| |
| rabble |
mob; noisy crowd |
| rabid |
of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous;
furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia |
| rabies |
disease passed on by the bite of an infected animal
(causing madness and death) |
| raconteur |
story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill |
| raffle |
lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle
off a new car |
| rag |
scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn; seeming
unfinished and imperfect; Ex. ragged debut/performance |
| ragamuffin |
dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered
clothes |
| rail |
complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing
against injustices |
| raiment |
clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear. |
| rake |
immoral or dissolute person |
| rakish |
jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute;
Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle. |
| rally |
come or bring together; call up or summon (forces,
vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate (after illness
or difficulty); N: act of rallying; mass gathering |
| ram |
male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy
impact |
| ramble |
wander aimlessly (physically or mentally); digress |
| ramification |
branching out; subdivision; one branch of a system;
one of the results following from an action or decision;
Ex. ramifications of a business/the decision |
| ramify |
branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions |
| ramp |
slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels) |
| rampant |
growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion;
unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed |
| rampart |
defensive mound of earth |
| ramshackle |
(of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety;
falling apart |
| rancid |
having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank |
| rancor |
long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without
rancor; ADJ. rancorous |
| random |
without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard;
Ex. random shots; Ex. chosen at random |
| rank |
offensive in odor or flavor |
| rankle |
irritate; fester; annoy |
| ransack |
search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place);
Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town. |
| rant |
speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly
showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex.
The priest ranted about the devil. |
| rapacious |
voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively
grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious
birds |
| rapport |
close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony |
| rapt |
engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener |
| rapture |
great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous |
| rare |
(of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of
the mountains |
| rarefied |
made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense;
N. rarefaction |
| rasp |
(of a sound) grate on (eg. nerves); make a harsh noise;
have an unpleasant effect; rub with something rough; Ex.
The cat's tongue rasped my hand. |
| raspy |
making a harsh noise; grating; harsh |
| ratify |
approve formally; confirm; verify |
| ratiocination |
reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises;
V. ratiocinate: reason logically |
| ration |
fixed portion; V: distribute as rations |
| rational |
(of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based on reason;
logical |
| rationale |
fundamental reason or principle (on which a system
or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification;
grounds for an action |
| rationalize |
make rational; devise false reasons for (one's behavior);
offer an excuse; give a plausible reason for an action
in place of a true, less admirable ones; N. rationalization |
| raucous |
(of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly
and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts |
| ravage |
devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged by storms |
| rave |
overwhelmingly favorable review; V: talk wildly as
if mad; Ex. raving lunatic |
| ravel |
fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist |
| ravenous |
extremely hungry; voracious |
| ravine |
narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon |
| raze |
destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground |
| reactionary |
strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing
progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical |
| realm |
kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms
of possibility |
| reaper |
one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V. reap:
cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop |
| rebate |
return of part of a payment; discount; V. |
| rebuff |
reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his
invitation; N. |
| rebuke |
scold harshly; criticize severely |
| rebus |
representation of words in the form of pictures or
symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters stand for
words; Ex. ``R U 18'' is a rebus for ``Are you 18''. |
| rebuttal |
refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut:
refute; disprove |
| recalcitrant |
disobedient or resisting authority even after being
punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority;
unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child |
| recant |
disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement;
openly confess error; Ex. recant one's faith/a statement |
| recapitulate |
summarize |
| recast |
reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion
again |
| receptive |
quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions, etc.);
Ex. receptive to the proposal |
| recess |
pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret inner place;
Ex. parliament in recess; V. CF. recessive |
| recession |
withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity |
| recidivism |
habitual return to crime (even after being punished);
N. recidivist |
| recipient |
receiver |
| reciprocal |
mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable;
interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement |
| reciprocate |
do or give something in return; repay in kind; give
or take mutually; interchange; move |
| recital |
act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance
of music or dance (by a solo performer) |
| recite |
repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite
his complaints; N. recitation |
| reckon |
count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose |
| recline |
lie down |
| recluse |
hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive |
| reconcile |
make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent
(two ideas in opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex.
reconcile one's political principles with one's religious
beliefs |
| recondite |
abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret |
| reconnaissance |
survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter:
make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military
information) |
| recount |
narrate or tell (a story); count over again |
| recourse |
resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse
to |
| recreant |
disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person |
| recrimination |
countercharges; V. recriminate |
| rectify |
set right; correct; CF. rect-: right |
| rectitude |
moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue;
correctness of judgment |
| recumbent |
reclining; lying down completely or in part |
| recuperate |
recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses |
| recurrent |
occurring again and again |
| redolent |
odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent
of onions/mystery |
| redoubtable |
formidable; causing fear |
| redress |
remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage
to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong);
make amends for |
| reduce |
diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition;
demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis;
Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble;
N. reduction |
| redundant |
superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose; excessively
wordy; repetitious |
| reek |
emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant
odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N: unpleasant
odor; stench |
| refectory |
dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school) |
| referendum |
direct vote by all the people |
| refraction |
bending of a ray of light |
| refractory |
unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory
horse |
| refrain |
abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus |
| refulgent |
effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex.
refulgent moon |
| refurbish |
renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again;
make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater;
CF. furbish: polish |
| refuse |
anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash |
| refute |
disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation |
| regal |
royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner |
| regale |
entertain |
| regatta |
boat or yacht race |
| regeneration |
spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners;
V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually |
| regent |
a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill,
absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent |
| regicide |
murder of a king or queen |
| regime |
method of system or government |
| regimen |
prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet
and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer |
| regiment |
military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented
society |
| rehabilitate |
restore to proper condition (health or useful life);
restore the former rank of |
| reimburse |
repay; pay back |
| reinstate |
restore to a previous condition or position |
| reiterate |
repeat |
| rejoinder |
reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply |
| rejuvenate |
make young again |
| relapse |
return to a former state (esp. after improvement);
N. |
| relegate |
put into a lower or worse place; banish to an inferior
position; delegate; assign; Ex. relegate the old furniture
to the children's room; Ex. relegated to the second division |
| relent |
become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ. relentless:
unyielding; continuously severe |
| relevant |
having importance; pertinent; referring to the case
in hand; N. relevance, relevancy |
| relic |
surviving remnant (from an extinct culture); memento;
keepsake; relics: corpse; Ex. ancient relics; Ex. relics
of his travel; Ex. His relics are buried at X. |
| religious |
of religion; (of a person) pious; having reverence
for a deity |
| relinquish |
give up something (with reluctance); yield; release;
Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold on
my arm |
| relish |
enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest |
| remediable |
reparable |
| reminiscence |
recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past |
| reminiscent |
suggestive of something (in the past); of reminiscence |
| remiss |
negligent; careless about a duty |
| remission |
temporary moderation (of disease symptoms); remitting
of a debt or punishment; cancelation of a debt; pardon;
Ex. The disease went into remission; Ex. Christians pray
for the remission of sins. |
| remit |
transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt
or punishment |
| remittance |
remitting of money; amount of money remitted |
| remnant |
remainder |
| remonstrate |
protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest |
| remorse |
deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach |
| remunerative |
(of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable; well-paid;
V. remunerate: reward; pay (someone) for work or trouble |
| rend |
split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing
deep sorrow |
| render |
give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic
form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the
song beautifully |
| rendezvous |
meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V. |
| rendition |
rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of
a song, etc |
| renegade |
deserter; traitor; ADJ. |
| renege |
break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on the
contract/paying off the debt |
| renounce |
abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown;
repudiate; Ex. renounce one's claim to the property/one's
religion; N. renunciation |
| renovate |
restore to good condition; renew |
| renown |
fame; ADJ. renowned |
| rent |
tear made by rending; rip; split |
| reparable |
capable of being repaired |
| reparation |
compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make
reparation for the damage; CF. repair |
| repartee |
quick clever reply |
| repast |
meal; feast; banquet |
| repeal |
revoke; annul |
| repel |
drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture;
Ex. repelled by the dirty room; CF. repulsion |
| repellent |
driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive; unattractive;
N. |
| repercussion |
rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious repercussion |
| repertoire |
list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is
prepared to present; CF. repertory |
| repine |
fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone
work |
| replenish |
fill up again |
| replete |
fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of
being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete
with errors |
| replica |
copy |
| replicate |
reproduce; duplicate |
| repose |
resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at
rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in a single
man |
| repository |
storehouse |
| reprehensible |
deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame |
| representational |
(of a style of art) showing things as they actually
appear in real life |
| repress |
hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush;
oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion |
| reprieve |
postponement or cancelation of a punishment; temporary
stay; V: postpone or cancel the punishment of |
| reprimand |
reprove severely; rebuke; N. |
| reprisal |
retaliation |
| reprise |
musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music;
repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the
finale; Ex. constant reprises |
| reproach |
blame (not angrily but sadly); express disapproval
or disappointment; N. ADJ. reproachful |
| reprobate |
morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin,
devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ? |
| reprobation |
severe disapproval; CF. approbation |
| reprove |
censure; rebuke; N. reproof |
| repudiate |
disown; disavow; deny |
| repugnance |
disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant:
arousing disgust; repulsive |
| repulse |
reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship);
drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause
repulsion |
| repulsion |
distaste; disgust; act of driving back; ADJ. repulsive:
causing disgust; tending to drive away; V. repel (not
`repulse') |
| reputable |
respectable; having a good reputation |
| reputed |
supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V. repute:
consider; N. repute: reputation; esteem |
| requiem |
mass for the dead; dirge |
| requisite |
necessary requirement; something required; ADJ: required;
necessary |
| requisition |
formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more
computing equipment; V. |
| requite |
make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal |
| rescind |
repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement) |
| resentment |
indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent: feel
anger about |
| reserve |
self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner;
reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely and openly; ADJ.
reserved: shy and uncommunicative |
| residual |
remaining; left over; of a residue; N: residue |
| residue |
remainder; balance |
| resign |
give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself)
passively |
| resignation |
patiently submissiveness; statement that one is quitting
a job; ADJ. resigned: acquiescent |
| resilient |
elastic; having the power of springing back; able to
recover quickly (as from misfortune) |
| resolution |
determination; resoluteness; ADJ. resolute: firm or
determined in purpose |
| resolve |
decide; settle; solve; separate; make a determined
decision; N. resolution |
| resonant |
(of a sound) echoing; resounding(sounding loudly);
deep and full in sound; producing resonance; Ex. resonant
voice; N. resonance |
| resort |
turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N. |
| resound |
(of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound) sound
loudly; sound back; echo; Ex. hall resounded with laughter |
| resourceful |
clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult situations);
N. resource, resourcefulness |
| respiration |
breathing; exhalation; ADJ. respiratory |
| respite |
time for rest; interval of relief; delay in punishment;
reprieve |
| resplendent |
brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious |
| responsiveness |
state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc.;
ADJ. responsive: readily reacting; Ex. responsive to treatment |
| restitution |
returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful
owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss,
damage, or injury |
| restive |
impatiently restless (induced by external coercion
or restriction); restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting
control; Ex. restive horses because of wolves; CF. not
a general synonym for `restless' |
| restraint |
moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction |
| resumption |
taking up again; recommencement; V. resume: begin or
take up again; take or occupy again; Ex. Kindly resume
your seats. |
| resurge |
rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent:
(of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again |
| resurrect |
revive |
| resuscitate |
revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate
the drowned child |
| retain |
keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer
or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid to retain
an advisor |
| retaliate |
repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate |
| retard |
delay (in development); ADJ. retarded: (as of a child)
slower in development |
| retentive |
holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind);
having a good memory |
| reticent |
inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex.
He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence |
| retinue |
following; attendants |
| retiring |
shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring
personality |
| retort |
quick sharp reply; V. |
| retract |
withdraw; take back; draw back; Ex. retract a statement/an
offer/claws; N. retraction; CF. retractile |
| retrench |
cut down; cut down expenses; economize |
| retribution |
deserved punishment for wrongdoing; punishment for
offenses; compensation; vengeance; CF. pay back |
| retrieve |
recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex.
retrieve the situation |
| retroactive |
taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition
(as a tax); (of a law) having effect on the past as well
as the future |
| retrograde |
go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; ADJ. |
| retrospective |
looking back on the past; N. retrospection; V. retrospect |
| revelry |
boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous
festivities; enjoy greatly; N: boisterous festivity or
celebration |
| reverberate |
echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder reverberated
across the valley. |
| reverend |
deserving reverence; N: priest |
| reverent |
respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence;
N. reverence: profound respect |
| reverie |
daydream; abstracted musing |
| revert |
relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the former
owner; N. reversion |
| revile |
attack with abusive language; vilify(slander) |
| revoke |
cancel; retract; CF. irrevocable |
| revulsion |
sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent change
of feeling; negative reaction; Ex. revulsion from the
scenes of torture |
| rhapsodize |
speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner;
Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery |
| rhapsody |
excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical
composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays
it) |
| rhetoric |
art of effective communication; art of using language
effectively and persuasively; style of speaking or writing;
grandiloquent language; Ex. political rhetoric; ADJ. rhetorical;
CF. rhetorical question: question to which no answer is
expected as |
| ribald |
marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry:
ribald language or joke |
| rickety |
(of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of rickets;
CF. rickets; CF. vitamin D |
| riddle |
pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout; Ex.
The gunman riddled the car with bullets; Ex. The whole
report is riddled with errors; N. large sieve (separating
earth from stone) |
| rider |
amendment or clause added to a legislative bill |
| rife |
(of something bad) widespread; abundant; current |
| rift |
narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly
relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation |
| rig |
arrangement of masts and sails; V: equip (a ship) with
rigging; ADJ. rigging: ropes that hold up a ship's sails |
| righteous |
morally upright; just |
| rightful |
legally correct; Ex. rightful owner |
| rigid |
hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in
behavior or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid rule |
| rigor |
severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter |
| rile |
irritate; vex; muddy |
| rip |
tear or be torn quickly and violently; Ex. The sail
ripped under the force of the wind; N. |
| rivet |
metal pin used for fastening metal plates together;
V: fasten with a rivet; engross |
| riveting |
holding one's attention; absorbing; engrossing |
| rivulet |
small stream; CF. rill < rivulet < river |
| robust |
strong; vigorous |
| rococo |
ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century |
| roil |
make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb |
| rolling |
(of land) rising and falling in long gentle slopes;
happening continuously by stages; Ex. rolling devolution
of power to local governments |
| romp |
play or frolic boisterously; gambol; N. |
| rooster |
cock; adult male chicken |
| roseate |
rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views |
| roster |
list (of names) |
| rostrum |
raised platform for speech-making; pulpit |
| rote |
repetition; memorization through repetition without
understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote |
| rotund |
(of a person) fat and round |
| rotunda |
circular building or hall covered with a dome |
| rotundity |
roundness; sonorousness of speech |
| rou\'e |
lecherous man |
| rousing |
lively; inducing excitement; stirring; V. rouse: waken;
arouse from sleep or depression; excite; stir up |
| rout |
put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat
and disorderly retreat |
| rubble |
fragments (esp. from a destroyed building) |
| rubric |
title or heading (in red print); directions for religious
ceremony; protocol |
| ruddy |
reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking |
| rudimentary |
elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment: fundamental
element or principle; Ex. rudiments of the language |
| rue |
regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N.
ADJ. rueful |
| ruffian |
violent scoundrel; bully |
| rumble |
make or move with a deep rolling sound (as thunder
or stomach) |
| ruminant |
animal that ruminates; ADJ. |
| ruminate |
chew over and over (mentally or, like cows, physically);
mull over(ponder) |
| rummage |
ransack; thoroughly search |
| run-down |
(of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of a
person) weak or exhausted |
| runic |
mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; N. rune:
one of the letters of an alphabet used by ancient Germanic
peoples (cut on stone or wood); magic charm |
| ruse |
trick to deceive; stratagem |
| rustic |
pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple;
crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left
on; N. rural person; rustic person |
| rusticate |
banish to the country; dwell in the country |
| rustle |
make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed
together |
| ruthless |
pitiless; merciless; cruel |
