cabal n.#small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests. The cabal was defeated when their scheme was discovered.#cache n.#hiding place. The detectives followed the suspect until he led them to the cache where he had stored his loot. He had cached the cash in a bag for trash: it was a hefty sum.#cacophonous adj.# discordant; inharmonious. Do the students in the orchestra enjoy the cacophonous sounds they make when they're tuning up? I don't know how they can stand the racket. cacophony, n.#cadaver n.#corpse. In some states, it is illegal to dissect cadavers.#cadaverous adj.#Like a corpse; pale. By his cadaverous appearance, we could see how the disease had ravaged him.#cadence n.#rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds); beat. Marching down the road, the troops sang out, following the cadence set by the sergeant.#cajole v.# coax; wheedle. Diane tried to cajole her father into letting her drive the family car. cajolery, n.#calamity n.#disaster; misery. As news of the calamity spread, offers of relief poured in to the stricken community.#calculated adj.# deliberately planned; likely. Lexy's choice of clothes to wear to the debate tournament was carefully calculated. Her conventional suit was one calculated to appeal to the conservative judges.#caldron n.#large kettle. "Why, Mr. Crusoe," said the savage heating the giant caldron, "we'd love to have you for dinner!"#caliber n.#ability; quality. The scholarship committee searched for students of high caliber, ones with the intelligence and ability to be a credit to the school.#calligraphy n.#beautiful writing; excellent penmanship. As we examine ancient manuscripts, we become impressed with the calligraphy of the scribes.#callous adj.#hardened; unfeeling. He had worked in the hospital for so many years that he was callous to the suffering in the wards. callus, n.#callow adj.#youthful; immature; inexperienced. As a freshman, Jack was sure he was a man of the world; as a sophomore, he made fun of freshmen as callow youths. In both cases, his judgment showed just how callow he was.#calorific adj.#heat-producing. Coal is much more calorific than green wood.#calumny n.#malicious misrepresentation; slander. He could endure his financial failure, but he could not bear the calumny that his foes heaped upon him.#camaraderie n.#good-fellowship. What he loved best about his job was the sense of camaraderie he and his co- workers shared.#cameo n.#shell or jewel carved in relief; star's special appearance in a minor role in a film. Don't buy cameos from the street peddlers in Rome: the workmanship is wretched. Did you catch Bill Murray's cameo in Little Shop of Horrors? He was on-screen so briefly that if you blinked you missed him.#camouflage v.#disguise; conceal. In order to rescue Han Solo, Princess Leia camouflaged herself in the helmet and cloak of a space bandit.#candor n.# frankness; open honesty. Jack can carry candor too far: when he told Jill his honest opinion of her, she nearly slapped his face. candid, adj. #canine adj.#related to dogs; dog-like. Some days the canine population of Berkeley seems almost to outnumber the human population.#canny adj.#shrewd; thrifty. The canny Scotsman was more than a match for the swindlers.#cant n.#insincere expressions of piety; jargon of thieves. Shocked by news of the minister's extramarital love affairs, the worshippers dismissed his talk about the sacredness of marriage as mere cant. Cant is a form of hypocrisy: those who can, pray; those who cant, pretend.#cantankerous adj.#ill humored; irritable. Constantly complaining about his treatment and refusing to cooperate with the hospital staff, he was a cantankerous patient.#cantata n.#story set to music, to be sung by a chorus. The choral society sang the new cantata composed by its leader.#canter n.#slow gallop. Because the racehorse had outdistanced its competition so easily, the reporter wrote that the race was won in a canter. also v.#canto n.#division of a long poem. Dante's poetic masterpiece The Divine Comedy is divided into cantos.#canvass v.#determine votes, etc. After canvassing the sentiments of his constituents, the congressman was confident that he represented the majority opinion of his district. also n.#capacious adj.#spacious. In the capacious rotunda of the railroad terminal, thousands of travelers lingered while waiting for their train.#capacity n.#mental or physical ability; role; ability to accommodate. Mike had the capacity to handle several jobs at once. In his capacity as president of SelecTronics he marketed an electronic dictionary with a capacity of 200,000 words. #capitulate v.#surrender. The enemy was warned to capitulate or face annihilation.#caprice n.#sudden, unexpected fancy; whim. On a caprice, Jack tried drag-racing, but paid the price-his father took his Chevy Caprice away from him.#capricious adj.# unpredictable; fickle. The storm was capricious: it changed course constantly. Jill was capricious, too: she changed boyfriends almost as often as she changed clothes.#caption n.#title; chapter heading; text under illustration. The captions that accompany The Far Side cartoons are almost as funny as the pictures. also v.#captivate v.#charm or enthrall. Bart and Lisa were captivated by their new nanny's winning manner.#carat n.#unit of weight for precious stones; measure of fineness of gold. He gave her a three-carat diamond mounted in an eighteen-carat gold band.#cardinal adj.#chief. If you want to increase your word power, the cardinal rule of vocabulary-building is to read.#cardiologist n.# doctor specializing in the heart. When the pediatrician noticed Philip had a slight heart murmur, she referred him to a cardiologist for further tests.#careen v.#Lurch; sway from side to side. The taxicab careened wildly as it rounded the corner.#caricature n.#exaggerated picture or description; distortion. The cartoonist's caricature of President Bush grossly exaggerated the size of the president's ears. also v.#carnage n.#destruction of life. The film The Killing Fields vividly depicts the carnage wreaked by Pol Pot's followers in Cambodia.#carnal adj.#fleshly. Is the public more interested in carnal pleasures than in spiritual matters? Compare the number of people who read Playboy daily to the number of those who read the Bible or Koran every day.#carnivorous adj.#meat-eating. The lion's a carnivorous beast. A hunk of meat makes up his feast. A cow is not a carnivore. She likes the taste of grain, not gore.#carping adj.# finding fault. A carping critic is a nit-picker: he loves to point out flaws. If you don't like this definition, feel free to carp.#cartographer n.#map-maker. Though not a professional cartographer, Tolkien was able to construct a map of his fictional world.#cascade n.#small waterfall. On such a hot day, the hikers felt refreshed by the spray from the series of cascades pouring down the side of the cliff.#castigate v.#criticize severely; punish. When the teacher threatened that she would castigate the mischievous boys if they didn't behave, they shaped up in a hurry.#casualty n.#serious or fatal accident. The number of automotive casualties on this holiday weekend was high.#cataclysm n.#violent upheaval; deluge. The Russian Revolution was a political and social cataclysm that overturned czarist society. cataclysmic, adj. #catalyst n.#agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged. Many chemical reactions cannot take place without the presence of a catalyst.#catapult n.#slingshot; a hurling machine. Airplanes are sometimes launched from battleships by catapults. also v.#cataract n.#great waterfall; eye abnormality. She gazed with awe at the mighty cataract known as Niagara Falls.#catastrophe n.#calamity; disaster. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake was a catastrophe that destroyed most of the city. A similar earthquake striking today could have even more catastrophic results.#catcall n.#shout of disapproval; boo. Every major league pitcher has off days during which he must learn to ignore the catcalls and angry hisses from the crowd.#catechism n.#book for religious instruction; instruction by question and answer. He taught by engaging his pupils in a catechism until they gave him the correct answer.#categorical adj.#without exceptions; unqualified; absolute. Though the captain claimed he was never, never sick at sea, he finally had to qualify his categorical denial: he was "hardly ever" sick at sea.#cater to v.#supply something desired (whether good or bad). The chef was happy to cater to the tastes of his highly sophisticated clientele. Critics condemned the movie industry for catering to the public's ever-increasing appetite for violence.#catharsis n.#purging or cleansing of any passage of the body. Aristotle maintained that tragedy created a catharsis by purging the soul of base concepts.#catholic adj.#broadly sympathetic; liberal. He was extremely catholic in his taste and read everything he could find in the library.#caucus n.#private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policy. At the opening of Congress, the members of the Democratic Party held a caucus to elect the Majority Leader of the House and the Party Whip.#caulk v.#make watertight by filling in cracks. Jack had to caulk the tiles in the shower stall to stop the leak into the basement below.#causal adj.#implying a cause-and-effect relationship. The psychologist maintained there was a causal relationship between the nature of one's early childhood experiences and one's adult personality. causality, n.#caustic adj.#burning; sarcastically biting. The critic's caustic comments angered the actors, who resented his cutting remarks.#cavalcade n.#procession; parade. As described by Chaucer, the cavalcade of Canterbury pilgrims was a motley group.#cavalier adj.#offhand or casual; haughty. The disguised prince resented the cavalier way in which the palace guards treated him. How dared they handle a member of the royal family so unceremoniously!#cavil v.#make frivolous objections. It's fine when you make sensible criticisms, but it really bugs me when you cavil about unimportant details. also n.#cede v.#yield (title, territory) to; surrender formally. Eventually the descendants of England's Henry II were forced to cede their French territories to the King of France.#celebrated adj.#famous; well-known. Thanks to their race to break Roger Maris's home-run record, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire are two of America's most celebrated baseball players. celebrity, n.#celerity n.#speed; rapidity. Hamlet resented his mother's celerity in remarrying within a month after his father's death.#celestial adj.#heavenly; relating to the sky. Pointing his primitive telescope at the heavens, Galileo explored the celestial mysteries.#celibate adj.#unmarried; abstaining from sexual intercourse. Though Havelock Ellis wrote extensively about sexual practices, recent studies maintain he was celibate throughout his life. celibacy, n. #censor n.#overseer of morals; person who reads to eliminate inappropriate remarks. Soldiers dislike having their mail read by a censor but understand the need for this precaution. also v.#censorious adj.# critical. Censorious people delight in casting blame.#censure v.# blame; criticize. The senator was censured for behavior inappropriate to a member of Congress. also n.#centigrade adj.#measure of temperature used widely in Europe. On the centigrade thermometer, the freezing point of water is zero degrees.#centrifugal adj.#radiating; departing from the center. Many automatic drying machines remove excess moisture from clothing by centrifugal force.#centripetal adj.#tending toward the center. Does centripetal force or the force of gravity bring orbiting bodies to the earth's surface?#centurion n.#Roman army officer. Because he was in command of a company of one hundred soldiers, he was called a centurion.#cerebral adj.#pertaining to the brain or intellect. The heroes of Dumb and Dumber were poorly equipped for cerebral pursuits.#cerebration n.#thought. Mathematics problems sometimes require much cerebration.#ceremonious adj.#marked by formality. Ordinary dress would be inappropriate at so ceremonious an affair.#certitude n.# certainty. Though there was no certitude of his getting the job, Lou thought he had a good chance of doing so.#cessation n.#stoppage. The airline's employees threatened a cessation of all work if management failed to meet their demands. cease, v.#cession n.#yielding to another; ceding. The cession of Alaska to the United States is discussed in this chapter.#chafe v.#warm by rubbing; make sore (by rubbing). Chilled, he chafed his hands before the fire. The collar of his school uniform chafed Tom's neck, but not as much the school's strict rules chafed his spirit. also n.#chaff n.#worthless products of an endeavor. When you separate the wheat from the chaff, be sure you throw out the chaff.#chaffing adj.#bantering; joking. Sometimes Chad's flippant, chaffing remarks annoy us. Still, Chad's chaffing keeps us laughing. also n.#chagrin n.#vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride); disappointment. Embarrassed by his parents' shabby, working-class appearance, Doug felt their visit to his school would bring him nothing but chagrin. Someone filled with chagrin doesn't grin: he's too mortified.#chalice n.#goblet; consecrated cup. In a small room adjoining the cathedral, many ornately decorated chalices made by the most famous European goldsmiths were on display.#chameleon n.#Lizard that changes color in different situations. Like the chameleon, he assumed the political thinking of every group he met.#champion v.#support militantly. Martin Luther King, Jr., won the Nobel Peace Prize because he championed the oppressed in their struggle for equality.#chaotic adj.#in utter disorder. He tried to bring order into the chaotic state of affairs. chaos, n. #charisma n.#divine gift; great popular charm or appeal of a political leader Political commentators have deplored the importance of a candidate's charisma in these days of television campaigning.#charlatan n.# quack; pretender to knowledge. When they realized that the Wizard didn't know how to get them back to Kansas, Dorothy and her companions were indignant that they'd been duped by a charlatan.#chary adj.#cautious; sparing or restrained about giving. A prudent, thrifty, New Englander, DeWitt was as chary of investing money in junk bonds as he was chary of paying people unnecessary compliments.#chasm n.#abyss. Looking down from the Cliffs of Doom, Frodo and his companions could not see the bottom of the chasm.#chassis n.#framework and working parts of an automobile. Examining the car after the accident, the owner discovered that the body had been ruined but that the chassis was unharmed.#chaste adj.#pure; virginal; modest. To ensure that his bride would stay chaste while he was off to the wars, the crusader had her fitted out with a chastity belt. chastity, n.#chasten v.#discipline; punish in order to correct. Whom God loves, God chastens.#chastise v.#punish. "Spare the rod and spoil the child" was Miss Watson's motto: she relished whipping Huck with a birch rod to chastise him.#chauvinist n.#blindly devoted patriot. A chauvinist cannot recognize any faults in his country, no matter how flagrant they may be. Likewise, a male chauvinist cannot recognize his bias in favor of his own sex, no matter how flagrant that may be. chauvinistic, adj. #check v.#stop motion; curb or restrain. Thrusting out her arm, Grandma checked Bobby's lunge at his sister. "Young man," she said, "you'd better check your temper." (secondary meaning)#checkered adj.#marked by changes in fortune. During his checkered career he had lived in palatial mansions and in dreary boardinghouses.#cherubic adj.#angelic; innocent-looking. With her cheerful smile and rosy cheeks, she was a particularly cherubic child.#chicanery n.#trickery; deception. Those sneaky lawyers misrepresented what occurred, made up all sorts of implausible alternative scenarios to confuse the jurors, and in general depended on chicanery to win the case.#chide v.#scold. Grandma began to chide Steven for his Lying.#chimerical adj.#fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic; imaginative. As everyone expected, Ted's chimerical scheme to make a fortune by raising ermines in his back yard proved a dismal failure.#chisel n.#wedgelike tool for cutting. With his hammer and chisel, the sculptor chipped away at the block of marble.#chisel v.#swindle or cheat; cut with a chisel. That crook chiseled me out of a hundred dollars when he sold me that "marble" statue he'd chiseled out of some cheap hunk of rock.#chivalrous adj.#courteous; faithful; brave. Chivalrous behavior involves noble words and good deeds.#choleric adj.#hot-tempered. His flushed, angry face indicated a choleric nature.#choreography n.#art of representing dances in written symbols; arrangement of dances. Merce Cunningham uses a computer in designing choreography: a software program allows him to compose sequences of possible moves and immediately view them on-screen.#chortle v.#chuckle with delight. When she heard that her rival had just been jailed for embezzlement, she chortled with joy. She was not a nice lady.#chronic adj.#Long established as a disease. The doctors were finally able to attribute his chronic headaches and nausea to traces of formaldehyde gas in his apartment.#chronicle v.#report; record (in chronological order). The gossip columnist was paid to chronicle the latest escapades of the socially prominent celebrities. also n.#churlish adj.#boorish; rude. Dismayed by his churlish manners at the party, the girls vowed never to invite him again.#cipher n.#secret code. Lacking his code book, the spy was unable to decode the message sent to him in cipher.#cipher n.#nonentity; worthless person or thing. She claimed her ex-husband was a total cipher and wondered why she had ever married him.#circuitous adj.#roundabout. To avoid the traffic congestion on the main highways, she took a circuitous route. circuit, n.#circumlocution n.# indirect or roundabout expression. He was afraid to call a spade a spade and resorted to circumlocutions to avoid direct reference to his subject.#circumscribe v.#Limit; confine. School regulations circumscribed Elle's social life: she hated having to follow rules that limited her activities.#circumspect adj.#prudent; cautious. Investigating before acting, she tried always to be circumspect.#circumvent v.#outwit; baffle. In order to circumvent the enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before starting our major campaign.#cistern n.#reservoir or water tank. The farmers were able to withstand the dry season by using rainwater they had stored in an underground cistern.#citadel n.#fortress. The citadel overlooked the city like a protecting angel.#cite v.#quote; command. She could cite passages in the Bible from memory. citation, n.#civil adj.#having to do with citizens or the state; courteous and polite. Although Internal Revenue Service agents are civil servants, they are not always civil to suspected tax cheats.#clairvoyant adj., n.#having foresight; fortuneteller. Cassandra's clairvoyant warning was not heeded by the Trojans. clairvoyance, n.#clamber v.#climb by crawling. She clambered over the wall.#clamor n.#noise. The clamor of the children at play outside made it impossible for her to take a nap. also v.#clandestine adj.#secret. After avoiding their chaperon, the lovers had a clandestine meeting.#clangor n.#Loud, resounding noise. The blacksmith was accustomed to the clangor of hammers on steel.#clapper n.#striker (tongue) of a bell. Wishing to be undisturbed by the bell, Dale wound his scarf around the clapper to muffle the noise of its striking.#clasp n.#fastening device; firm grip. When the clasp on Judy's bracelet broke, Fred repaired it, bending the hook back into shape. He then helped her slip on the bracelet, holding it firm in the sure clasp of his hand.#claustrophobia n.#fear of being locked in. His fellow classmates laughed at his claustrophobia and often threatened to lock him in his room.#cleave v.#split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to. With her heavy cleaver, Julia Child can cleave a whole roast duck in two. Soaked through, the soldier tugged at the uniform that cleaved annoyingly to his body. He would cleave to his post, come rain or shine. #cleft n.#split. Trying for a fresh handhold, the mountain- climber grasped the edge of a cleft in the sheer rockface. also adj. #clemency n.#disposition to be lenient; mildness, as of the weather. The lawyer was pleased when the case was sent to Judge Smith's chambers because Smith was noted for her clemency toward first offenders.#clench v.#close tightly; grasp. "Open wide," said the dentist, but Clint clenched his teeth even more tightly than before.#cliche n.#phrase dulled in meaning by repetition. High school compositions are often marred by such cliches as "strong as an ox."#clientele n.#body of customers. The rock club attracted a young, stylish clientele.#climactic adj.#relating to the highest point. When he reached the climactic portions of the book, he could not stop reading. climax, n.#clime n.#region; climate. His doctor advised him to move to a milder clime.#clip n.#section of filmed material. Phil's job at Fox Sports involved selecting clips of the day's sporting highlights for later broadcast. also v.#clique n.#small exclusive group. Fitzgerald wished that he belonged to the clique of popular athletes and big men on campus who seemed to run Princeton's social life.#cloister n.#monastery or convent. The nuns lived a secluded life in the cloister.#clout n.#great influence (especially political or social). Gatsby wondered whether he had enough clout to be admitted to the exclusive club.#cloying adj.#distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental. Disliking the cloying sweetness of standard wedding cakes, Jody and Tom chose to have homemade carrot cake at the reception. cloy, v.#clump n.#cluster or close group (of bushes, trees); mass; sound of heavy treading. Hiding behind the clump of bushes, the fugitives waited for the heavy clump of the soldiers' feet to fade away.#coagulate v.#thicken; congeal; clot. Even after you remove the pudding from the burner, it will continue to coagulate as it stands; therefore, do not overcook the pudding, lest it become too thick.#coalesce v.# combine; fuse. The brooks coalesce into one large river. When minor political parties coalesce, their coalescence may create a major coalition.#coalition n.#partnership; league; union. The Rainbow Coalition united people of all races in a common cause.#coddle v.#to treat gently. Don't coddle the children so much; they need a taste of discipline.#codicil n.#supplement to the body of a will. Miss Havisham kept her lawyers busy drawing up codicils to add to her already complicated will. #codify v.#arrange (laws, rules) as a code; classify. We need to take the varying rules and regulations of the different health agencies and codify them into a national health code.#coercion n.# use of force to get someone to obey. The inquisitors used both physical and psychological coercion to force Joan of Arc to deny that her visions were sent by God. coerce, v.#cogent adj.#convincing. It was inevitable that David chose to go to Harvard: he had several cogent reasons for doing so, including a full-tuition scholarship. Katya argued her case with such cogency that the jury had to decide in favor of her client. #cogitate v.#think over. Cogitate on this problem; the solution will come.#cognate adj.#related linguistically: allied by blood: similar or akin in nature. The English word "mother" is cognate to the Latin word "mater," whose influence is visible in the words "maternal" and "maternity." also n.#cognitive adj.#having to do with knowing or perceiving; related to the mental processes. Though Jack was emotionally immature, his cognitive development was admirable; he was very advanced intellectually.#cognizance n.#knowledge. During the election campaign, the two candidates were kept in full cognizance of the international situation.#cohere v.#stick together. Solids have a greater tendency to cohere than liquids.#cohesion n.#tendency to keep together. A firm believer in the maxim "Divide and conquer," the evil emperor, by means of lies and trickery, sought to disrupt the cohesion of the federation of free nations.#coiffure n.#hairstyle. You can make a statement with your choice of coiffure: in the sixties many African-Americans affirmed their racial heritage by wearing their hair in Afros.#coin v.#make coins; invent or fabricate. Mints coin good money; counterfeiters coin fakes. Slanderers coin nasty rumors; writers coin words. A neologism is an expression that's been newly-coined.#coincidence n.#two or more things occurring at the same time by chance. Was it just a coincidence that John and she had chanced to meet at the market for three days running, or was he deliberately trying to seek her out? coincidental, adj. #colander n.#utensil with perforated bottom used for straining. Before serving the spaghetti, place it in a colander to drain it.#collaborate v.#work together. Two writers collaborated in preparing this book.#collage n.#work of art put together from fragments. Scraps of cloth, paper doilies, and old photographs all went into her collage.#collate v.#examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order. They collated the newly found manuscripts to determine their age.#collateral n.#security given for loan. The sum you wish to borrow is so large that it must be secured by collateral.#colloquial adj.# pertaining to conversational or common speech. Some of the new, less formal reading passages on the SAT have a colloquial tone that is intended to make them more appealing to students.#collusion n.#conspiring in a fraudulent scheme. The swindlers were found guilty of collusion.#colossal adj.#huge. Radio City Music Hall has a colossal stage.#comatose adj.#in a coma; extremely sleepy. The longwinded orator soon had his audience in a comatose state.#combustible adj.# easily burned. After the recent outbreak of fires in private homes, the fire commissioner ordered that all combustible materials be kept in safe containers. also n.#comely adj.#attractive; agreeable. I would rather have a poor and comely wife than a rich and homely one.#comeuppance n.#rebuke; deserts. After his earlier rudeness, we were delighted to see him get his comeuppance.#commandeer v.#to draft for military purposes; to take for public use. The policeman commandeered the first car that approached and ordered the driver to go to the nearest hospital.#commemorate v.# honor the memory of. The statue of the Minute Man commemorates the valiant soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War.#commensurate adj.#equal in extent. Your reward will be commensurate with your effort.#commiserate v.#feel or express pity or sympathy for. Her friends commiserated with the widow.#commodious adj.#spacious and comfortable. After sleeping in small roadside cabins, they found their hotel suite commodious.#communal adj.#held in common; of a group of people. When they were divorced, they had trouble dividing their communal property.#compact n.#agreement; contract. The signers of the Mayflower Compact were establishing a form of government.#compact adj.#tightly packed; firm; brief. His short, compact body was better suited to wrestling than to basketball.#comparable adj.#similar. People whose jobs are comparable in difficulty should receive comparable pay.#compatible adj.#harmonious; in harmony with. They were compatible neighbors, never quarreling over unimportant matters. compatibility, n.#compelling adj.#overpowering; irresistible in effect. The prosecutor presented a well-reasoned case, but the defense attorney's compelling arguments for leniency won over the jury.#compensatory adj.#making up for; repaying. Can a compensatory education program make up for the inadequate schooling he received in earlier years?#compile v.# assemble; gather; accumulate. We planned to compile a list of the words most frequently used on SAT examinations.#complacency n.# self-satisfaction; smugness. Full of complacency about his latest victories, he looked smugly at the row of trophies on his mantelpiece. complacent, adj. #complaisant adj.#trying to please; obliging. Always ready to accede to his noble patron's wishes, Mr. Collins was a complaisant, even obsequious, character.#complement v.#complete; consummate; make perfect. The waiter recommended a glass of port to complement the cheese. also n.#complementary adj.# serving to complete something. John and Lisa's skills are complementary: he's good at following a daily routine, while she's great at improvising and handling emergencies. Together they make a great team.#compliance n.# readiness to yield; conformity in fulfilling requirements. Bullheaded Bill was not noted for easy compliance with the demands of others. As an architect, however, Bill recognized that his design for the new school had to be in compliance with the local building code.#compliant adj.#yielding. Because Joel usually gave in and went along with whatever his friends desired, his mother worried that he might be too compliant.#complicity n.#participation; involvement. You cannot keep your complicity in this affair secret very long; you would be wise to admit your involvement immediately.#component n.#element; ingredient. I wish all the components of my stereo system were working at the same time.#composure n.# mental calmness. Even the latest work crisis failed to shake her composure.#compound v.#combine; constitute; pay interest; increase. The makers of the popular cold remedy compounded a nasal decongestant with an antihistamine. also n.#comprehensive adj.# thorough; inclusive. This book provides a comprehensive review of verbal and math skills for the SAT.#compress v.#close; squeeze; contract. She compressed the package under her arm.#comprise v.#include; consist of. If the District of Columbia were to be granted statehood, the United States of America would comprise fifty-one states, not just fifty.#compromise v.#adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of. Sometimes the presence of a neutral third party can help adversaries compromise their differences. Unfortunately, you're not neutral; therefore, your presence here compromises our chances of reaching an agreement. also n.#compunction n.#remorse. The judge was especially severe in his sentencing because he felt that the criminal had shown no compunction for his heinous crime.#compute v.#reckon; calculate. He failed to compute the interest, so his bank balance was not accurate. computation, n.#concave adj.#hollow. The back-packers found partial shelter from the storm by huddling against the concave wall of the cliff.#concede v.# admit; yield. Despite all the evidence Monica had assembled, Mark refused to concede that she was right.#conceit n.#vanity or self-love; whimsical idea; extravagant metaphor. Although Jack was smug and puffed up with conceit, he was an entertaining companion, always expressing himself in amusing conceits and witty turns of phrase.#concentric adj.#having a common center. The target was made of concentric circles.#conception n.#beginning; forming of an idea. At the first conception of the work, he was consulted. conceive, v.#concerted adj.#mutually agreed on; done together. All the Girl Scouts made a concerted effort to raise funds for their annual outing. When the movie star appeared, his fans let out a concerted sigh.#concession n.#an act of yielding. Before they could reach an agreement, both sides had to make certain concessions.#conciliatory adj.# reconciling; soothing. She was still angry despite his conciliatory words. conciliate, v.#concise adj.# brief and compact. When you define a new word, be concise: the shorter the definition, the easier it is to remember.#conclusive adj.#decisive; ending all debate. When the stolen books turned up in John's locker, we finally had conclusive evidence of the identity of the mysterious thief.#concoct v.#prepare by combining; make up in concert. How did the inventive chef ever concoct such a strange dish? concoction, n.#concomitant n.#that which accompanies. Culture is not always a concomitant of wealth. also adj. #concord n.#harmony; agreement between people or things. Watching Tweedledum and Tweedledee battle, Alice wondered at their lack of concord.#concur v.# agree. Did you concur with the decision of the court or did you find it unfair?#concurrent adj.#happening at the same time. In America, the colonists were resisting the demands of the mother country; at the concurrent moment in France, the middle class was sowing the seeds of rebellion.#condemn v.#censure; sentence; force or limit to a particular state. In My Cousin Vinnie, Vinnie's fiancee condemned Vinnie for mishandling his cousin Tony's defense. If Vinnie didn't do a better job defending Tony, the judge would condemn Tony to death, and Vinnie would be condemned to cleaning toilets for a living.#condense v.#make more compact or dense; shorten or abridge; reduce into a denser form. If you squeeze a slice of Wonder Bread, taking out the extra air, you can condense it into a pellet the size of a sugar cube. If you cut out the unnecessary words from your essay, you can condense it to a paragraph. As the bathroom cooled down, the steam from the shower condensed into droplets of water.#condescend v.#act conscious of descending to a lower level; patronize. Though Jill had been a star softball player in college, when she played a pickup game at the park she never condescended to her less experienced teammates. condescension, n.#condiments n.#seasonings; spices. The chef seasoned the dish with so much garlic that we could hardly taste the other condiments.#condole v.#express sympathetic sorrow. His friends gathered to condole with him over his loss. condolence, n.#condone v.# overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse. Unlike Widow Douglass, who condoned Huck's minor offenses, Miss Watson did nothing but scold.#conducive adj.#contributive; tending to. Rest and proper diet are conducive to good health.#conduit n.#aqueduct; passageway for fluids. Water was brought to the army in the desert by an improvised conduit from the adjoining mountain.#confidant n.#trusted friend. He had no confidants with whom he could discuss his problems at home.#confine v.#shut in; restrict. The terrorists had confined their prisoner in a small room. However, they had not chained him to the wall or done anything else to confine his movements further. confinement, n. #confirm v.#corroborate; verify; support. I have several witnesses who will confirm my account of what happened.#confiscate v.#seize; commandeer. The army confiscated all available supplies of uranium.#conflagration n.# great fire. In the conflagration that followed the 1906 earthquake, much of San Francisco was destroyed. #confluence n.# flowing together; crowd. They built the city at the confluence of two rivers.#conformity n.#harmony; agreement. In conformity with our rules and regulations, I am calling a meeting of our organization.#confound v.# confuse; puzzle. No mystery could confound Sherlock Holmes for long.#confrontation n.#act of facing someone or something; encounter, often hostile. Morris hoped to avoid any confrontations with his ex-wife, but he kept on running into her at the health club. How would you like to confront someone who can bench press 200 pounds? confront, v., confrontational, adj. #congeal v.#freeze; coagulate. His blood congealed in his veins as he saw the dread monster rush toward him.#congenial adj.#pleasant; friendly. My father loved to go out for a meal with congenial companions.#congenital adj.#existing at birth. Were you born stupid, or did you just turn out this way? In other words, is your idiocy acquired or congenital? Doctors are able to cure some congenital deformities such as cleft palates by performing operations on infants.#conglomeration n.#mass of material sticking together. In such a conglomeration of miscellaneous statistics, it was impossible to find a single area of analysis.#congruent adj.#in agreement; corresponding. In formulating a hypothesis, we must keep it congruent with what we know of the real world; it cannot disagree with our experience.#conifer n.#pine tree; cone-bearing tree. According to geologists, the conifers were the first plants to bear flowers.#conjecture v.# surmise; guess. Although there was no official count, the organizers conjectured that more than 10,000 marchers took part in the March for Peace. also n.#conjugal adj.#pertaining to marriage. Their dreams of conjugal bliss were shattered as soon as their temperaments clashed.#conjure v.#summon a devil; practice magic; imagine or invent. Sorcerers conjure devils to appear. Magicians conjure white rabbits out of hats. Political candidates conjure up images of reformed cities and a world at peace. #connivance n.#assistance; pretense of ignorance of something wrong; permission to offend. With the connivance of his friends, he plotted to embarrass the teacher. connive, v.#connoisseur n.#person competent to act as a judge of art, etc.; a lover of an art. She had developed into a connoisseur of fine china.#connotation n.#suggested or implied meaning of an expression. Foreigners frequently are unaware of the connotations of the words they use.#connubial adj.#pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial state. In his telegram, he wished the newlyweds a lifetime of connubial bliss.#conscientious adj.#scrupulous; careful. A conscientious editor, she checked every definition for its accuracy.#consecrate v.#dedicate; sanctify. We shall consecrate our lives to this noble purpose.#consensus n.# general agreement. Every time the garden club members had nearly reached a consensus about what to plant, Mistress Mary, quite contrary, disagreed.#consequential adj.#pompous; important; self-important. Convinced of his own importance, the actor strutted about the dressing room with a consequential air.#conservatory n.#school of the fine arts (especially music or drama). A gifted violinist, Marya was selected to study at the conservatory.#consign v.#deliver officially; entrust; set apart. The court consigned the child to her paternal grandmother's care. consignment, n. #consistency n.#absence of contradictions; dependability; uniformity; degree of thickness. Holmes judged puddings and explanations on their consistency: he liked his puddings without lumps and his explanations without improbabilities.#console v.#Lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort. When her father died, Marius did his best to console Cosette. #consolidation n.#unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger. The recent consolidation of several small airlines into one major company has left observers of the industry wondering whether room still exists for the "little guy" in aviation. consolidate, v.#consonance n.#harmony; agreement. Her agitation seemed out of consonance with her usual calm.#consort v.#associate with. We frequently judge people by the company with whom they consort.#consort n.#husband or wife. The search for a consort for the young Queen Victoria ended happily.#conspicuous adj.#easily seen; noticeable; striking. Janet was conspicuous both for her red hair and for her height.#conspiracy n.#treacherous plot. Brutus and Cassius joined in the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar. conspire, v.#constituent n.#supporter. The congressman received hundreds of letters from angry constituents after the Equal Rights Amendment failed to pass.#constraint n.# compulsion; repression of feelings. There was a feeling of constraint in the room because no one dared to criticize the speaker. constrain, v.#construe v.#explain; interpret. If I construe your remarks correctly, you disagree with the theory already advanced.#consummate adj.#complete. I have never seen anyone who makes as many stupid errors as you do; what a consummate idiot you are! also v.#contagion n.#infection. Fearing contagion, they took great steps to prevent the spread of the disease.#contaminate v.#pollute. The sewage system of the city so contaminated the water that swimming was forbidden.#contemporary n.#person belonging to the same period. Though Charlotte Bront&euml; and George Eliot were contemporaries, the two novelists depicted their Victorian world in markedly different ways. also adj. #contempt n.#scorn; disdain. The heavyweight boxer looked on ordinary people with contempt, scorning them as weaklings who couldn't hurt a fly. We thought it was contemptible of him to be contemptuous of people for being weak.#contend v.# struggle; compete; assert earnestly. Sociologist Harry Edwards contends that young black athletes are exploited by some college recruiters.#contention n.#claim; thesis. It is our contention that, if you follow our tactics, you will boost your score on the SAT. contend, v.#contentious adj.# quarrelsome. Disagreeing violently with the referees' ruling, the coach became so contentious that they threw him out of the game.#contest v.#dispute. The defeated candidate attempted to contest the election results.#context n.#writings preceding and following the passage quoted. Because these lines are taken out of context, they do not convey the message the author intended.#contiguous adj.#adjacent to; touching upon. The two countries are contiguous for a few miles; then they are separated by the gulf.#continence n.#self-restraint; sexual chastity. At the convent, Connie vowed to lead a life of continence. The question was, could Connie be content with always being continent?#contingent adj.#dependent on; conditional. Caroline's father informed her that any raise in her allowance was contingent on the quality of her final grades. contingency, n.#contingent n.#group that makes up part of a gathering. The New York contingent of delegates at the Democratic National Convention was a boisterous, sometimes rowdy lot.#contortions n.#twistings; distortions. As the effects of the opiate wore away, the contortions of the patient became more violent and demonstrated how much pain she was enduring.#contraband n.#adj. illegal trade; smuggling. The Coast Guard tries to prevent traffic in contraband goods.#contract v.# compress or shrink; make a pledge; catch a disease. Warm metal expands; cold metal contracts.#contravene v.#contradict; oppose; infringe on or transgress. Mr. Barrett did not expect his frail daughter Elizabeth to contravene his will by eloping with Robert Browning.#contrite adj.#penitent. Her contrite tears did not influence the judge when he imposed sentence. contrition, n.#contrived adj.#forced; artificial; not spontaneous. Feeling ill at ease with his new in-laws, James made a few contrived attempts at conversation and then retreated into silence.#controvert v.#oppose with arguments; attempt to refute; contradict. The witness's testimony was so clear and her reputation for honesty so well-established that the defense attorney decided it was wiser to make no attempt to controvert what she said.#contusion n.#bruise. Black and blue after her fall, Sue was treated for contusions and abrasions.#conundrum n.#riddle. During the long car ride, she invented conundrums to entertain the children.#convene v.#assemble. Because much needed legislation had to be enacted, the governor ordered the legislature to convene in special session by January 15.#convention n.#social or moral custom; established practice. Flying in the face of convention, George Sand shocked society by taking lovers and wearing men's clothes.#conventional adj.#ordinary; typical. His conventional upbringing left him wholly unprepared for his wife's eccentric family.#converge v.# approach; tend to meet; come together. African-American men from all over the United States converged on Washington to take part in the historic Million Men march.#conversant adj.#familiar with. The lawyer is conversant with all the evidence.#converse n.#opposite. The inevitable converse of peace is not war but annihilation. #converse v.#chat; talk informally. Eva was all ears while Lulu and Lola conversed. Wasn't it rude of her to eavesdrop on their conversation? conversation, n.#convert n.#one who has adopted a different religion or opinion. On his trip to Japan, though the President spoke at length about the virtues of American automobiles, he made few converts to his beliefs. also v.#convex adj.#curving outward. He polished the convex lens of his telescope.#conveyance n.#vehicle; transfer. During the transit strike, commuters used various kinds of conveyances.#conviction n.# judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief. Even her conviction for murder did not shake Peter's conviction that Harriet was innocent of the crime.#convivial adj.#festive; gay; characterized by joviality. The convivial celebrators of the victory sang their college songs.#convoke v.#call together. Congress was convoked at the outbreak of the emergency. convocation, n.#convoluted adj.#coiled around; involved; intricate. The new tax regulations are so convoluted that even accountants have trouble following their twists and turns.#copious adj.#plentiful. She had copious reasons for rejecting the proposal.#coquette n.#flirt. Because she refused to give him an answer to his proposal of marriage, he called her a coquette. also v.#cordial adj.# gracious; heartfelt. Our hosts greeted us at the airport with a cordial welcome and a hearty hug.#cordon n.#extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress. The police cordon was so tight that the criminals could not leave the area. also v.#cornucopia n.#horn overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance. The encyclopedia salesman claimed the new edition was a veritable cornucopia of information, an inexhaustible source of knowledge for the entire family.#corollary n.#consequence; accompaniment. Brotherly love is a complex emotion, with sibling rivalry its natural corollary.#coronation n.#ceremony of crowning a queen or king. When the witches told Macbeth he would be king, they failed to warn him he would lose his crown soon after his coronation.#corporeal adj.#bodily; material. The doctor had no patience with spiritual matters: his job was to attend to his patients' corporeal problems, not to minister to their souls.#corpulent adj.#very fat. The corpulent man resolved to reduce. corpulence, n.#correlation n.#mutual relationship. He sought to determine the correlation that existed between ability in algebra and ability to interpret reading exercises. correlate, v., n.#corroborate v.# confirm; support. Though Huck was quite willing to corroborate Tom's story, Aunt Polly knew better than to believe either of them.#corrode v.# destroy by chemical action. The girders supporting the bridge corroded so gradually that no one suspected any danger until the bridge suddenly collapsed. corrosion, n.#corrosive adj.#eating away by chemicals or disease. Stainless steel is able to withstand the effects of corrosive chemicals. corrode, v.#corrugated adj.# wrinkled; ridged. She wished she could smooth away the wrinkles from his corrugated brow.#cosmic adj.#pertaining to the universe; vast. Cosmic rays derive their name from the fact that they bombard the earth's atmosphere from outer space. cosmos, n.#cosmopolitan adj.#sophisticated. Her years in the capitol had transformed her into a cosmopolitan young woman highly aware of international affairs.#coterie n.#group that meets socially; select circle. After his book had been published, he was invited to join the literary coterie that lunched daily at the hotel.#countenance v.#approve; tolerate. He refused to countenance such rude behavior on their part.#countenance n.#face. When Jose saw his newborn daughter, a proud smile spread across his countenance.#countermand v.#cancel; revoke. The general countermanded the orders issued in his absence.#counterpart n.#a thing that completes another; things very much alike. Night and day are counterparts, complementing one another.#coup n.#highly successful action or sudden attack. As the news of his coup spread throughout Wall Street, his fellow brokers dropped by to congratulate him.#couple v.#join; unite. The Flying Karamazovs couple expert juggling and amateur joking in their nightclub act.#courier n.#messenger. The publisher sent a special courier to pick up the manuscript.#covenant n.#agreement. We must comply with the terms of the covenant.#covert adj.#secret; hidden; implied. Investigations of the Central Intelligence Agency and other secret service networks reveal that such covert operations can get out of control.#covetous adj.#avaricious; eagerly desirous of. The child was covetous by nature and wanted to take the toys belonging to his classmates. covet, v.#cow v.#terrorize; intimidate. The little boy was so cowed by the hulking bully that he gave up his lunch money without a word of protest.#cower v.#shrink quivering, as from fear. The frightened child cowered in the corner of the room.#coy adj.#shy; modest; coquettish. Reluctant to commit herself so early in the game, Kay was coy in her answers to Ken's offer.#cozen v.#cheat; hoodwink; swindle. He was the kind of individual who would cozen his friends in a cheap card game but remain eminently ethical in all business dealings.#crabbed adj.#sour; peevish. The crabbed old man was avoided by the children because he scolded them when they made noise.#craftiness n.#slyness; trickiness. In many Native American legends, the coyote is the clever trickster, the embodiment of craftiness. crafty, n.#crass adj.#very unrefined; grossly insensible. The film critic deplored the crass commercialism of movie-makers who abandon artistic standards in order to make a quick buck.#craven adj.#cowardly. Lillian's craven refusal to join the protest was criticized by her comrades, who had expected her to be brave enough to stand up for her beliefs.#credence n.#belief. Do not place any credence in his promises.#credibility n.#believability. Because the candidate had made some pretty unbelievable promises, we began to question the credibility of everything she said.#credo n.#creed. I believe we may best describe his credo by saying that it approximates the Golden Rule.#credulity n.# belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivete. Con artists take advantage of the credulity of inexperienced investors to swindle them out of their savings. credulous, adj. #creed n.#system of religious or ethical belief. Any loyal American's creed must emphasize love of democracy.#crescendo n.#increase in the volume or intensity, as in a musical passage; climax. The music suddenly shifted its mood, dramatically switching from a muted, contemplative passage to a crescendo with blaring trumpets and clashing cymbals.#crest n.#highest point of a hill; foamy top of a wave. Fleeing the tidal wave, the islanders scrambled to reach the crest of Mount Lucinda. With relief, they watched the crest of the wave break well below their vantage point.#crestfallen adj.#dejected; dispirited. We were surprised at his reaction to the failure of his project; instead of being crestfallen, he was busily engaged in planning new activities.#crevice n.#crack; fissure. The mountain climbers found footholds in the tiny crevices in the mountainside.#cringe v.#shrink back, as if in fear. The dog cringed, expecting a blow.#criterion n.# standard used in judging. What criterion did you use when you selected this essay as the prizewinner? criteria, pl. #crop v.#cut off unwanted parts of a photograph; graze. With care, David cropped the picture until its edges neatly framed the flock of sheep cropping the grass.#crotchety adj.#eccentric; whimsical. Although he was reputed to be a crotchety old gentleman, I found his ideas substantially sound and sensible. #crux n.#crucial point. This is the crux of the entire problem: everything centers on its being resolved.#crypt n.#secret recess or vault, usually used for burial. Until recently, only bodies of rulers and leading statesmen were interred in this crypt.#cryptic adj.# mysterious; hidden; secret. Thoroughly baffled by Holmes's cryptic remarks, Watson wondered whether Holmes was intentionally concealing his thoughts about the crime. #cubicle n.#small compartment partitioned off; small bedchamber. Hoping to personalize their workspace, the staff members decorated their tiny identical cubicles in markedly individual ways.#cuisine n.#style of cooking. French cuisine is noted for its use of sauces and wines.#culinary adj.#relating to cooking. Many chefs attribute their culinary skill to the wise use of spices.#cull v.#pick out; reject. Every month the farmer culls the nonlaying hens from his flock and sells them to the local butcher. also n.#culminate v.#attain the highest point; climax. George Bush's years of service to the Republican Party culminated in his being chosen as the Republican candidate for the presidency. His subsequent inauguration as President of the United States marked the culmination of his political career. #culpable adj.# deserving blame. Corrupt politicians who condone the activities of the gamblers are equally culpable.#culvert n.#artificial channel for water. If we build a culvert under the road at this point, we will reduce the possibility of the road's being flooded during the rainy season.#cumbersome adj.#heavy; hard to manage. He was burdened down with cumbersome parcels.#cumulative adj.#growing by addition. Vocabulary building is a cumulative process: as you go through your flash cards, you will add new words to your vocabulary, one by one.#cupidity n.#greed. The defeated people could not satisfy the cupidity of the conquerors, who demanded excessive tribute.#curator n.#superintendent; manager. The members of the board of trustees of the museum expected the new curator to plan events and exhibitions that would make the museum more popular.#curmudgeon n.#churlish, miserly individual. Although he was regarded by many as a curmudgeon, a few of us were aware of the many kindnesses and acts of charity that he secretly performed.#cursive adj.#flowing, running. In normal writing we run our letters together in cursive form; in printing, we separate the letters.#cursory adj.# casual; hastily done. Because a cursory examination of the ruins indicates the possibility of arson, we believe the insurance agency should undertake a more extensive investigation of the fire's cause.#curtail v.# shorten; reduce. When Herb asked Diane for a date, she said she was really sorry she couldn't go out with him, but her dad had ordered her to curtail her social life.#cynical adj.#skeptical or distrustful of human motives. Cynical from birth, Sidney was suspicious whenever anyone gave him a gift "with no strings attached." cynic, n. #cynosure n.#the object of general attention. As soon as the movie star entered the room, she became the cynosure of all eyes.#