GRE Word List 2
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INTERSPERSE (VERB)
break up the flow of something
"The documentary intersperses graphical animations with film clips of the actual event."
AUSPICIOUS (ADJECTIVE)
seen to show good luck
"They won their first match of the season 5-1 which was an auspicious start/beginning."
REVERSION (NOUN)
return to a previous state
"The new procedures are being seen as a reversion to old, inefficient ways of working."
UNTENABLE (ADJECTIVE)
unable to be believed
"If three people in four no longer support the government, isn't this an untenable
situation?"
DISSENT (NOUN)
disagreement within an organization
"When the time came to approve the proposal, there were one or two voices of
dissent."
PROBATE (NOUN)
put an offender on probation by suspending his sentence
"Before probate can be granted, all business assets have to be identified and valued."
INFLUX (NOUN)
flowing in
"Turkey is expecting an influx of several thousand refugees over the next few days."
INTESTATE (ADJECTIVE)
without having made a will
"Many people die intestate because they thought they were too young to make a will."
UBIQUITOUS (ADJECTIVE)
(seeming to be) present everywhere
"Leather is very much in fashion this season, as of course is the ubiquitous denim."
PARADIGM (NOUN)
standard example
"Some of these educators are hoping to produce a change in the current cultural
paradigm."
TOURNIQUET (NOUN)
bandage that stops flow of blood by applying pressure
"If it continues to bleed, you may have to apply a tourniquet to the limb."
BUCOLIC (ADJECTIVE)
of the countryside
"The painting shows a typically bucolic scene with peasants harvesting crops in a field."
DETRIMENT (NOUN)
damage to
"Are you sure that I can follow this diet without detriment to my health?"
TRAVESTY (NOUN)
comedy that makes a mockery of something
"Their production of 'Macbeth' was quite the worst I've ever seen - it was a travesty."
ACERBIC (ADJECTIVE)
bitter or sour
"The letters show the acerbic wit for which Parker was both admired and feared."
CHURLISH (ADJECTIVE)
rude or irritable
"They invited me to dinner and I thought it would be churlish to refuse."
CHICANERY (NOUN)
fraud
"The investigation revealed political chicanery and corruption at the highest levels."
EXACERBATE (VERB)
make a situation worse or more severe
"This attack will exacerbate the already tense relations between the two communities."
UNFOUNDED (ADJECTIVE)
not based on fact
"I'm pleased to see that our fears about the weather proved totally unfounded."
VERITABLE (ADJECTIVE)
true (often used to intensify a noun)
"My garden had become a veritable jungle by the time I came back from holiday."
SYCOPHANT (NOUN)
someone who is excessively eager to please in order to get something
"There was sycophantic laughter from the audience at every one of his terrible jokes."
STRATAGEM (NOUN)
individual maneuver in a game
"Her stratagem for dealing with her husband's infidelities was to ignore them."
VERDANT (ADJECTIVE)
covered with green plants
"Much of the region's verdant countryside has been destroyed in the hurricane."
CAPITULATE (VERB)
surrender under agreed conditions
"Their forces capitulated five hours after the Allied bombardment of the city began."
UMLAUT (NOUN)
two dots occurring above a vowel to indicate it is pronounced differently
"The German language uses many umlauts."
VETO (NOUN)
(the power to) reject a proposed action
"The Ministry of Defence has the power of veto over all British arms exports."
TYPIFY (VERB)
have the essential qualities of
"Her dishonesty typifies the untrustworthiness of the police."
PERTAIN (VERB)
be relevant to
"We are only interested in the parts of the proposals that pertain to local issues."
PLACATE (VERB)
cause to be less angry or fearful
"Outraged minority groups will not be placated by promises of future improvements."
ECHELON (NOUN)
troops arranged in a line
"These salary increases will affect only the highest echelons of local government."