Difficult GRE Words - Group 1

v. humiliate; lower or depress in rank or esteem

v. subside; decrease; become less in amount or intensity

n. shortening something by omitting parts of it

v. give up, renounce, abandon, lay down, or withdraw from, as a right or claim

n. the act of giving up or renouncing a right, office, or position of power etc.

v. aid, usually in doing something wrong; encourage

n. suspended action; temporary cessation or suspension

v. fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate

a. disgusting, loathsome

v. renounce upon oath; abandon forever

n. washing or cleansing of the body, especially as part of religious rite

n. repudiation; self-sacrifice; renouncing your own interests in favor of interests of others

n. ending; act of abolishing; act of doing away with

a. unsuccessful; failing to accomplish an intended objective; fruitless

v. wear away by friction; scrape; erode

n. scratch; friction

v. condense; shorten; reduce length of written text

a. abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority

v. leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself, often to avoid arrest or prosecution

a. sparing or moderation in eating and drinking; temperate

a. obscure; profound; difficult to understand.

v. agree; give consent, often at insistence of another; concede

n. upward slope, as of hill

n. award of merit; expression of approval; praise

n. growth or increase in size by gradual external addition, fusion, or inclusion

n. bitterness of speech and temper; sourness or acidness of taste, character, or tone

a. slightly sour in taste or in manner; sharp; caustic

v. assent; agree without protesting

n. the act of acquiring or gaining possession

a. bitter and sharp in language, tone, or manner

n. animosity, sharp or bitter hatred

n. abbreviation

n. an old saying, that has obtained credit by long use

v. muddle; drive crazy; become confused

n. person who adheres; one who follows or upholds a leader, party, cause

v. hear and settle a case by judicial procedure

v. appeal to or entreat earnestly; command or enjoin solemnly, as under oath

v. enhance or decorate with or as if with ornaments

n. embellishment; decoration; something that beautifies or adorns; ornament

a. skillful and adept under pressing conditions

v. make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances

v. give hint or indication of something; disclose partially or guardedly; overshadow; shade

n. advertisement an ad; public promotion of some product or service

a. easily approachable; warmly friendly

v. increase scope of; extend; intensify; make greater in power, influence, stature, or reputation

n. several things grouped together or considered as a whole

a. struck by shock, terror, or amazement

n. one who is skeptical of existence of a god or any ultimate reality

ad. as known or named at another time or place; also known as

n. soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash; one of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, potash, and ammonia

v. to assert to be true

v. refer casually or indirectly, or by suggestion

n. temptation; enticement; any real or apparent good held forth, or operating, as a motive to action

n. an indirect reference

n. elevated place or structure before which religious ceremonies may be enacted or upon which sacrifices may be offered

n. a combination of many different things; an alloy of mercury and other metals

v. combine; unite in one body; mix or alloy a metal with mercury

v. collect; gather for oneself, as for one's pleasure or profit

a. capable of using either hand with equal ease

n. state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes, such as love and hate

n. moving at an easy pace; walk slowly or leisurely

n. pleasantness resulting from agreeable conditions

a. formless; lacking shape or definition

v. broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make larger or more powerful; increase

n. a person who has had one or more limbs removed by amputation

a. serving to reduce sensibility to pain without loss of consciousness

a. comparable; similar or alike

n. solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse

a. serving as aid or accessory; auxiliary

ad. once more; again; in a new and different way

n. feeling of animosity

v. comment; make explanatory notes

v. adjust or calculate so as to reflect a rate that is based on a full year

n. source of relaxation or comfort; medicine that relieves pain

a. deviating from normal or common order, form, or rule

n. one who contends with another, especially in combat; an adversary; opponent

v. be earlier in time; go back further

a. antiquated; extremely old and ancient; belonging to very ancient times

n. book of literary selections by various authors

a. manlike; resembling a human, especially in shape or outward appearance

n. strong feelings of aversion or dislike

n. contrast; direct contrast; opposition

n. entire horn, or any branch of the horn

n. South Africa's policy of racial separation, in place from 1948 to 1990.

n. alcoholic beverage taken before a meal as an appetizer

n. opening; diameter of such an opening; hole

n. loss of speech due to injury or illness

n. definition or concise statement of principle; tersely phrased statement of truth or opinion

n. place where bees and beehives are kept, especially where bees are raised for their honey

n. poise; self-confident assurance

a. untrue; of questionable authorship or authenticity; erroneous; fictitious

n. the highest point; point in orbit most distant from the body being orbited

n. one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs

n. elevation to godhood; fact or action of becoming a god; an ideal example of something

v. bring peace, quiet, or calm to; satisfy or relieve

n. name; title; act of naming; act of appealing for aid, sympathy

a. strikingly appropriate and relevant; well-suited

v. inform; give notice to; make aware

n. expression of warm approval; praise

n. funding; money set aside for a specific purpose

n. underground bed or layer yielding ground water for wells and springs etc

a. curved or hooked like an eagle's beak

a. fit for growing crops, as by plowing

n. person with power to decide a dispute; judge

a. tree-dwelling; treelike; living in trees

n. prototype; original model or type after which other similar things are patterned

n. a large group of islands; a sea, containing a large number of scattered islands

n. an enclosed area, often outdoor, for the presentation of sporting events or other spectacular events

a. fragrant or sweet-smelling; caused by fragrant odor

v. officially charge someone in a court of law

n. being in debt; unpaid, overdue debt or an unfulfilled obligation

v. claim without justification; claim for oneself without right

n. subtle but base deception; trickery; cleverness or skill; ingenuity

a. free of artificiality; natural; open and honest

n. superiority or decisive advantage; domination

a. leading a life of self-discipline and self-denial; austere

a. preventing infection; having cleansing effect

n. look, or particular appearance of the face; the visual percept of a region

n. harshness of manner, roughness

v. deprive of oxygen to the extent of producing death or very serious symptoms; suffocate

n. one who aspires, as to advancement, honors, or a high position

v. assault; attack with or as if with violent blows

v. express agreement to what is alleged or proposed; accept

a. constant in application or attention; diligent; unceasing or persistent

v. to make similar, to incorporate or absorb into

v. ease or lessen pain; satisfy or appease

n. eye defect that prevents proper focus

a. causing contraction; having the effect of drawing tissue together; stern or austere

a. not identical on both sides of a dividing central line

ad. engaged in a dispute

a. of or pertaining to an atrium, especially the upper chambers of the heart

n. something, such as an accomplishment or achievement; achievement

v. make slender, fine, or small; weaken; lessen density of

n. gradual decrease in numbers; reduction in work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment

a. fearlessly, often recklessly daring; bold

n. sign of something coming; art or practice of foretelling events by signs or omens

n. an invisible breath; distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something

a. strict or severe in discipline; severely simple and unornamented

n. severe and rigid economy; severe or rigorous simplicity; absence of adornment or luxury

v. prove genuine; establish authenticity of

n. dictator; ruler having unlimited power

a. self-governing; not controlled by others or by outside forces; independent

n. fall or slide of a large mass, as of snow or rock, down a mountainside

n. radically new or original; cutting edge

n. greediness for wealth; insatiable desire of gain

v. declare to be true; affirm

n. art or act of flying; specifically, the science or art of directing and controlling flying-machines

n. activity taken up in addition to one's regular work or profession, usually for enjoyment

v. declare openly; acknowledge openly, boldly, and unashamedly

n. open declaration; frank acknowledgment