GRE Vocab list 2

to lessen in intensity or degree

intense adoration; excessive praise

to make better or more tolerable

• (noun)
• one who practices rigid self denial, esp. as an act of religious devotion
• ascetic is a nun or priest

• (noun)
• 1. greed, esp. for wealth

a universally recognized principle (adj. form axiomatic)

to grow rapidly or flourish

• (adj.)
• 1. rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
• 2. the hill country of stephenville adds to the bucolic vibe.

• (noun)
• 1. an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature (adj. form canonical)
• 2. canon in music is reptition

1. severe punishment or criticism

wary; cautious; sparing

• (adj)
• 1. appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing
• 2. from latin word cogere, co-together, agere- drive
• 3. from

the willingness to comply with the wishes of others

• argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
• 1. ex/ sometimes i feel contentious after being confronted by my bosses

• regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness (noun form: contrition)
• 1. after every time I become contentious i get contrite; i regret becoming combative.

• (verb)
• 1. to question or oppose

1. intended to teach or instruct

1. cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions (adj. form discreet)

1.free of bias or self-interest; impartial

• (adj)
• 1. expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improvable principles (noun form: dogma)
• 2. EX/ can remember this by Marine corps symbol devil dog: they are rigid and disciplined Marines!

• 1. the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
• (adj. form ebullient)

• 1. a mournful poem, esp. one lamenting the dead (adj. form elegaic)
• 2. sounds like eulogy

soothing; esp. to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying; an agent that softens or smoothes theskin

based on observation or experiment

1. mysterious; obscure

brief; fleeting

(adj.) understood or intended for a small, specific group

speech honoring the dead

• 1. to remove blame
• excuplate

playful; humorous

1. an incorrect or invalid notion; a mistaken belief (adj. form, fallacious)

marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious

• 1. to deliver a forceful or angry speech; ranting speech or writing
• 2. To hang someone figuratively by haranging.

violating accepted dogma or convention (heresy is noun form)

an exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech

• 1. lacking funds; without money
• Ex/ most college students live impecunious lives.

beginning to come into being or to become apparent.

1. harmless; causing no damage