English Advanced Verbs

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Question English Answer English
abjure
start learning
formally reject or give up (as a belief)
While the church believed that Galileo abjured the heliocentric theory under threat of torture; he later wrote a book clearly supporting the theory.
abrogate
start learning
revoke formally
As part of the agreement between the labor union and the company; the workers abrogated their right to strike for four years in exchange for better health insurance.
adjudicate
start learning
to serve as a judge in a competition; to arrive at a judgment or conclusion
Only those with the most refined palates were able to adjudicate during the barbeque competition.
afford
start learning
provide with an opportunity
The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro affords a panoramic view that encompasses both Tanzania and Kenya. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
appropriate
start learning
to allocate
The committe appropriated the funds to its various members. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
arrogate
start learning
seize and control without authority
Arriving at the small town; the outlaw arrogated the privileges of a lord; asking the frightened citizens to provide food; drink; and entertainment.
attenuate
start learning
to weaken (in terms of intensity); to taper off/become thinner.
Her animosity towards Bob attenuated over the years; and she even went so far as to invite him to her party.
beg
start learning
to evade or dodge (a question)
By assuming that Charlie was headed to college--which he was not--Maggie begged the question when she asked him to which school he was headed in the Fall. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
bemoan
start learning
express discontent or a stong regret
While the CFO carefully explained all the reasons for the cuts in benefits; after the meeting employees bemoaned the cuts as further evidence that management was against them.
bowdlerize
start learning
edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
To recieve an R rating; the entire movie was bowdlerized because it contained so much violence and grotesque subject matter.
bridle
start learning
anger or take offense
The hostess bridled at the tactless dinner guests who insisted on eating before everybody had gotten their food.
bristle
start learning
react in an offended or angry manner
As we discussed the painting; I noticed the artitst's wife bristling at our criticisms; ready to defend her husband's work.
brook
start learning
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
While she was at the chalkboard; the teacher did not brook any form of talking--even a tiny peep resulted in afternoon detention. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
browbeat
start learning
be bossy towards; discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner During the interrogation; the suspect was browbeaten into signing a false confession.
cede
start learning
relinquish possession or control over
Eventually; all parents must cede control of their growing childrens' educations and allow their offspring some autonomy.
chagrin
start learning
cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
She never cared what others said about her appearance but was chagrined by the smallest comment from her mother.
conciliate
start learning
to make peace with
His opponents believed his gesture to be conciliatory; yet as soon as they put down their weapons; he unsheathed a hidden sword.
conflate
start learning
mix together different elements or concepts
In her recent book; the author conflates several genres--the detective story; the teen thriller; and the vampire romance--to create a memorable read.
cosseted
start learning
treat with excessive indulgence
The king and queen cosseted the young prince; giving him a prized miniature pony for his fifth birthday.
countermand
start learning
a contrary command cancelling or reversing a previous command
By the time the colonel countermanded his soldiers not to land in enemy territory; a few helicopters had already touched down amid heavy gunfire.
cow
start learning
to intimidate
Do not be cowed by a 3;000-word vocabulary list: turn that list into a deck of flashcards! This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
crystallize
start learning
cause to take on a definite and clear shape
Only after fifteen minutes of brainstorming did Samantha's ideas for the essay crystallize. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
decry
start learning
express strong disapproval of
The entire audience erupted in shouts and curses; decrying the penalty card issued by the referee.
defray
start learning
to help pay the cost of; either in part of full
In order for Sean to attend the prestigious college; his generous uncle helped defray the excessive tuition with a monthly donation.
deign
start learning
do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
The master of the house never deigned to answer questions from the servants.
disabuse
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to persuade somebody that his/her belief is not valid
As a child; I was quickly disabused of the notion that Santa Claus was a rotund benefactor of infinite largess--one night I saw my mother diligently wrapping presents and storing them under our Christmas tree.
dissemble
start learning
conceal one's true motives; usually through deceit
To get close to the senator; the assassin dissembled his intentions; convincing many people that he was a reporter for a well-known newspaper.
dissipate
start learning
to disperse or scatter
Kathleen's perfume was overwhelming in the cramped apartment; but once we stepped outside the smell dissipated and we could breathe once again.
dovetail
start learning
fit together tightly; as if by means of a interlocking joint
Although Darwin's evolution and Mendel's genetics were developed in isolation from one another; they dovetail each other very well. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
enamor
start learning
attraction or feeling of love
She is completely enamored with Justin Bieber; and goes to all his concerts on the East coast.
encumber
start learning
hold back
The costume encumbered all my movements and caused me to sweat profusely.
enjoin
start learning
give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
The government agency enjoined the chemical company to clean up the hazardous dump it had created over the years.
enthrall
start learning
hold spellbound
"She was so enthralled by the movie that she never heard people screaming; ""Fire! Fire!"" in the neighboring theater."
equivocate
start learning
to speak vaguely; usually with the intention to mislead or deceive
After Sharon brought the car home an hour after her curfew; she equivocated when her parents pointedly asked her where she had been.
excoriate
start learning
to criticize very harshly
Entrusted with the prototype to his company's latest smartphone; Larry; during a late night karaoke bout; let the prototype slip into the hands of a rival company--the next day Larry was excoriated; and then fired.
execrate
start learning
to curse and hiss at
Though the new sitcom did decently in the ratings; Nelson railed against the show; saying that it was nothing more than an execrable pastiche of tired cliché's and canned laughter.
expunge
start learning
to eliminate completely
When I turned 18; all of the shoplifting and jaywalking charges were expunged from my criminal record.
expurgate
start learning
to remove objectionable material
The censor expurgated every reference to sex and drugs; converting the rapper's raunchy flow into a series of bleeps.
extrapolate
start learning
draw from specific cases for more general cases
By extrapolating from the data on the past three months; we can predict a 5% increase in traffic to our website.
flag
start learning
droop; sink; or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness; become less intense After the three crushing defeats in the last three games; the team's enthusiasm began to flag. This word has other definitions
flummox
start learning
be a mystery or bewildering to
Mary's behavoir completely flummoxes me: I never have any idea what her motivations might be.
gerrymander
start learning
to manipulate voting districts in order to favor a particular political party Years ago; savvy politicians had gerrymandered the city center to ensure their re-election.
hail
start learning
enthusiastically acclaim or celebrate something
Many college superstar athletes are hailed as the next big thing; but then flop at the professional level. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
hector
start learning
to bully or intimidate
The boss's hectoring manner put off many employees; some of whom quit as soon as they found new jobs.
hedge
start learning
to limit or qualify a statement; to avoid making a direct statement
When asked why he had decided to buy millions of shares at the very moment the tech companies stock soared; the CEO hedged; mentioning something vague about gut instinct. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
hobble
start learning
to hold back the progress of something
Bad weather has hobbled rescue efforts; making it difficult for crews to find bodies in the wreckage.
hoodwink
start learning
to deceive or trick someone
Someone tried to hoodwink Marty with an email telling him that his uncle had just passed away; and to collect the inheritance he should send his credit card information.
imbibe
start learning
to drink or absorb as if drinking
Plato imbibed Socrates' teachings to such an extent that he was able to write volumes of work that he directly attributed; sometimes word for word; to Socrates.
immure
start learning
to enclose; usually in walls
The modern supermarket experience makes many feel claustrophobic; as they are immured in walls upon walls of products.
importuned
start learning
beg persistently and urgently
After weeks of importuning the star to meet for a five-minute interview; the journalist finally got what she wanted.
impugn
start learning
attack as false or wrong
Though many initially tried to impugn Darwin's theory; in scientific circles today; the is idea taken as truth.
impute
start learning
attribute (responsibility or fault) to something
He imputed his subpar performance on the test to a combination of stress and poor sleep.
inure
start learning
to make accustomed to something unpleasant
Three years of Manhattan living has inured her to the sound of wailing sirens; she could probably sleep through the apocalypse.
kowtow
start learning
to bow or act in a subservient manner
Paul kowtowed to his boss so often the boss herself became nauseated by his sycophancy.
lacerate
start learning
deeply hurt the feelings of; distress
The teacher was fired for lacerating a student who wrote a poor essay. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
lampoon
start learning
ridicule with satire
Mark Twain understood that lampooning a bad idea with humor was the most effective criticism.
languish
start learning
become feeble
Stranded in the wilderness for four days; the hiker languished; eating protein bars and nuts.
machinate
start learning
engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy; swear together The rebels met at night in an abandoned barn to machinate.
maunder
start learning
speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
After drinking two expressos each; the animated couple would maunder loudly; annoying the other patrons in the coffee shop.
misattribute
start learning
To erroneously attribute; to falsely ascribe; used especially of authorship.
"I made a mistake; I misattributed ""Crime and Punishment"" to Leo Tolstoy when it was actually written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky."
mulct
start learning
to defraud or swindle
The so-called magical diet cure simply ended up mulcting Maria out of hundreds of dollars; but did nothing for her weight.
objurgate
start learning
express strong disapproval of
The manager spent an hour objurgating the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again.
ossify
start learning
make rigid and set into a conventional pattern
Even as a young man; Bob had some bias against poor people; but during his years in social services; his bad opinions ossified into unshiftable views. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
palaver
start learning
speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
During the rain delay; many who had come to see the game palavered; probably hoping that idle chatter would make the time go by faster. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
pillory
start learning
ridicule or expose to public scorn
After the candidate confessed; the press of the opposing party took the opportunity to pillory him; printing editorials with the most blatantly exaggerated accusations. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
pontificate
start learning
talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner
The vice-president would often pontificate about economic theory; as if no one else in the room were qualified to speak on the topic. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
precipitate
start learning
to cause to happen
The government's mishandling the hurricane's aftermath precipitated a widespread outbreak of looting and other criminal activity.
promulgate
start learning
state or announce
The President wanted to promulgate the success of the treaty negotiations; but he had to wait until Congress formally approved the agreement.
propitiate
start learning
to placate or appease
The two sons; plying their angry father with cheesy neckties for Christmas; were hardly able to propitiate him -- the father already had a drawer full of ones he had never worn before or ever planned to.
proscribe
start learning
command against
My doctor proscribes that I not eat donuts with chocolate sauce and hamburger patties for breakfast.
proselytize
start learning
convert to another religion; philosophy; or perspective
Lisa loves her Mac but says little about it; by contrast; Jake will proselytize; interrogating anyone with an Android about why she didn't purchase an iPhone.
quail
start learning
draw back; as with fear or pain
Craig always claimed to be a fearless outdoorsman; but when the thunderstorm engulfed the valley; he quailed at the thought of leaving the safety of his cabin. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
rarefied
start learning
make more subtle or refined
Jack's vulgar jokes were not so successful in the rarefied enviroment of college professors. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE
recrudesce
start learning
to break out or happen again
After years of gamblers anonymous; Tony thought he'd broken his compulsive slot machine playing; but it took only one trip to the Atlantic City for a full recrudescence--he lost $5k on the one armed bandit.
remonstrate
start learning
to make objections while pleading
The mothers of the kidnapped victims remonstrated to the rogue government to release their children; claiming that the detention violated human rights.
squelch
start learning
suppress or crush completely
After the dictator consolidated his power; he took steps to squelch all criticism; often arresting any journalist who said anything that could be interpreted as negative about his regime.
stultify
start learning
cause one; through routine; to lose energy and enthusiasm
As an undergraduate Mark felt stultified by classes outside his area of study; only in grad school; in which he could focus solely on literary analysis; did he regain his scholarly edge.
transmute
start learning
change or alter in form; appearance; or nature
One of the goals of alchemy was to find the substance or process that would transmute lead into gold.

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