obviate: to effectively dispose of; to make unnecessary; avert, forestall, prevent
One of the advantages of having a bald head is that it obviates the need for a haircut.
decipher: to read or interpret; convert from a code; decrypt
It took a team of experts years to decipher the message on the scroll.
consternation: great fear or shock that makes one feel helpless or bewildered
bewildered: to confuse or befuddle, especially with numerous conflicting situations, objects or statements
They felt great consternation when they realized they were lost.
abate: to diminish in intensity, violence, amount; to subtract
They were relieved that the violent thunderstorm had finally abated.
forage: search for food or provisions
provisions: a stock of necessary supplies, especially food
Panda bears spend most of their time foraging for food.
duress: constraint by threat; imprisonment
Her father put her under great duress to apologize.
fissure: a long, narrow, deep cleft or crack
cleft: a crack, crevice, or split
These huge fissures in the glacier were attributed to the effects of global warming.
restitution: return to a former condition or situation
He was ordered to make restitution to the company he had stolen money from.
forlorn: without hope; desperate
She was deeply forlorn over the death of her husband.
conciliatory: tending to reconcile
The counselor encouraged the couple to adopt a more conciliatory approach.
2010-01-27
Smart.fm SAT verbal advanced, lesson 4
inexorable: not to be moved by entreaty; unyielding; relentless
entreaty: an earnest request or petition; a plea
In the boxing ring, he was an inexorable opponent.
proliferate: to quickly reproduce or spread
Wildflowers proliferate in the meadow outside our home.
recalcitrant: stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority, discipline or guidance
defy: to oppose or resist with boldness and assurance
The recalcitrant child refused to listen to his teacher.
treachery: perfidy, disloyalty, or treason
perfidy: deliberate breach of faith; calculated violation of trust
His treachery was eventually discovered.
grouse: complain; grumble
He frequently groused about his computer's poor performance.
waft: float, as on the wind
With a gentle puff, she sent the seeds wafting into the summer breeze.
caustic: corrosive; that which can destroy tissue by chemical action
Caustic substances should be safely stored in sealed containers.
pundit: actual or self-professed authority
The former journalist was now a political pundit on a cable television talk show.
exhort: urge
The energertic cheerleaders exhorted their team to win.
entreaty: an earnest request or petition; a plea
In the boxing ring, he was an inexorable opponent.
proliferate: to quickly reproduce or spread
Wildflowers proliferate in the meadow outside our home.
recalcitrant: stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority, discipline or guidance
defy: to oppose or resist with boldness and assurance
The recalcitrant child refused to listen to his teacher.
treachery: perfidy, disloyalty, or treason
perfidy: deliberate breach of faith; calculated violation of trust
His treachery was eventually discovered.
grouse: complain; grumble
He frequently groused about his computer's poor performance.
waft: float, as on the wind
With a gentle puff, she sent the seeds wafting into the summer breeze.
caustic: corrosive; that which can destroy tissue by chemical action
Caustic substances should be safely stored in sealed containers.
pundit: actual or self-professed authority
The former journalist was now a political pundit on a cable television talk show.
exhort: urge
The energertic cheerleaders exhorted their team to win.
2010-01-24
Smart.fm SAT verbal advanced, lesson 3
recalcitrant: stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority, discipline or guidance
The recalcitrant child refused to listen to his teacher.
inexorable: not to be moved by entreaty; unyielding; relentless
entreaty: an earnest request or petition; a plea
In the boxing ring, he was an inexorable opponent.
proliferate: to quickly reproduce or spread
Wildflowers proliferate in the meadow outside out home.
meadow: a tract of glassland, either in its natural state or used as pasture or for growing hay
pasture: glass or other vegetation eaten as food by grazing animals
tract: an expanse of land or water
treachery: perfidy, disloyalty, or treason
perfidy: deliberate breach of faith; calculated violation of trust; treachery
His treachery was eventually discovered.
grouse: complain; grumble
He frequently groused about his computer's poor performance.
occult: secret; esoteric
esoteric: intended for or understood by only a particular group
She takes her passion for the occult a little to seriously
waft: float, as on the wind
With a gentle puff, she sent the seeds wafting into the summer breeze.
puff: a short, forceful exhalation of breath
caustic: corrosive; that which can destroy tissue by chemical action
Caustic substances should be safely stored in sealed containers.
pundit: actual or self0professed authority
profess: to affirm openly
The former journalist was now a political pundit on a a cable television talk show.
exhort: urge
To urge by strong, often stirring argument, admonition, advice or appeal
admonition: mild, kind, yet earnest reproof
reprove: to voice or convey disapproval of
The energetic cheerleaders exhorted their team to win.
The recalcitrant child refused to listen to his teacher.
inexorable: not to be moved by entreaty; unyielding; relentless
entreaty: an earnest request or petition; a plea
In the boxing ring, he was an inexorable opponent.
proliferate: to quickly reproduce or spread
Wildflowers proliferate in the meadow outside out home.
meadow: a tract of glassland, either in its natural state or used as pasture or for growing hay
pasture: glass or other vegetation eaten as food by grazing animals
tract: an expanse of land or water
treachery: perfidy, disloyalty, or treason
perfidy: deliberate breach of faith; calculated violation of trust; treachery
His treachery was eventually discovered.
grouse: complain; grumble
He frequently groused about his computer's poor performance.
occult: secret; esoteric
esoteric: intended for or understood by only a particular group
She takes her passion for the occult a little to seriously
waft: float, as on the wind
With a gentle puff, she sent the seeds wafting into the summer breeze.
puff: a short, forceful exhalation of breath
caustic: corrosive; that which can destroy tissue by chemical action
Caustic substances should be safely stored in sealed containers.
pundit: actual or self0professed authority
profess: to affirm openly
The former journalist was now a political pundit on a a cable television talk show.
exhort: urge
To urge by strong, often stirring argument, admonition, advice or appeal
admonition: mild, kind, yet earnest reproof
reprove: to voice or convey disapproval of
The energetic cheerleaders exhorted their team to win.
2010-01-24 smart.fm
incursion: a raid or invasion; the act of entering another's territory or domain
What was at first an incursion had become a lengthy occupation.
impeccable: without defect or error; flawless
requiem: a religious or musical service for the dead
intractable: difficult to manage or govern; stubborn
The businessman found himself struggling with an intractable situation.
seminal: of reproduction; germinal; originative
on AHDEL: highly influential in an original way; constituting or providing a basis for further development
The discovery of electricity was a seminal development in the history of science.
serene: calm, peaceful, tranquil
The newborn baby girl has a serene expression on her face.
din: loud confusing noise
It was hard to hear anything above the din of the crowd.
antidote: a remedy to counteract a poison
People can die from the bite of a black widow if the antidote is not given in time.
propriety: the quality of being proper; suitableness, appropriateness
The young manager felt that his assistant lacked a sense of propriety.
flout: show scorn or contempt
She makes great effort to flout society's rules.
What was at first an incursion had become a lengthy occupation.
impeccable: without defect or error; flawless
requiem: a religious or musical service for the dead
intractable: difficult to manage or govern; stubborn
The businessman found himself struggling with an intractable situation.
seminal: of reproduction; germinal; originative
on AHDEL: highly influential in an original way; constituting or providing a basis for further development
The discovery of electricity was a seminal development in the history of science.
serene: calm, peaceful, tranquil
The newborn baby girl has a serene expression on her face.
din: loud confusing noise
It was hard to hear anything above the din of the crowd.
antidote: a remedy to counteract a poison
People can die from the bite of a black widow if the antidote is not given in time.
propriety: the quality of being proper; suitableness, appropriateness
The young manager felt that his assistant lacked a sense of propriety.
flout: show scorn or contempt
She makes great effort to flout society's rules.
From 2010-01-18 episode of A Way with Words
get one's goat
condescending: Displaying a patronizingly superior attitude
smarmy: Hypocritcally, complacently, or effusively earnest
oily: Excessively suave in action or behavior; unctuous
rearing/raring to go
champing/chomping at the bit
cesspool: A covered hole or pit for receiving drainage or sewage, as from a house
condescending: Displaying a patronizingly superior attitude
smarmy: Hypocritcally, complacently, or effusively earnest
oily: Excessively suave in action or behavior; unctuous
rearing/raring to go
champing/chomping at the bit
cesspool: A covered hole or pit for receiving drainage or sewage, as from a house
2010-01-23
2010-01-11
stratigraphy
The study of rock strata, especially the distribution, deposition, and age of sedimentary rocks.
flagellum
A long, threadlike appendage, especially a whiplike extension of certain cells or unicellular organisms that functions as an organ of locomotion.
2010-01-10
facultative
a. Capable of occurring or not occurring; contingent. b. Not required or compulsory; optional.
eukaryote
A single-celled or multicellular organism whose cells contain a distinct membrane-bound nucleus.
eukaryotic adjective
eukaryotic adjective
From Quiz Guy on 2009-12-14 episode of A Way with Words
previvor
scronsonants
poinsettia
Christmas chrysanthemums
schadenfreude school
shtetl shtick
scrumptious scrapple
Lent
Shrovetide shrimp
sprocket spreadsheed
threescore thriftshops
scronsonants
poinsettia
Christmas chrysanthemums
schadenfreude school
shtetl shtick
scrumptious scrapple
Lent
Shrovetide shrimp
sprocket spreadsheed
threescore thriftshops
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