GRE Word List 15

Group 1

Abraded	worn away; eroded [abrade (v); abrasion (n)]
Apposite	fitting; suitable
Diatribe	tirade; violent denunciation; stream of criticism
Gerontocracy	government by the aged
Maculated	spotted
Quisling	traitor
Sedulity	thoroughness; perseverance [sedulous (a)]
Seine	type of fishing net
Tender	to offer
Waffle	talk nonsense

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Group 2

Burlesque	1. comic play; 2. lampoon
Exemplar	model type [exemplary (a)]
Homiletics	art of preaching and giving sermons
Impugn	challenge; question someone�s honor etc.
Incubus	encumbrance; nightmarish thing
Lope	run with long strides
Macerate	soften or break up by soaking; weaken
Nostrum	remedy
Saw	1. tool for cutting; 2. wise saying
Sibyl	prophetess

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Group 3

Brook	1. small stream; 2. tolerate
Emboss	decorate with a raised design
Eschew	shun; avoid
Limpid	transparently clear
Liturgy	form of worship
Nexus	connection
Odometer	instrument to measure distance covered
Purchase	1. grip; 2. buy
Quotidian	daily; routine
Seminal	essential; formative

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Group 4

Agog	amazed; wide-eyed with enthusiasm
Amortize	pay off a debt in installments
Curmudgeon	grumpy person
Dormancy	state of inactivity
Efficacy	effectiveness
Epithet	phrase used as a label or to express the essential nature of
Figurehead	symbol of power; nominal leader
Fracas	fight; disturbance
Jamb	door post
Milk	to squeeze; obtain by application of pressure

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Group 5

Chorales	simple hymns
Dissonance	discord; disagreement
Frieze	decorative border
Gist	essence; main point
Latent	hidden; real but undeveloped
Partiality	bias
Plodding	walking slowly and heavily; uninspired
Rekindle	relight; revive
Symphony	type of musical composition
Tarnished	made dull; spoil (reputation)

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Group 6

Compromised	1. damaged or put in doubt (esp. of reputation); 2. reached an agreement by giving up part of a claim
Drabness	dullness
Endow	give gift; provide with money etc.
Esoterica	obscure details
Falters	hesitates
Prattle	mindless talk
Prohibitive	1. prohibiting; 2. exorbitantly expensive
Purist	conservative; one who insists on correct forms of language etc.
Quack	charlatan; fake
Taunt	mock; tease

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Group 7

Arresting (a)	attracting attention; striking
Barrage	extended gunfire to cover an attack; dam across river; deluge or information etc.
Chantey	type of song sung by sailors
Ferrous	concerned with iron or its compounds
Manipulative	scheming
Orate	speak in a pompous manner
Psychosis	severe mental disturbance
Savor	enjoy
Table (v)	put down for future discussion
Underwrite	give guarantee, insure

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Group 8

Dissident	person who disagrees [dissidence (n)]
Enigmatic	puzzling [enigma (n)]
Foolhardy	reckless [foolhardiness (n)]
Homogeneity	evenness; uniformity
Personification	1. represent something as a person; 2. a concrete example of
Plaque	1. surface deposit on teeth or in artery etc.; 2. decorative plate or sign
Plausibility	believability [plausible (a)]
Resilience	resistance; ability to spring back [resilience (a)]
Trilogy	set of three (literary works etc.); tetralogy = set of four
Vagary	something unaccountable; freak

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Group 9

Aisle	corridor; passageway (esp. between rows of seats)
Discountenance	disallow
Imperative	must be obeyed
Indigent	poor; needy [indigence (n)]
Nadir	lowest point
Paranoia	mental state characterized by delusions or excessive fear
Prudence	caution; wisdom
Resuscitation	revival from unconsciousness [resuscitate (v)]
Shirk	avoid (esp. work)
Teetotalism	total abstinence from alcohol

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Group 10

Balm	soothing ointment or anything soothing [balmy (a)]
Calibrate	mark an accurate scale on a device
Cataclysmic	violently disruptive [cataclysm (n)]
Impropriety	inappropriate behavior
Pith	center; soft part of stem; essence
Primordial	present from the beginning of time
Reconnaissance	examination or survey conducted in advance [reconnoiter (v)]
Sinistral	left-handed (or counterclockwise) [dextral - right handed]
Tempers	moderates
Undermine	subvert; attempt to overthrow

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