e = person receiving protection and support from a patron
jibe = agree; be in harmony with; gibe
fatalism = belief that events are determined by forces or
fates beyond one.s control; ADJ. fatalistic; CF. fatal:
causing death
peroration = conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate:
conclude a speech; speak at great length
explicate = explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable
opulence = extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance;
ADJ. opulent: possessing great wealth; abundant
commiserate = feel or express pity or sympathy for
denotation = meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote:
indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
scowl = frown angrily; N: angry frown
seclusion = isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from
others; isolate
sprout = begin to grow; give off shoots or buds; N: new
growth on a plant; shoot
insurmountable = overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable
waif = homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays
irresolute = uncertain how to act; weak; lacking in resolution;
indecisive; N. irresolution
furtive = stealthy; quiet and secret (trying to escape notice);
sneaky; Ex. furtive glance
yield = amount produced; crop; income on investment;
profit obtained from an investment; V: produce; give in;
surrender
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