English Vocabulary Flash Cards: GRE Vocabulary Power (3-26)

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florescence
  • condition or period of flowering
retroactive
  • taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax)
  • (of a law) having effect on the past as well as the future
deterrent
  • something that discourages or deters
acclimate
  • adapt
  • adjust to climate or environment
couple
  • join
  • unite
  • OP. uncouple
taut
  • tight
  • strained
  • tense
  • ready
  • OP. slack
ulterior
  • intentionally hidden
  • beyond what is evident
  • situated beyond
  • unstated and often questionable
rotunda
  • circular building or hall covered with a dome
overwrought
  • nervous or excited
  • extremely agitated
  • hysterical
  • wrought-up
voyeur
  • Peeping Tom
  • person who derives sexual gratification from observing the sexual acts of others
verve
  • enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition)
  • liveliness
  • vigor
ingratiate
  • become popular with
  • bring (oneself) in favor of another
pantomime
  • acting without dialogue
asunder
  • into parts
  • apart
dynamo
  • generator for producing electricity
  • energetic person
impregnable
  • invulnerable
  • impossible to capture or enter by force
incandescent
  • strikingly bright
  • shining with intense heat
  • emitting visible light when heated
pinnace
  • small boat
orgy
  • wild drunken revelry
  • unrestrained indulgence in an activity
gainsay
  • deny
plait
  • braid
  • interwine
  • interweave strands or lengths of
  • make by weaving strands together
  • N: braided length as of hair o fabric
emissary
  • agent (sent on a mission to represent another)
  • messenger
abusive
  • coarsely insulting
  • physically harmful
rescind
  • repeal
  • annul
  • cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)
agog
  • highly excited
  • intensely curious
elope
  • run away secretly with the intention of getting married
kinetic
  • producing motion
  • of motion
beware
  • be cautious (of)
reputable
  • respectable
  • having a good reputation
preposterous
  • absurd
  • ridiculous
  • completely unreasonable
perspicacious
  • astute
  • (of someone) having insight
  • penetrating
kaleidoscope
  • tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc. produce interesting symmetrical effect
  • series of changing events
pterodactyl
  • extinct flying reptile
rectitude
  • moral correctness
  • moral uprightness
  • moral virtue
  • correctness of judgment
assurance
  • certainty
  • self-confidence
  • firm statement that something is certainly true
  • promise or pledge
  • confidence in one's own ability
queue
  • line (of waiting people or vehicles)