Bellicose war-like; aggressive Consummate complete; total; supremely good Elusive hard to pin down Gregarious extroverted; sociable; outgoing Jaundiced cynical; pessimistic Nettle annoy Phenomenon an event or happening (plural: phenomena) Recuperate get better after illness Superlative extremely good; the best Whet…

Bane troublesome influence Condone tacitly support; overlook Eclectic taking things from different sources Genre a category; type Irascible easily angered Mundane ordinary; worldly Perpetuated caused to continue Rancor resentment; animosity; bad feeling Strut swagger; show off Voluble talkative Bard poet…

Atheist person who does not believe in God Colloquial local and informal (used of language) Dotard foolish old man Furrow groove Instigator troublemaker; person who entices others to do something Misnomer wrong name Percipient perceptive; insightful Quaff drink down quickly…

Archetype classic example of Clemency mercy Disinterested unbiased Flout defy; reject Ingénue naïve, unsophisticated person Mendacious given to lying Paucity shortage Protean changeable Sophomoric juvenile; immature Venal corrupt; can be bribed Archives collections of old records; place of storage of…

Antiquated outdated; old fashioned Choleric easily angered Diorama model of a scene Fecund fertile Inebriation drunkenness; intoxication Marshal to gather together Parity equality Profound having deep meaning Servile overly submissive; groveling Usurp take someone’s position (usually by force) Apathetic indifferent;…

Anecdote a brief amusing story Celerity speed Dexterous skilful with hands Extraneous irrelevant Incoherent not clear Maladroit clumsy; unskillful Pallid pale Presumptuous assuming too much; arrogant Scrupulous careful; diligent; painstaking Unequivocal clear; obvious Animosity hatred; antagonism Censorious disapproving; critical Dichotomy…

Ambivalence lack of clarity; wavering; being undecided Cantankerous bad-tempered; quarrelsome Derogatory uncomplimentary Exemplify to serve as a good example Impecunious having no money Lucid clear Ornate highly decorated Precipice steep slope Salubrious health-giving Truant shirker; someone absent without permission Ambulatory…

Alacrity eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness Burgeon grow; flourish; put forth new shoots Deleterious harmful Euphemism a polite phrase to cover something unpleasant Hypocritical insincere Lethargic tired; without energy Ogle stare at; observe in an obvious manner Postulate hypothesize; propose Robust strong;…

Acrid sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes) Boorish ill-mannered Cynical believing that people act only out of selfish motives Epistle a letter (form of communication) Heresy against orthodox opinion Lance spear; spike; javelin Obscure difficult to understand; partially hidden…

Abhor hate Bigot narrow-minded, prejudiced person Counterfeit fake; false Enfranchise give voting rights Hamper hinder; obstruct Kindle to start a fire Noxious harmful; poisonous; lethal Placid calm; peaceful Remuneration payment for work done Talisman lucky charm Abrasive rough; coarse; harsh…