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Chapter 2a: Section A : Vocabulary

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GRE VOCABULARY LIST
abacus	frame with balls for calculating
abate	to lessen to subside
abdication	giving up control authority
aberration	straying away from what is normal
abet	help/encourage smb (in doing wrong)
abeyance	suspended action
abhor	to hate to detest
abide	be faithful to endure
abjure	promise or swear to give up
abraded	rubbed off worn away by friction
abrogate	repeal or annul by authority
abscond	to go away suddenly (to avoid arrest)
abstruse	difficult to comprehend obscure
abut	border on
abysmal	bottomless extreme
acarpous	effete no longer fertile worn out
acclaimed	welcomed with shouts and approval
accolade	praise approval
accretion	the growing of separate things into one
adamant	kind of stone inflexible
admonitory	containing warning
adorn	add beauty decorate
adulteration	making unpure poorer in quality
affable	polite and friendly
affinity	close connection relationship
aggravate	make worse irritate
agile	active quick-moving
agog	eager/excited
ail	trouble be ill
alacrity	eager and cheerful readiness
alcove	recess/partially enclosed place
allegiance	duty support loyalty
alleviate	make (pain) easier to bear
alloy	to debase by mixing with something inferior
aloof	reserved indifferent
amalgamate	mix combine unite societies
ambidextrous	able to use the left hand or the right equally well
ambiguous	doubtful uncertain
ambivalent	having both of two contrary meanings
ameliorate	improve make better
amortize	end (a debt) by setting aside money
anguish	severe suffering
animosity	strong dislike
antidote	medicine used against a poison or a disease
antithetical	direct opposing
apartheid	brutal racial discrimination
aplomb	self-confidence
apostate	one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions
apotheosis	deification glorification to godliness
appease	make quiet or calm
apprehensive	grasping understanding fear unhappy feeling about future
apprise	give notice to inform
approbation	approval
apropos	appropriate to the situation apt
apt	well-suited quick-witted
arabesque	a complex ornate design
arboreal	of connected with trees
ardor	enthusiasm
arduous	steep difficult ascent laborious
argot	jargon slang
arrant	in the highest degree
arrogance	proud superior manner of behaviour
articulate	speak distinctly connect by joints
ascend	go or come up
ascertain	get to know
ascetic	practicing self-denial austere stark
ascribe	consider to be the origin of or belonging to
aseptic	surgically clean
asperity	roughness harshness ill temper irritability
aspersion	slander
assail	with attack violently
assiduous	diligent hard-working sedulous
assuage	make smth (pain desire) less
asterisk	the mark * (e.g.. omitted letters)
astringent	substance that shrinks
astute	clever quick at seeing to get an advantage
atonement	repayment death of Jesus
attenuate	make thin. weaken enervate
attune	bring into harmony
audacious	daring foolishly bold impudent
augury	omen sign
august	majestic venerable
auspicious	favorable successful prosperous
austere	severely moral and strict simple and plain
auxiliary	helping supporting
aver	affirm assert prove justify
aversion	strong dislike
avid	eager greedy
avow	admit. Declare openly
baleful	harmful ominous causing evil
balk	obstacle purposely to get on the way of
baneful	causing harm or ruin pernicious destructive
barrage	artificial obstacle built across a river
barren	not good enough unable to have young ones without value
bask	in enjoy warmth and light
beatify	to bless make happy or ascribe a virtue to
bedizen	to adorn especially in a cheap showy manner
belabor	beat hard
bellicose	belligerent pugnacious warlike
belligerent	(person nation) waging war
benefactor	person who has given help
benevolence	wish or activity in doing good
benign	kind and gentle mild (climate)
bequest	arrangement to give smth at death
berate	scold sharply
bereft	rob or dispossess of smth (material)
bewilder	puzzle confuse
bigot	stubborn narrow-minded person
bilge	bulge the protuberance of a cask
blandishment	flattery coaxing
blandness	polite manner comforting uninteresting
blatant	noisy and rough
blithe	cheerful casual carefree
bogus	sham counterfeit not genuine
boisterous	loud noisy rough lacking restraint
bolster	give greatly needed support
boorish	crude offensive rude
brash	hasty rush cheeky saucy
brass	yellow metal (mixing copper and zinc)
brazen	made of brass
breach	opening broken place breaking
brittle	easily broken
broach	bring up announce begin to talk about
brook	to tolerate endure
buoyant	able to float light-hearted
burgeon	grow forth send out buds
burnish	to polish rub to a shine
cabal	a scheme or plot a group of plotters
cadge	to beg to get by begging
cajole	use flattery or deceit to persuade
calipers	metal supports attached to the legs measuring instrument
calumny	slander aspersion
candid	frank straight-forward
cant	insincere talk/jargon
cantankerous	bad-tempered/quarrelsome
canvass	discuss thoroughly sort of touting
castigate	to chastise correct by punishing
castigation	severe punishment
catalyst	substance that causes speeding up
caustic	biting sarcastic
censure	expression of blame or disapproval a rebuke
centurion	leader of a unit of 100 soldiers
chary	cautious wary
chastened	corrected punished
chastisement	punishment
chauvinist	a blindly devoted patriot
chicanery	legal trickery/false argument
chisel	steel tool for shaping materials
churl	bad-tempered person
clamor	shout complain with a lot of noise
clientele	customers
clinch	come to grips/settle conclusively
cling	to resist separation
clot	half-solid lump formed from liquid
cloture	closing device (in Parliament) to end a debate by voting
coagulation	change to a thick and solid state
coalescing	coming together and uniting into one substance
coax	get smb to do smth by kindness
coda	passage that completes a piece of music
coddle	treat with care and tenderness
coerce	compel to force to make obedient
coeval	of the same period coexisting
cogent	strong convincing
cogitate	think deeply mediate
cognizant	being fully aware of
colander	bowl-shaped vessel with many holes used to drain off water
collusion	secret agreement for a deceitful purpose
combustion	process of burning
commemorate	keep the memory of
commodious	having plenty of space for what is needed
commuter	person who travels regularly
complaisance	tending to comply obliging willingness to please
compunction	feeling of regret for one's action
conceal	hide keep secret
conceit	over-high opinion of too much pride
conciliatory	reconciling soothing comforting mollifying
concord	agreement or harmony
concur	agree in opinion happen together
condense	increase in density strength make laconic
condone	forgive
congeal	make or become stiff and solid
conjoin	to join together
connoisseur	a person with good judgement (e.g.. in art)
connotation	suggestion in addition to
consequential	pompous self important
console	give comfort or sympathy to
conspicuous	easily seen remarkable
consternation	surprise and fear dismay
constrain	compel
constrict	make tight or smaller
consume	get to the end of
consummate	perfect/make perfect/complete
contemn	to scorn or despise
contentious	argumentative pugnacious combative quarrelsome
contiguous	touching neighboring near
contrite	filled with deep sorrow for wrongdoing
contumacious	insubordinate rebellious
conundrum	a riddle dilemma enigma
conviction	convincing firm belief
convoke	call together summon
convoluted	complicated coiled twisted
cordial	warm and sincere
cordon	line (of police acting as a guard)
cornucopia	abundant supply
corporeal	physical of or for the body
correlate	have a mutual relation
corroboration	additional strengthening evidence
countenance	to favor or approve of
counterfeit	forgery
countervail	counterbalance
covert	disguised
covetous	eagerly desirous
cower	crouch shrink back
coy	shy/modest (esp of a girl)
crass	very great (es. stupidity)
cravat	piece of linen worn as a necktie
craven	cowardly
crease	line made by crushing white line on the ground in cricket
credulity	too great a readiness to believe things
credulous	ready to believe things
crush	press lose shape subdue overwhelm
cryptic	secret with a hidden meaning
cumbersome	burdensome heavy and awkward to carry
curmudgeon	bad-tempered person
curriculum	course of study
cursory	quick hurried
curtail	make shorter then was planned
dainty	pretty/delicate(food)/difficult to please
daunt	intimidate make fearful
dawdler	person who is slow waste of time
dearth	shortage
debacle	a breakup overthrow sudden disaster
decorum	propriety properness
decree	order given by authority
decry	disapprove of
defer	postpone give way (to show respect)
deferential	showing respect
defiance	open disobedience or resistance
delineate	to portray depict sketch out
deluge	great flood heavy rush of water
demagogue	person appealing not to reasons
demur	to hesitate raise objections
denigrate	blacken belittle sully defame
denouement	an outcome or solution the unraveling of a plot
deplete	use until none remains
deposition	dethronement depositing
deprave	make morally bad corrupt
deprecate	protest against express disapproval of
dereliction	deserting and leaving to fall into ruins
derision	ridicule mockery deriding
derivative	unoriginal obtained from another source
derogatory	insulting tending to damage
descry	catch sight of see smth in the distance
desiccant	substance used to absorb moisture
desuetude	cessation of use disuse
desultory	aimless haphazard digressing at random
deter	discourage hinder
detraction	slandering verbal attack aspersion
detumescence	diminishing or lessening of swelling
deviance	being different in moral standards (from normal)
dexterity	skill (esp. in handling)
diaphanous	transparent gauzy
diatribe	bitter and violent attack in words
diffidence	shyness
dilate	speak comprehensively become wider large
disallow	refuse to allow or accept as a correct
discern	see with an effort but clearly
discomfit	confuse embarrass
disconcert	upset the self-possession of
discountenance	refuse to approve of
discourse	speech lecture
discredit	refuse to believe
discreet	careful/prudent
discrete	individually distinct
disdain	look on with contempt
disencumber	free from encumbrance
disheveled	untidy
disingenuous	sophisticated artful trying to deceive cunning
disinter	dig up from the earth
dislodge	move force from the place occupied
dismal	sad gloomy miserable
disparate	essentially different
disproof	proof to the contrary
dissemble	speak or behave so as to hide smth (in mind)
disseminate	distribute (esp. ideas)
dissent	have a different opinion refuse to assent
dissolution	disintegration looseness in morals
distraught	distracted violently upset in mind
divergence	getting farther apart from a point
divestiture	taking off getting rid of giving up
divulge	make known smth secret
doggerel	trivial poorly constructed verse
dogmatic	positive certain arbitrary without room for discussion
dolt	stupid fellow
dormant	in a state of inactivity but awaiting development
dote	show much fondness center one's attention
drawl	slow way of speaking
droll	jesting
drone	male bee person who isn't self-employed
drowsiness	feeling sleepy half asleep
dubious	feeling doubt
dud	no use person smth that fails
dulcet	melodious harmonious
dupe	cheat make a fool of
duplicity	deliberate deception
duress	threats to compel smb
dwarf	person or smb much below the usual size
dynamo	a generator something that produces electric current
earthenware	dishes made of baked clay
ebullience	exuberance outburst of feeling
ebullient	overflowing with enthusiasm showing excitement
ecumenical	representing the whole Christian world
edacious	voracious devouring
eddy	circular or spiral movement (e.g.. of wind)
edible	fit to be eaten/not poisonous
effete	infertile worn out weak
efficacy	production of a desired result
effluvia	outflow in a stream of particles a noxious odor or vapor
effrontery	boldness impudence arrogance
egress	way out exit
elaborate	worked out with much care in great detail
elegy	a lament a melancholy composition
elicit	draw out
eloquence	fluent speaking skillful use of language
emaciate	make thin and weak
embellish	make beautiful
embezzle	use in a wrong way for one's own benefit
emote	stir up excite
empirical	relying on experiment
encapsulate	enclose in capsule
encomium	warm or glowing praise eulogy panegyric
encumbrance	burden things that get on the way of
endearing	making dear or liked
endemic	epidemic
endorse	write one's name on the back of
enduring	lasting
enervate	weaken deprive of strength attenuate
engender	cause produce give rise to
engrave	impress deeply
engrossing	taken up all the time or attention writing in large or formal
engulf	swallow up
enigma	smth that is puzzling
enmity	hatred being an enemy
ensign	flag/badge
entangle	put into difficulties
enthral	please greatly/enslave (fig)
entice	tempt or persuade
entreat	ask earnestly
enunciate	pronounce (words)/express a theory
enzyme	catalyst
epicurean	devoted to pleasure (sensuous enjoyment)
epistle	letter
epithet	adjective
epitome	brief summary representative example a typical model
equable	steady regular
equanimity	calmness of temperament
equilibrium	state of being balanced
equipoise	equal distribution of weight equilibrium
equivocal	having a double or doubtful meaning suspicious
equivocate	try to deceive by equivocal language
eradicate	get rid of pull up by the roots
erratic	irregular in behaviour or opinion
erudite	learned scholarly
eschew	avoid
esoteric	abstruse intended only for a small circle of
espouse	marry give one's support to
eulogy	formal praise panegyric
euphoria	elation state of pleasant excitement
euthanasia	easy and painless death
evasive	tending to evade
evince	to show clearly to indicate
evoke	call up bring out
excoriation	severe criticism
exculpate	to clear from a charge of guilt
exhaustive	complete thorough
exigency	emergency an urgent situation
exoneration	set smb clear free (e.g.. from blame)
exorbitant	much too high or great
expatiate	to roam wander freely
expedient	likely to be useful for a purpose
expiation	ending expiring
exploit	brilliant achievement develop use selfishly
expostulate	argue earnestly to dissuade correct or protest
expurgate	to remove obscenity purify censor
exscind	to cut out cut away
extant	still in existence
extempore	without previous thought or preparation
extenuate	reduce the strength of lessen seriousness partially excuse
extinct	no longer active
extinguish	end the existence of/wipe or put out
extirpate	to destroy exterminate cut out exscind
extol	praise highly
extort	obtain by threats violence
extralegal	outside the law
extricable	that can be freed
extrovert	cheerful person
exuberance	state of growing vigorously being full of life
facetious	humorous funny jocular
facile	easily done
fallacious	based on error
falter	waver/move in an uncertain manner
fatuous	without sense foolish self-satisfaction
fawn	young deer try to win smb's favor
feckless	lacking purpose or vitality ineffective careless
fecund	fertile
feint	pretend
felicitous	apt suitably expressed well chosen apropos
felon	person guilty of murder
ferment	substance become excited
ferocity	savage cruelty
ferret	discover by searching search
fervid	showing earnest feeling
fervor	warmth of feelings earnestness
fetid	stinking
fetter	to shackle put in chains
feud	bitter quarrel over a long period of time
fidelity	loyalty accuracy
fidget	move restlessly make nervous
figurehead	carved image on the prow of a ship
finesse	delicate way of dealing with a situation
finical	too fussy about food clothing etc.
finicky	finical
fission	splitting or division (esp. of cells)
fixate	stare at
flak	criticism/anti-aircraft guns
flamboyant	brightly colored florid
flaunting	show off complacently
flax	pale yellow (hair) a plant
fledged	able to fly trained experienced
fleet	number of ships quick-moving
flinch	draw move back wince
flop	fail/move/fall clumsily
florid	very much ornamented naturally red (e.g.. of face)
flout	reject mock to go against (as in going against tradition)
fluke	lucky stroke
fluster	make nervous or confused
foible	defect of character (a person is wrongly proud)
foil	prevent from carrying out contrast
foment	put smth warm (to lessen the pain)
foolproof	incapable of failure or error
foppish	like a man who pays too much attention to his clothes
forage	food for horses and cattle
forbear	refrain from be patient ancestor
forbearance	patience willingness to wait
ford	shallow place in a river (to cross)
forestall	prevent by taking action in advance preempt
forfeit	suffer the loss of smth
forge	workshop for the shaping of metal to shape metal lead
forgery	counterfeit
forswear	renounce disallow repudiate
foster	nurture care for
fracas	noisy quarrel
fragile	easily injured broken or destroyed
fragrant	sweet-smelling
frantic	wildly excited with joy pain anxiety
frenetic	frantic frenzied
fret	worry irritation wear away
fringe	edge ornamental border part of hair over the forehead
froward	intractable not willing to yield or comply stubborn
frugal	careful economical
fulmination	bitter protest
fulsome	disgusting offensive due to excessiveness
gainsay	to deny to oppose
garble	make unfair selection from facts
garment	article of clothing
garner	to gather and save to store up
garrulity	talkativeness
garrulous	too talkative
gaucherie	socially awkward tactless behavior
germane	relevant pertinent to
gist	the point general sense
glean	gather facts in small quantities
glib	ready and smooth but not sincere
glimmer	weak/unsteady light
gloat	over look at with selfish delight
glut	supply to much fill to excess
gnaw	waste away bite steadily
goad	smth urging a person to action
gorge	eat greedily/narrow opening with a stream
gossamer	soft light delicate material
gouge	tool for cutting grooves in wood
grandiloquent	using pompous words
grave	serious requiring consideration
graze	touch or scrape lightly in passing
gregarious	living in societies liking the company
grievous	causing grief or pain serious dire grave
grovel	crawl humble oneself
guile	deceit cunning
gullible	easily gulled
gush	burst out suddenly/talk ardently
gust	outburst of feeling sudden rain wind fire etc.
hack	cut roughly hired horse
halcyon	calm and peaceful
hallow	to make holy consecrate
harangue	a long passionate speech
harbinger	smth or smb that foretells the coming of
harrow	to distress create stress or torment
haughty	arrogant conceited
heed	attention/give notice to
heinous	odious (of crime)
heresy	belief contrary to what is generally accepted
hermetic	sealed by fusion
heterogeneous	made up of different kinds
hew	make by hard work cut (by striking)
highbrow	(person) with superior tastes
hirsute	hairy shaggy
hoax	mischievous trick played on smb for a joke
hoi	polloi the masses the rabble
hollow	not soled with hole
holster	leather case for a pistol
homiletics	act of preaching
hone	stone used for sharpening tools
hoodwink	trick mislead
hospitable	liking to give hospitality
hubris	arrogant pride
hush	make or become silent
husk	worthless outside part of anything
hypocrisy	falsely making oneself appear to be good
iconoclast	person who attacks popular beliefs
idiosyncrasy	personal mannerism
idolatry	excessive admiration of
idyll	a carefree episode or experience
ignoble	dishonorable common undignified
ignominious	shameful dishonorable undignified disgraceful
illicit	unlawful forbidden
imbroglio	complicated and embarrassing situation
immaculate	pure faultless
imminent	likely to come or happen soon
immutable	that cannot be changed
impair	worsen diminish in value
impassive	unmoved feeling no sign of passion
impecunious	having little or no money
impede	hinder get in the way of
impediment	smth that hinders (e.g. stammer)
impending	imminent being about to happen expected
imperative	urgent essential
imperious	commanding haughty arrogant
impermeable	that cannot be permeated
imperturbable	calm not capable of being excited
impervious	not allowing to pass through (of materials)
imperviousness	haughty arrogant commanding
impetuous	having sudden energy impulsive thrusting ahead forceful
impiety	lack of reverence or dutifulness
implacable	incapable of being placated unpleasable
implicate	show that smb has a share
implicit	implied though not plainly expressed
implosion	collapse bursting inward
importune	beg urgently solicit (of a prostitute)
imprecation	an invocation of evil a curse
impromptu	without preparation
impudent	rash indiscreet
impugned	challenged to be doubted
impute	to attribute to a cause or source ascribe
inadvertent	not paying proper attention
inane	silly senseless
inasmuch	since because
incense	make angry
incessant	often repeated continual
inchoate	not yet fully formed rudimentary elementary
incipient	beginning
incise	engrave make a cut in
incite	stir up rouse
inclined	directing the mind in a certain direction
incongruous	out of place not in harmony or agreement
incorrigibility	cannot be cured or corrected
incredulous	skeptical unwilling to believe
inculcate	fix firmly by repetition
incumbents	official duties
incursion	a raid a sudden attack
indefatigability	not easily exhaustible tirelessness
indelible	that cannot be rubbed out
indigence	poverty
indigenous	native
indistinct	not easily heard seen clearly marked
indolence	laziness
indomitable	not easily discouraged or subdued
indulge	gratify give way to satisfy allow oneself
indulgent	inclined to indulge
ineffable	to great to be described in words
ineluctable	certain inevitable
inept	unskillful said or done at the wrong time
ineptitude	quality of being unskillful
inferno	hell
infuriate	fill with fury or rage
infuse	put pour fill
ingenuous	naive young artless frank honest sincere
ingest	take in by swallowing
inimical	harmful or friendly
inimitable	defying imitation unmatchable
innocuous	causing no harm
inscrutable	incapable of being discovered or understood
insensible	unconscious unresponsive unaffected
insinuate	suggest unpleasantly make a way for smth gently
insipid	without taste or flavor
insouciant	unconcerned carefree
insularity	narrow-mindedness isolated
insurrection	rising of people to open resistance to
interdict	prohibit forbid
interim	as an installment
intersperse	place here and there
intransigence	unwillingness to compromise stubbornness intractability
intransigent	uncompromising
intrepid	fearless brave undaunted
introspection	examining one's own thoughts and feelings
inundate	flood cover by overflowing
inured	accustomed to adapted
invective	abusive language curses
inveigh	to attack verbally denounce deprecate
inveterate	deep-rooted. long-established
invincible	too strong to be defeated
involute	complex
irascible	irritable easily angered
irate	angry
ire	anger
irksome	tiresome
irresolute	hesitating undecided
irrevocable	final and unalterable
itinerate	to travel from place to place to peregrinate
jabber	talk excitedly utter rapidly
jibe	gibe make fun of
jocular	meant as a joke
judicious	sound in judgment wise
knit	draw together unite firmly
labyrinthine	to entangle the state of affairs
lachrymose	causing tears tearful
lackluster	(of eyes) dull
lament	show feel great sorrow
lassitude	weariness tiredness
latent	present but not yet active developed or visible
laudatory	expressing or giving praise
lavish	giving or producing freely liberally or generously
legacy	smth handed down from ancestors
levee	formal reception/embankment
levity	lack of seriousness
libel	statement that damages reputation
liberality	free giving generosity
libertine	immoral person
lien	legal claim until a debt on it is repaid
limn	paint portray
limp	lacking strength walking unevenly
lionize	treat as a famous person
lithe	bending twisting
loll	rest to sit or stand in a lazy way hang (dog's tongue)
lope	move along with long strides
loquacious	talkative garrulous
lucubrate	write in scholarly fashion
luculent	easily understood lucid clear
lugubrious	mournful excessively sad
lull	become quiet or less active
lumber	move in a clumsy/noisy way
luminary	star light-giving body
lurk	be out of view ready to attack
lustrous	being bright polished
macabre	gruesome suggesting death
macerate	make or become soft by soaking in water
machination	plot scheme (esp. evil)
maladroit	tactless clumsy
malapropism	misuse of a word (for one that resembles it)
malevolence	wishing to do evil
malign	injurious speak ill of smb tell lie
malinger	to fake illness or injury in order to shirk a duty
malleable	yielding easily shaped moldable adapting
manacle	chains for the hands or feet
massacre	cruel killing of a large number of people
matriculation	be admitted enter a university as a student
maudlin	sentimental in a silly or tearful way
maul	hurt by rough handling
maverick	rebel nonconformist
mellifluous	sweetly flowing
mendacity	dishonesty
mendicant	a beggar
mercurial	quick changeable in character fleeting
meretricious	attractive on the surface but of little value
mesmerize	hypnotize
meticulous	giving great attention to details
mettle	quality of endurance or courage
mettlesome	courageous high-spirited
middling	fairly good but not very good
minatory	menacing threatening
mince	pronounce or speak affectedly euphemize
misanthrope	person who hates mankind
mischievous	harmful causing mischief
miser	person who loves wealth and spends little
misogynist	one who hates women/females
moderation	quality of being limited not extreme
mollify	make calmer or quieter
molt	moult lose hair feathers before new growing
morbid	diseased unhealthy (e.g.. about ideas)
morose	ill-tempered unsocial
muffler	cloth worn round the neck/silencer
multifarious	varied motley greatly diversified
mundane	worldly as opposed to spiritual commonplace everyday
myriad	very great number
nadir	lowest weakest point
nascent	coming into existence emerging
nebulous	cloud-like hazy vague indistinct
negligent	taking too little care
neophyte	person who has been converted to a belief
nexus	a connection tie or link
nibble	show some inclination to accept (an offer)
noisome	offensive disgusting (smell)
nonchalant	not having interest
nonplused	greatly surprised
nostrum	a quack remedy an untested cure
noxious	harmful
nugatory	trifling/worthless
obdurate	hardened and unrepenting stubborn inflexible
obfuscate	to darken make obscure muddle
oblivious	unaware having no memory
obloquy	abusively detractive language sharp criticism vituperation
obsequious	too eager to obey or serve
obstreperous	noisy loud
obtain	to be established accepted or customary
obtrusive	projecting prominent undesirably noticeable
obtuse	blunt/stupid
obviate	to make unnecessary get rid of
occluded	blocked up
odious	repulsive hateful
odium	contempt dislike aversion
odor	smell favor reputation
officious	too eager or ready to help offer advice
ominous	threatening
onerous	needing effort burdensome
opaqueness	dullness/not allowing light to pass through
opprobrious	showing scorn or reproach
ossify	to turn to bone to settle rigidly into an idea
ostensible	seeming appearing as such professed
ostentation	display to obtain admiration or envy
ostracism	shut out from society refuse to meet talk
overhaul	examine thoroughly to learn about the condition
overweening	presumptuously arrogant overbearing immoderate being a jerk
paean	song of praise or triumph
palate	roof of the mouth sense of taste
palatial	magnificent
palliate	lessen the severity of
palpability	can be felt touched understood
palpitate	tremble beat rapidly and irregularly
panegyric	formal praise eulogy
paradigm	a model example or pattern
parenthesis	sentence within another one smth separated
pariah	an outcast a rejected and despised person
parsimonious	too economical miserly
partisan	one-sided committed to a party biased or prejudiced
patron	regular customer person who gives support
paucity	scarcity a lacking of
peccadillo	small sin small weakness in one's character
pedantic	bookish showing off learning
pedestrian	commonplace trite unremarkable
pellucid	transparent easy to understand
penchant	strong inclination a liking
penitent	feeling or showing regret
penurious	poor/stingy
penury	extreme poverty
peregrination	traveling about wandering
peremptory	urgent imperative unchallengeable ending debate
perfidious	treacherous faithless
perfidy	treachery breaking of faith
perfunctory	done as a duty without care
perilous	dangerous
peripatetic	wandering
perish	be destroyed decay
perjury	willful FALSE statement unlawful act
permeate	spread into every part of
pernicious	harmful injurious
perpetrate	be guilty commit (a crime)
personable	pleasing in appearance attractive
perspicacity	quick judging and understanding
pertain	belong as a part have reference
pest	destructive thing or a person who is nuisance
petrified	taken away power (to think feel act)
petrify	to make hard rocklike
petrous	like a rock hard stony
petulant	unreasonably impatient
philistine	a smug ignorant person one who lacks knowledge
phlegmatic	calm sluggish temperament unemotional
picaresque	involving clever rogues or adventurers
pied	of mixed colors
pinch	be too tight take between the thumb and finger
pine	waste away through sorrow or illness
pious	dutiful to parents devoted to religion
piquant	agreeably pungent stimulating
pique	hurt the pride or self-respect stir (curiosity)
pitfall	covered hole as a trap unsuspected danger
pith	essential part force soft liquid substance
pivotal	of great importance (others depend on it)
placate	soothe pacify calm
plaintive	mournful melancholy sorrowful
plaque	flat metal on a wall as a memorial
platitude	a trite or banal statement unoriginality
plea	request
plead	address a court of law as an advocate
plethora	glut
pliant	pliable easily bent shaped or twisted
plod	continue doing smth without resting
pluck	pull the feathers off pick (e.g.. flowers)
plumb	get to the root of
plummet	fall plunge steeply
plunge	move quickly suddenly and with force
poignant	deeply moving keen
poncho	large piece of cloth
ponderous	heavy bulky dull
portent	omen marvelous threatening
precarious	uncertain risky dangerous
precepts	rules establishing standards of conduct
preclude	prevent make impossible
precursory	preliminary anticipating
predilection	special liking mental preference
predominate	have more power than others
preen	tidy/show self-satisfaction
premature	doing or happening smth before the right time
preponderance	greatness in number strength weight
presage	warning sign
presumption	arrogance
preternatural	not normal or usual
prevalent	common
prevaricate	to equivocate to stray from the truth
prim	neat formal
pristine	primitive unspoiled pure as in earlier times unadulterated
probity	uprightness incorruptibility principle
proclivity	inclination
procrastination	keeping on putting off
prodigal	wasteful reckless with money
prodigious	enormous wonderful
profane	worldly having contempt for God
profligacy	shameless immorality
profligate	wasteful prodigal licentious extravagant
profundity	depth
profuse	abundant/lavish
proliferate	grow reproduce by rapid multification
prolix	tiring because too long
prone	prostrate inclined to (undesirable things)
propagation	increasing the number spreading extending
propinquity	nearness in time or place affinity of nature
propitiatory	conciliatory appeasing mitigating
propitious	auspicious presenting favorable circumstances
prosaic	everyday mundane commonplace trite pedestrian
proscribe	denounce as dangerous
protracted	prolonged
provident	frugal looking to the future
provisional	of the present time only
provoke	make angry vax
prudence	careful forethought
prudish	easily shocked excessively modest
prune	dried plum silly person
pry	get smth inquire too curiously
pucker	wrinkle
pugnacious	fond of in the habit of fighting
puissance	strength
punctilious	precise paying attention to trivialities
pundit	pedant authority on a subject
pungency	sharpness stinging quality
purvey	provide supply
pusillanimous	cowardly craven
putrefaction	becoming rotten
pyre	large pile of wood for burning
quack	person dishonestly claiming to smth
quaff	drink deeply
quail	lose courage turn frightened
qualm	feeling of doubt temporary feeling of sickness
quandary	state of doubt or perplexity
quell	suppress subdue
quibble	try to avoid by sophistication
quiescence	state of being passive/motionless
quiescent	at rest dormant torpid
quirk	habit or action peculiar to smb or smth
quixotic	generous unselfish
quotidian	banal everyday
rabble	mob crowd the lower classes of populace
raconteur	person who tells anecdotes
raffish	low vulgar base tawdry
ramify	to be divided or subdivided to branch out
rancorous	feeling bitterness spitefulness
rant	use extravagant language
rapacious	greedy (esp for money)
rarefy	to make thin to make less dense to purify or refine
rave	act with excessive enthusiasm
reactionary	opposing progress
rebuff	snub
recalcitrant	disobedient
recant	take back as being FALSE give up
recast	cast or fashion anew
recidivism	relapse into antisocial or criminal behavior
reciprocity	granting of privileges in return for similar
recitals	a number of performance of music
recluse	person who lives alone and avoids people
recompense	make payment to reward punish
reconcile	settle a quarrel restore peace
recondite	little known abstruse
recreancy	cowardice a cowardly giving up
recuperate	become strong after illness loss exhaustion
redeem	get back by payment compensate
redoubtable	formidable causing fear
refine	make or become pure cultural
refractory	stubborn unmanageable untractable
refulgent	shining brilliant
regale	to delight or entertain to feast
regicide	crime of killing a king
reiterate	say or do again several times
rejuvenation	becoming young in nature or appearance
relapse	fall back again
remonstrate	to protest object
render	deliver provide represent
renovate	restore smth to better condition
renowned	celebrated famous
repast	meal
repel	refuse to accept/cause dislike
repine	at be discontented with
reproach	scold upbraid
reprobate	person hardened in sin one devoid of decency
repudiate	disown refuse to accept or pay
repulsive	causing a feeling of disgust
requite	repay give in return
rescind	repeal/annul/cancel
resigned	unresisting submissive
resilience	quality of quickly recovering the original shape
resort	to frequently visit
restive	refusing to move reluctant to be controlled
resuscitation	coming back to consciousness
retard	check hinder
reticent	reserved untalkative silent taciturn
revere	have deep respect for
reverent	feeling or showing deep respect
riddle	puzzling person or thing
rift	split crack dissension
rivet	fix take up secure metal pin
roll	call calling of names
rotund	rich and deep plump and round
ruffian	violent cruel man
rumple	make rough
sagacious	having sound judgment perceptive wise like a sage
salacious	obscene
salubrious	healthful
salutary	remedial wholesome causing improvement
sanctimony	self-righteousness hypocritical with FALSE piety
sanction	approval (by authority) penalty
sanguine	cheerful confident optimistic
sanity	health of mind soundness of judgement
sash	long strip worn round the waist
satiate	satisfy fully
saturnine	gloomy dark sullen morose
savant	person of great learning
savor	taste flavor smth
sawdust	tiny bits of wood
scabbard	sheath for the blade
scent	smell (esp pleasant)
scorch	become discolored/dry up/go at high speed
scribble	write hastily
scurvy	mean contemptible
secular	material (not spiritual) living outside monasteries
sedulous	persevering
seminal	like a seed constituting a source originative
sententious	short and pithy full of maxims/proverbs
sequence	succession connected line of
sere	make hard and without feeling
sermon	reproving a person for his faults
serrated	having a toothed edge
serration	having a toothed edge
servile	like a slave lacking independence
sever	break off
severance	severing
shallow	little depth not earnest
shard	piece of broken earthenware
sheath	cover for the blade of a weapon or a tool
shrewd	astute showing sound judgement
shrill	sharp piercing
shun	keep away from avoid
shunt	send from one track to another lay aside evade discussion
sidestep	step to one side
simper	(give a) silly/self-conscious smile
sinuous	winding undulating serpentine
skiff	small boat
skit	short piece of humorous writing
slack	sluggish dull not tight
slake	to assuage to satisfy allay
slate	king of blue-grey stone propose criticize
sluggard	lazy slow-moving person
slur	join sounds/words (indistinct)
smolder	burn slowly without flame
snare	trap
snub	treat with contempt
soar	rise fly high
sober	self-controlled
sobriety	quality or condition of being sober
sodden	soaked saturated
soggy	heavy with water
solvent	of the power of forming a solution
somatic	of the body
soot	black powder in smoke
sophisticated	complex subtle refined
sophistry	fallacious reasoning faulty logic
sophomoric	self-assured though immature affected bombastic overblown
soporific	producing sleep
sordid	wretched comfortless contemptible
spear	weapon with a metal point on a long shaft
specious	illogical of questionable truth or merit
splenetic	bad-tempered irritable
splice	join (two ends)
sponge	porous rubber for washing live at once expense
spurious	FALSE counterfeit
spurn	have nothing to do reject or refuse
squalid	foul filthy
squander	spend wastefully
squat	crouch/settle without permission
stanch	to stop the flow of a fluid
steeply	rising or falling sharply
stentorian	extremely loud and powerful
stickler	person who insists on importance of smth
stigma	mark of shame or disgrace
stigmatize	describe smb scornfully
sting	smth sharp
stingy	spending using unwillingly
stint	to be thrifty to set limits
stipple	paint with dots
stipulate	state or put forward as a necessary condition
stolid	showing no emotion impassive
stray	wander lose one's way
streak	long thin move very fast
striated	striped grooved or banded
stride	walk with long steps
strut	a supporting bar
stygian	hence dark gloomy
stymie	to hinder obstruct or block
subdue	overcome bring under control
sublime	extreme astounding
submerge	put under water liquid sink out of sight
suborn	induce by bribery or smth to commit perjury
subpoena	written order requiring a person to appear in a low court
substantiation	giving facts to support (statement)
subsume	include under a rule
succor	assistance relief in time of distress
suffice	be enough
suffocate	cause or have difficulty in breathing
sullied	to be stained or discredited
summarily	briefly without delay
sumptuous	magnificent
sundry	various miscellaneous separate
supercilious	disdainful characterized by haughty scorn
superfluous	more then is needed or wanted
superimpose	put smth on the top
supersede	take the place of
supine	lying on the back slow to act passive
suppliant	asking humbly beseeching
supplicate	make a humble petition to
suppress	prevent from being known put an end to
surcharge	additional load/charge
surfeit	satiate feed to fulness or to excess
susceptibility	sensitiveness
swerve	change direction suddenly
sycophant	person who flatter to the rich and powerful
synopsis	summary or outline
taciturn	untalkative silent
tadpole	form of a frog when it leaves the egg
talon	claw of a bird of prey
tamp	tap or drive down by repeated light blows
tamper	interfere with
tangential	suddenly changeable
tarnished	lost brightness
tassel	bunch of threads
taunt	contemptuous reproach hurtful remark
taut	tightly stretched
tautology	a repetition a redundancy
tawdry	cheap gaudy showy tacky
teetotal	oppose to alcohol
temerity	boldness brashness intrepidness
temperance	abstinence from alcohol self-control moderation
temperate	showing self-control
tenacity	firmness persistency adhesiveness tending to hang on
tenuous	insubstantial flimsy weak
tepid	lukewarm
terse	brief and to the point
testiness	witness/evidence
thrift	care economy thriving prosperous
thwart	obstruct/frustrate
timid	shy easily frightened
timorous	fearful timid afraid
toady	obsequious flatterer
tonic	smth giving strength or energy
topple	be unsteady and overturn
torment	severe pain or suffering
torpid	sleeping sluggish lethargic dormant
torque	twisting force causing rotation
tortuous	devious/not straightforward
tout	person who worries others to buy smth to use his service
tractable	easily controlled or guided
transgress	break go beyond (a limit)
transient	temporary fleeting
transitory	brief
travesty	parody/imitation
trenchant	forceful effective vigorous extremely perceptive incisive
trepidation	alarm excited state of mind
trickle	flow in drops
trifling	unimportant
trite	not new
truce	(agreement) stop of fighting for a time
truculence	aggressiveness ferocity
trudge	walk heavily
turbid	muddy having the sediment stirred up
turbulence	being uncontrolled violent
turgid	excessively ornate swollen or bloated
turmoil	trouble disturbance
turpitude	wickedness shamefulness
turquoise	greenish-blue precious stone
tyro	tiro beginner
ubiquitous	present everywhere
ulterior	situated beyond
umbrage	offense resentment
uncouth	rough awkward
underbid	make a lower bid then smb else
undermine	weaken gradually at the base make smth under
undulate	to move in wavelike fashion fluctuate
unearth	discover and bring to light
unencumbered	easy-going trifle
unfeigned	not pretended sincere
unscathed	unharmed unhurt
untoward	unfortunate inconvenient
upbraid	scold reproach
urbane	elegant refined in manners
vacillation	being uncertain hesitating
vagary	strange act or idea
vain	without use result conceited
valiant	brave
valorous	brave
vanquish	conquer
veer	change direction
venal	ready to do smth dishonest
veneer	surface appearance covering the TRUE nature
veneration	regard with deep respect
veracity	truth
verdant	fresh and green
verisimilitude	appearing TRUE or real
veritable	real rightly named
verve	spirit vigor enthusiasm
vestige	trace or sign
vex	annoy distress trouble
vigilance	watchfulness self-appointed group who maintain order
vigilant	member of a vigilance committee
vigorous	strong energetic
vilify	slander say evil things
vindictive	having a desire to revenge
virago	a loud domineering woman a scold or nag
visceral	of the internal organs of the body
viscous	sticky/semi-fluid
vitiate	lower the quality weaken the strength
vituperate	curse abuse in words
vivacious	lively high-spirited
volatile	changeable inconstant fickle unstable explosive
volubility	fluency verbosity easy use of spoken language
voluble	fluent
waffle	talk vaguely and without much result
waft	scent waving movement carry lightly through
wag	merry person
warmonger	person who stirs up war
warrant	authority written order guarantee
wean	to turn away (from a habit)
weigh	measure hoe heavy smth is
welter	turmoil a bewildering jumble
wend	to go proceed
whimsical	full of odd and fanciful ideas
wince	show bodily or mental pain
woo	try to win
writ	written order
yarn	tale story fibers for knitting

Section B: Greek Roots

Section C: Sentence Completion

I. Sentence Completion

    There are four types of questions in the verbal portion of the exam: antonyms, analogies, reading comprehension, and sentence completion. This section will provide strategies for the sentence completion problems portion of the exam.

I. What are sentence completion problems?

    Sentence completion problems test your vocabulary skills as well as your reading ability. Unlike the reading comprehension questions, which require you to read long passages, these problems contain a single sentence expressing a complete idea that can be understood without any additional information. Each sentence contains one or two blanks, indicating that one or two words are missing. You are then presented with five words or phrases, or five pairs of words or phrases if there are two blanks in the sentence. From these choices, you need to select the words or phrases that fit into the blanks to best complete the sentence. To make the correct choice, you will need to be able to understand the main idea of the sentence and the logical structure of the sentence. Next, you will need to know the definitions of the words in the answer choices.

     Successfully solving the sentence completion section of the GRE is primarily a matter of perceiving the relationships within the sentence as indicated by the presence of equivalents, analogies, parallel sets, contraries and lexical groups. Sentence completion questions are more difficult to answer than reading comprehension questions, for in a sentence, the contextual field is severely limited. Solving the sentence completion section will draw on your familiarity with antonyms and synonyms, your understanding of parallel sets, and the breadth and depth of your general vocabulary.

     In general, the development of your vocabulary is extremely helpful in preparation for the sentence completion problems, as well as for the entire verbal portion of the GRE. In addition to improving your vocabulary, however, there is a strategy to understanding these problems. If you apply this strategy to figure out the type of sentence completion problem you are given, it will better enable you to select the correct choice, even if you don't necessarily know the definitions of all the words in the sentence. We will next outline this general strategy using examples of sentence completion problems.

II. General Strategy for Sentence Completions

Read through the sentence and determine how the parts of the sentence are connected to each other

The first step in solving a problem of this type is to read the sentence and figure out what the main idea of the sentence is. Now, there may be more than one idea in any given sentence. In this case, the key is to understand how the two ideas are connected to each other. Let's look at an example.

Because scientific assessments of whether or not global warming is occurring have been _______, it has been difficult to convince the public that this phenomenon is a critical problem that needs to be addressed.

What are the ideas in this sentence? The first part describes assessments of the occurrence of global warming. Just from this part of the sentence, we don't know what these assessments, or evaluations, figure out about global warming since this is the blank in the sentence. The second part of the sentence talks about the difficulty in convincing the public about the importance of global warming. How are these two parts of the sentence connected? At a simple level, they are both dealing with the issue of information about global warming.

Look for key words

     The identification of key words and phrases will enable you to further determine the relationship between the ideas in the sentence. Learning these key words will help you to recognize the common themes of these problems on the exam (described in section III of this chapter). As we go through the four common types of these problems, we will give examples of key words and phrases for each type. Briefly, key words include words such as therefore, because, similarly, although, in contrast, etc. Let's look at the sentence again:

     Because scientific assessments of whether or not global warming is occurring have been _______, it has been difficult to convince the public that this phenomenon is a critical problem that needs to be addressed.

    The first word is "because." What does this tell us? The word "because" signals to us that the information in the first part of the sentence in some way causes the second part of the sentence. (As we will see, this is one of the four common structures of sentence completion problems: causation.)

Think of a word that would make sense in the blank

     Without even looking at the answer choices, use the information you have learned from the ideas and key words in the sentence to guess at a possible choice of word to fill the blank. If there are two blanks, think of a word that would make sense for each one.

      Because scientific assessments of whether or not global warming is occurring have been _______, it has been difficult to convince the public that this phenomenon is a critical problem that needs to be addressed.

      In our sample sentence, the presence of the word "because" tells us that the first idea causes the second idea. We know that something about the scientific assessments of global warming has led to a difficulty in convincing the public that warming is a problem. What type of scientific assessments must these be? They must not be believable or convincing, otherwise the public would know that this issue was important. Therefore, some appropriate words that might make sense in the blank would be words that describe the scientific studies as lacking in some way: unpersuasive, not credible, deficient, or unbelievable. If we again read the sentence with any of these words substituted into the blank, the sentence makes sense.

Read the answer choices and look for a choice that is similar in meaning to your guess word(s)

Because scientific assessments of whether or not global warming is occurring have been _______, it has been difficult to convince the public that this phenomenon is a critical problem that needs to be addressed.

(A) challenging
(B) well-designed
(C) inconclusive
(D) substantial
(E) irrefutable

We are looking for an answer choice that is similar in meaning to not credible, deficient, or unbelievable. Challenging does not seem to be related to the idea we have chosen, so we can skip over that one for now. Well-designed is opposite to the idea we need; if the assessments were well-designed, the public would be easily convinced. Inconclusive seems to be similar to the idea we were looking for, so we can hold onto that one. Even though this one seems to fit, always check out all the answer choices. Often more that one word will have the same general meaning as your guess word, and you will need to narrow it down and then choose the best-fitting word. The last two choices, substantial and irrefutable are again more opposite in meaning to our guess word so we can eliminate these two. It is quite common on these problem types to find words opposite in meaning to your guess word among the answer choices.

Reread the sentence substituted with your answer choice

Once you have narrowed it down to a particular answer choice that reflects the idea of your guess word, reread the sentence to see if the logic follows when you substitute that word into the blank. If you have only narrowed down your choices to a few, read the sentence with each of the possible choices. For problems with two blanks, it is often the case that you will be able to eliminate some of the choices because the first word does not fit well into the blank and others because the second word doesn't fit. Together, you can eliminate more of the incorrect answer choices and narrow it down to the correct choice. In this case, we had skipped over the first choice, challenging, since it did not seem to be related to our guess word. If we substitute that into the sentence, does it make sense? No. The best answer is (C), inconclusive.

III. The four common problem types

The sentence completion problems seen on the GRE typically fall into four classes: contrast, similarity, reiteration, and causation. We will now look at each of these problem types, giving examples of these problems and key words that will enable you to identify them on the actual exam.

A. Contrast. Contrast sentences contain dissimilar or opposing ideas.

Key words indicating contrast sentences include:

although
but
despite
however
whereas
on the contrary
yet
on the other hand
surprisingly
unlike
in contrast
rather

Here is an example:

In a large group of people, Irina often seemed _______ and aloof, although among her friends and family she was quite _______.

(A) reticent…convivial
(B) gregarious…outgoing
(C) detrimental…multifarious
(D) unattainable…. taciturn
(E) intriguing…vigorous

The "although" tells us that this is a contrast sentence, so the description of Irina in a large group of people in the first part of the sentence should be different than how she acts when she is with her friends and family. Therefore, we know immediately that the choice we want will have a pair of words that are dissimilar in meaning to each other. (If we look through our answer choices, we can eliminate choices B and D immediately based on the fact that they are synonyms, not antonyms.) What else do we know about the words that will best fit the blanks? Well, the word that will fit the first blank must be similar to aloof, since these words are connected by "and", indicating that they expressing a comparable sentiment. Of our answer choices, which of the first words in the pair is most similar to aloof? Both reticent and unattainable are reasonable choices. Gregarious, detrimental, and intriguing don't seem to make a lot of sense, so we can exclude those. Once it has been narrowed down as much as possible based on the first word, look at the second word that has the best fit. In this case, the second word of the pair should be nearly opposite in meaning. Choice A is the best choice.

B. Similarity or support. Sentences of this type compare distinct but similar ideas. When choosing a word to fill the blank, you must look for a word that allows the two ideas of the sentence to be similar in meaning.

Key words for similarity sentence completions:

likewise
in the same way
for instance
similarly
furthermore
as
same
just as
specifically
such as
as an example
resembles
like
also

Here is an example:

Just as television surpassed radio as the major source of entertainment for the nation, it seems likely that the Internet will eventually ______ television.

(A) invigorate
(B) alter
(C) reciprocate
(D) eliminate
(E) supplant

The words "just as," suggest that this is a similarity sentence and that we should look for a word that will allow the two ideas of the sentence to be similar. In this case, we want a word that will convey the same meaning as the first idea, that television surpassed radio. Therefore, we are looking for a word similar to surpass. If we work through the answer choices, we can eliminate all but D and E. Both might make sense in the context of the sentence, but choice E, supplant, is more true to the original idea of surpassing, or moving beyond, rather than eliminating.

Let's look at another example:

It is characteristic of old age to sap a man's vitality and rob him of his natural_________.

(A) youth
(B) senility
(C) ebullience
(D) maturity
(E) insensibility

The first part of the sentence establishes the fact of what happens in old age, namely, that a man starts to lose his vitality. The phrase "sap a man's vitality" states something bad about old age, and since the two parts of the sentence are joined by "and", the second part of the sentence must also state something about the negative effects of aging. More precisely, we are looking for a positive attribute that is lost with aging. Which of the answer choices are positive attributes? Choice A would be considered a positive in this context, as would choice C, ebullience, which is a synonym for vitality. Choice D, maturity, might be considered a positive, though not in the context of this sentence. Choices B and D, are not positives, and can be eliminated as possible choices. Next, try to substitute the answer choices in the blank. Choice A does fit in the blank, but it merely states the obvious. Let's check the other possibility, choice C. Does it make sense that aging would rob a man of his natural ebullience? Yes, substitution of the word ebullience allows restatement of the idea presented in the first part of the sentence and is the correct answer.

C. Reiteration or restatement. Sentences of this type usually have two ideas, one of which clarifies or further supports the other. The ideas will have the same general meaning, but restated in a slightly different or more explanatory way.

Key words to identify reiteration type problems:

in fact
in other words
to be sure
and
namely
that is
furthermore
likewise

Here is an example:

She was the most ______ person he had ever met; in fact, her magnanimous nature knew no limits.

(A) charitable
(B) miserly
(C) ambitious
(D) reclusive
(E) prolific

If we apply the general strategy and begin by reading the sentence and looking for key words, we would notice the phrase "in fact." This is one of the key phrases indicating that this is a restatement sentence type: the second idea reiterates or gives further support to the first. We are told that she has a "magnanimous nature." Since the first part of the sentence must be a restatement of this idea, we know that we are looking for a word to fit in the blank that is synonymous with magnanimous, such as generous. When we read the answer choices, we can see that the best match to our guess word is choice (A), charitable.

Let's look at another example:

The Age of Enlightenment, one of the greatest periods of history for intellectual activity, showed a proclivity for sophistry and________________ argumentation.

A) credible
B) specious
C) gossamer
D) effective
E) irrefutable

The first part of the sentence establishes the nature of what kind of intellectual activity occurred during the Age of Enlightenment, namely, that there was a proclivity for sophistry. Now, if you don't know what sophistry means, you will have difficulty in determining which of the choices is synonymous with sophistry and will successfully complete the sentence. Sophistry describes argument that sounds plausible, but is actually misleading or fallacious. Since the first part of the sentence, "shows a proclivity for sophistry", states a negative about the Age of Enlightenment, and since the two parts of the sentence are joined by "and," the second part of the sentence must be negative also. If we look through the answer choices, which are negative? Choice A is basically positive and can be eliminated. Choice B is negative; this turns out to be the correct answer as specious argumentation is synonymous with sophistry. Choice C can be eliminated as it does not fit into the sentence (we are looking for an adjective to describe argumentation).
Both choices D and E are positive words that do not fit in the sentence since they are describing the opposite of sophistry.

D. Cause and Effect. Another common sentence structure seen on the GRE is one that contains two ideas, one that causes another.

Key words that may indicate cause and effect include:

because
as a result
thus
resulting from
therefore
consequently
causes
leading to
due to

Let's look at an example:

Because of his reputation as a comedic actor suited best for playing outlandish eccentrics, the director was ________ to consider him for the more serious role of the solemn monarch.

(A) ambivalent
(B) loath
(C) encouraged
(D) irrelevant
(E) destined

The word "because" indicated this is a cause and effect sentence. The first part of the sentence sets up the cause- this actor's history in playing comedic roles. What impact would this history have on the suitability of the actor to play a more serious role? Likely, this would cause some doubts in the mind of the director, and he might be unwilling or reluctant to cast him in this new role. Looking through the answer choices, the correct answer is B, loath.

Another variation on the cause and effect type of sentence completion problems includes sentences with an element of time. The event described in the first part of the sentence is required in order for the event described in the second sentence to occur. Here's an example:

Today computers can ________________ information from a number of sources, then automatically ___________ a picture of their data manipulations.

A) collate…create
B) inculcate…retract
C) extrapolate…investigate
D) adjudicate…assemble
E) research…expand

The first part of the sentence deals with something that computers do; the second part deals with the final aspect of a two-part process. First, guess at a word that would fill the first blank and look through the answer choices. One possible guess would that computers "collect" or "compare" information. Choice A, collate, means to compare or examine, so this is a reasonable choice. Choice B, inculcate, means to teach, this does not fit the bank. Extrapolate means to use existing data to make predictions. Although this does not fit with our guess word, this seems a reasonable thing to do with information, so let's keep this choice for now. Choice D, adjudicate means to settle a law case; this can be eliminated since it does not make sense in this situation. Choice E, research, fits with the idea of collecting information, but computers cannot do research, they are themselves tools of research. Next, look at the second blank. Remember, the first part of the sentence describes something that must be done before what is done in the second part of the sentence (we know this because of the "then"). Can we select between choices A and C now? Choice A makes sense: information is examined and then a picture is created. Choice C does not make sense in terms of cause and effect. Extrapolation is done from existing information, and an investigation would not be a consequence. Choice A is the correct answer.

IV. Summary of basic strategy for sentence completion problems:

Read the sentence and determine how the parts of the sentence are connected to each other. Learn the four main types of sentence completion problems and look for these problems on the exam.
Look for key words. Again, knowing the key words for each of the four major types of sentence completion problems will enable you to recognize the type of sentence and quickly know what kind of word you need to complete the logic of the sentence.
Think of a word that would make sense in the blank. Do this before even looking at the answer choices.

More strategies.

Strategy 1

The first strategy is to break the sentence down into the main clause and introductory clause or phrase in order to identify the relationship it expresses. For example, consider the following:

In a hospital setting, hand washing is primarily a ____________ measure.
A) prophylactic
B) pseudocyetic
C) protensive
D) propaedeutic
E) otiose

The main clause declares that hand washing is primarily a measure. However, preceding the declaration is a condition or constraint expressed in an introductory phrase, "a hospital setting." This phrase sets the contextual field within which the main clause is to be understood. If you generalize from your knowledge, it would seem that any measure promoted in a hospital should result in good health. Only one of the answers would result in this. That is answer (A) in which prophylactic means "prevents disease."

Strategy 2

A second strategy is to attend to sets, whether a set of synonyms or antonyms or special word groups. For example, consider the following:

Even when a ___________ mother was made available to the infant chimpanzee, the infant detected the __________________ and reacted with high anxiety.
A) hedonistic...contrivance
B) vagrant...apostasy
C) veteran...ruse
D) pretender...interference
E) surrogate...substitution

Nothing in a common sense association supports the pairing of hedonistic and contrivance, vagrant and apostasy, veteran and ruse, or pretender and interference. The only set of related words is surrogate (meaning substitute) and substitution in (E), the correct answer.

Strategy 3

Pay attention to the words that control the figurative field of the sentence. Consider the following passage:

In seventeenth-century France, private and public opinion portrayed the physician as a vulture of greed, circling the sick and dying, battening off the suffering of the afflicted, and ___________________ the remains of his prey.
A) spending
B) devouring
C) retreating from
D) decrying
E) resorbing

Clearly the correct answer is (B), devouring. The key words that control the figurative field are vulture, circling, and battening. Read the items carefully and make sure that the completed sentence is meaningful, that it makes sense. Sometimes two or three choices will seem to satisfy the necessity for meaning-based completions, but only one will ever complete the sentence meaningfully.

Practice Questions

Directions
Each sentence below has one or two blanks indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words. Choose the word or set of words for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence.

1. It is characteristic of old age to sap a man's vitality and rob him of his natural_________.
A) youth
B) senility
C) ebullience
D) retro-gradience
E) insensibility

The first part of the sentence establishes the fact of what happens in old age, namely, that a man starts to lose his vitality. Since the predication "sap a man's vitality" states something bad about old age, and since the two terms are joined by "and," the second term must do the same.
(A) This term would add nothing to the sentence but to state the obvious.
(B) Old age does not rob a man of senility but gives it to him.
(C) This is the correct answer. The word ebullience is a synonym for vitality, which adds to the term and completes the sentence nicely.
(D) Retro-gradience is simply a fabricated word that has no meaning and is created only for the occasion.
(E) Insensibility is not a positive term and should not be paired with vitality.

2. The Age of Enlightenment, one of the greatest periods of history for intellectual activity, showed a proclivity for sophistry and________________ argumentation.
A) credible
B) specious
C) gossamer
D) effective
E) irrefutable

The first part of the sentence establishes the nature of what kind of intellectual activity occurred during the Age of Enlightenment, namely, that there was a proclivity for sophistry. Since the predication "shows a proclivity for sophistry" states a negative about the Age of Enlightenment, and since the two terms are joined by "and," the second term must be negative also.
(A) This term is basically positive.
(B) This is the answer; it is the only word with negative connotations in the list.
(C) The word gossamer is a word that does not describe intellectual activity and hence, cannot be used in the sentence.
(D) Effective is a positive word that does not fit in the sentence at all.
(E) Irrefutable is a positive term and should not be paired with sophistry.

3. One of the most productive research ________________ in contemporary neuroscience is devoted to _________ maps of human consciousness.
A) trajectories...reconnoitering
B) designs...enunciating
C) paradigms...elucidating
D) declinations...conjugating
E) declensions...obfuscating

The first part of the sentence asks for the nature of research in contemporary neuroscience. The second part suggests what happens to the research in relation to human consciousness.
(A) Research does not take off in several different trajectories; neither are these trajectories capable of reconnoitering.
(B) Although the word designs functions well with research, research designs do not enunciate, only speaking humans can do that.
(C) This is the answer. The research paradigms can in fact be devoted to making maps of human consciousness.
(D) The word declination is related to the word decline, not to research; and the word conjugating refers to verbal paradigms, not to maps.
(E) The word declensions refers to verbal paradigms and not to research, and to obfuscate means to make obscure, something that no research should do.

4. Today computers can ________________ information from a number of sources, then automatically create a picture of their data manipulations.
A) collate
B) inculcate
C) extrapolate
D) adjudicate
E) research

Obviously, the first part of the sentence deals with something that computers do; the second part deals with the final aspect of a two-part process.
(A) This is the answer. Computers can compare or collate information from a number of different sources.
(B) Computers cannot teach or inculcate in the usual sense of the word.
(C) Computers do not draw inferences on the basis of statistics; the researchers do that.
(D) Computers cannot be judges to judge between one human and another.
(E) Computers do not research in the sense that humans research; they lack the ability for constructive, innovative thought that leads to an intuitive leap.

5. Just as a highway automobile crash leaves lasting marks of spilled coolant, _________ and oil, the smashing together of gigantic land masses releases and redirects fluids that flow, heat, ___________ and deposit, leaving an enduring record of their presence.
A) gasoline...disappear
B) fuel...evaporate
C) paint…mark
D) water...undulate
E) anti-freeze...drip

In this sentence there are two series of words. In the first series you are asked to pick words that will fit with coolant and oil. In the second series you are asked to pick words that fit with heat and deposit.
(A) Although the word gasoline fits in well with the first series, if it disappears, it cannot leave an "enduring record."
(B) This is the answer. Although liquids evaporate, they leave a record from the solid deposits that remain.
(C) Paint is not usually spilled in an automobile crash.
(D) Water does not produce a wave motion or undulate in an automobile wreck.
(E) Although anti-freeze fits well in the first series, the word drip does not fit well in the second series. It is quite different from the words heat and deposit.

Section D: Analogies

II. ANALOGIES

A. Introduction and Basic Strategy
B. Summary of general strategy for solving analogy problems
C. Common relationships
D. Practice section
E. Additional hints for solving analogy problems

A. Introduction and Basic Strategy

      The analogy section tests not only your vocabulary skills, but also your ability to identify the relationship between words. You are given a pair of words that have a certain logical relationship to each other. You then must choose a pair of words that has the same logical relationship as the original pair. You are given five pairs of words from which to choose. Let's look at an extremely simple example.

1. KITTEN : CAT ::

A) bird : flock
B) duck : goose
C) puppy : dog
D) mare : horse
E) child : adult

      What are we asked to do? To tackle analogy questions, first read the initial pair of words, substituting words for the colons. The first colon (:) is translated "is to" and the two colons (::) are translated "as". So for this example, we read the question as "kitten is to cat as…" Next, we need to define the relationship between this pair of words. What is the relationship between kitten and cat? A kitten is a young cat. So, the relationship between the words is that the first word of the pair is the name for the young of the second word. Because analogy problems require us to look for a pair of words that have the same relationship has the initial two words, we are looking for a pair in which the first word of the pair is the name for the young of the second word. Once you have determined the relationship between the given pair of words and state it in your mind in sentence form (a kitten is a young cat), read through the answer choices substituting the possible pairs into the same sentence you have created to describe the initial pair. Let's work through the answer choices. Is a bird a young flock? No, this does not make sense. The relationship for this pair is that of a group of birds are called a flock. Is a duck a young goose? No, these are different animals. Is a puppy a young dog? Yes, this makes sense, but let's still look at the remaining choices to be sure. Is a mare a young horse? No, a mare is a female horse, young or old. Is a child a young adult? Now this one may seem a little tricky, because a child will eventually age to become an adult, but we are not looking for the relationship of young to old, we are instead looking for the relationship of young of some kind of animal to that animal. If instead the answer choice was child : human, then this relationship would be similar to that of kitten : cat, since child is the young of humans, and we would need to consider this choice further. In this case, however, the pair of words that exhibits the most similar logical relationship is choice C, giving us the completed analogy, kitten is to cat as puppy is to dog.

        Note: it is extremely important to substitute the pairs of words into your sentence in the same order in which they are given. For example, if the answer choice was dog : puppy, we would substitute this into our original sentence as a dog is a young puppy, and this would not make sense. Maintaining the same order for the two words in a pair when substituting into your sentence describing the relationship is a very critical point to remember when solving these problems.

The logical relationship between the given pair of words is sometimes obvious, but other times it may be more obscure, requiring you to be able to discern subtleties of meaning. Even with the most difficult analogies, your strategy should be to create a sentence that defines the logical relationship between the given pair of words. The best sentence will explain the relationship explicitly and precisely. The more precise your sentence, the easier it will be to select the answer choice with the two words that have the most similar logical relationship. If your sentence is too general, it is possible that more than one of the answer choices would fit into that sentence. If more than one answer choice fits into your sentence, read through the original pair of words again and make your sentence more specific. Let's look at an example.

2. CARPENTER : HAMMER ::

A. painter : paint
B. pilot : airplane
C. philosopher : books
D. plumber : wrench
E. chef : apron

     We are trying to create a sentence that describes a relationship between the words carpenter and hammer. Let's say we use the sentence, "A carpenter uses a hammer." Now let's look at the answer choices. Does a painter use paint? Yes. Does a pilot use an airplane? Well, a pilot flies an airplane, so maybe this could be thought of as a type of use. Does a philosopher use books? Well, a philosopher might read books, so this might be a use. Does a plumber use a wrench? Yes. Does a chef use an apron? Again, yes. You see that by using an imprecise sentence to describe our original pair of words, we have not been very successful in eliminating incorrect word pairs. If we go back to the original word pair, we can make our sentence more precise as, "A carpenter uses a hammer as a tool." Now if we work through the answer choices substituting each word pair into our new sentence, we see that the only pair that can be substituted is choice D, a plumber uses a wrench as a tool. Thus, our analogy becomes carpenter is to hammer as plumber is to wrench.

B. Summary of general strategy for solving analogy problems

Read the initial pair of words, substituting words for the colons. The first colon (:) is translated "is to" and the two colons (::) are translated "as".

Define the relationship between the pair of words.

Once you have determined the relationship between the given pair of words, state it in your mind in sentence form.

Read through the answer choices substituting the possible pairs into the same sentence you have created to describe the initial pair.

If you cannot eliminate answer choices, or more than one answer choice seems to fit into the sentence you have created, make your sentence describing the relationship between the two words more precise and work through the answer choices again.

C. Common relationships

     Of course, your sentence describing the relationship between the two words need not only be precise, but also must be accurate and logical. It is to your advantage that the logical relationships between words in the analogy section are all clear-cut, common sense relationships that can be easily deduced, provided of course, that you know the definitions of the words you are trying to compare. What are some of the logical relationships that appear often in the analogy section of the test? This section identifies relationships commonly seen in the GRE analogy section and provides examples of each.

Synonyms
Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings. When you are presented with a pair of synonyms, you will then look for a pair of words that also have the same or similar meanings. For example:

MOROSE : SATURNINE ::
A. reputable : elusive
B. antiquated : modern
C. depressed: ecstatic
D. extemporaneous : impromptu
E. disconcerting : prearranged

Morose describes someone who is gloomy or melancholy; saturnine is synonymous with morose. The word pair in choice A lack an immediately obvious relationship, while choices B and C are clearly antonyms, words opposite in meaning. In choice D, extemporaneous and impromptu are synonyms; both words describe action that is spoken or performed with little preparation, unrehearsed. Choice E presents two words that could be considered antonyms. The correct choice is D.
Antonyms
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. For example, hot and cold are antonyms, as are east and west. When the two words in the initial pair are antonyms, you are looking for another pair of words that are opposite in meaning to each other.

PERPLEXING : EXPLICABLE ::
A. diligent : industrious
B. zealous : indifferent
C. incorrigible : complex
D. resolute : unyielding
E. mysterious : elusive

Something that is perplexing is difficult to explain, or inexplicable. Explicable describes something that can be explained. Thus, these two words are antonyms. Which of the word pairs in the answer choices are antonyms? Only choice B. Someone who is zealous cares very strongly about something. In contrast, someone who is indifferent does not care. The word pairs in choices A, D, and E are synonyms; the relationship between the words in choice C is unclear.
Degree of intensity
These type of analogies contain a pair of words that are similar in meaning (like synonyms), but one word is more intense than the first. For example, in the pair jog : sprint, both words describe running, but a jog is a very slow run, while a sprint is a full-speed, extremely fast run.

THRIFTY : MISERLY ::
A. enthusiastic : fanatical
B. faithful : kind
C. comprehensive :inclusive
D. virtuous : wholesome
E. admonish : warn

Miserly describes a person who is extremely thrifty, or frugal. Similarly, fanatical is an extreme form of being enthusiastic. Choices C, D, and E are word pairs of synonyms; the relationship between the words in choice B is unclear.

Part to whole
In this type of analogy, the first word is part of the second word (or vice versa). For example in the word pair star : constellation, a group of stars makes up a constellation.

SCENE : PLAY ::
A. paragraph : essay
B. cast : actor
C. drama : comedy
D. symphony : orchestra
E. dictator : oppressed
A series of scenes makes up a dramatic play. Likewise, an essay is composed of a series of paragraphs. Choice B may be compelling at first glance. Indeed, the relationship between cast and actor is one of part to whole, but in the opposite direction: a cast is composed of actors (this is whole : part). The word pairs in choices C, D, and E are not related by part to whole.
Actor to action
This kind of analogy links a person or object with the action they commonly perform. Common examples would be professions, and the jobs that people in those professions perform. For example, in the word pair teacher : educate, a teacher's job is to educate.

MECHANIC : REPAIR
A. arbitrator : judge
B. direction : orient
C. lawyer : legislate
D. musician : orchestra
E. painter : mural

A mechanic works to repair things that are broken, while an arbitrator judges or decides when there is a dispute. NOTE: remember when working analogies of this type that you are looking for the word pair in which the action most explicitly describes the major activity of the actor. That is to say, although you could envision circumstances in which a lawyer might work to legislate if she were also serving in some governmental role, but this would not be her primary action as a lawyer. Always look for the most simple and direct way to describe the relationship between the two words of the initial pair.
Cause and effect
For this type of relationship, one of the words describes a condition or action, while the other word describes an response to that action or condition.

SHIVER : COLD ::
A. tremble : fear
B. relax : fatigue
C. stifle : sneeze
D. tickle : scratch
E. irritate : bother

A shiver is a response to the cold, while tremble is a response to fear.
Member and class
In this type of analogy, one word is the element of a class that the other word describes. For example, starling : bird means that starling is a kind of bird. An appropriate matching pair might be tuna : fish.

SONNET : POEM ::
A. book : novel
B. theater : play
C. ballet : dance
D. song : chanteuse
E. artist : sculptor

Sonnet is a kind of poem, using a particular form. Similarly, ballet is one form of dance.
Definition
This type of analogy problem present two words in which one of the words can be used to define the other.

ASCETIC: SELF-DENIAL ::
A. nationalist : orthodoxy
B. philanthropist : altruism
C. writer : publication
D. traitor : allegiance
E. general : soldier

An ascetic is one who practices self-denial. Likewise, a philanthropist practices altruism.
Function
In this type of analogy, the relationship between the two words is a functional one. For example, in the word pair safety goggles : eyes, the safety goggles serve to protect the eyes.
MNEMONIC : MEMORY ::
A. neurological : brain
B. auspicious : beginning
C. speech : lesson
D. ruse : exposure
E. training : skill

A mnemonic is something that can be used to improve memory. Similarly, training can be used to improve skill.
Symbol and representation
In this type of analogy, one word stands for, or represents, a concept or thing. Common symbols include punctuation marks. For example, period : stop :: comma : pause. Other examples are objects that now represent actions, such as a white flag indicating surrender.

LAUREL WREATH : VICTORY ::
A. honor : pride
B. olive branch : peace
C. parentheses : continuous
D. light : darkness
E. icon : statue

A laurel wreath is a symbol of victory, while an olive branch is a symbol of peace.

D. Practice section
The best way to learn how to solve analogy problems is to work through lots of examples. By doing this, you will familiarize yourself with the various relationships most commonly seen on the GRE.

ARID : DRY ::

A) acrid : tart
B) distant : removed
C) acrimonious : quarrel
D) damp : drenched
E) saturated : wet

The relationship between arid and dry is one of degree of intensity. Aridity is an intense form of dryness, and saturated is an intense form of wetness. Don't be misled by choice D. These two words are also related by degree of intensity but in the opposite direction: the less intense is the first word in the pair and the more intense word is the second. The correct choice is (E).

BELLICOSE : PACIFIC ::

A) sarcastic : pugilistic
B) beauty : peace
C) tempestuous : stormy
D) considerate : sympathetic
E) cacophonous : harmonious

The relationship here is one of antonyms. Bellicose means war-like, while pacific means peace-loving. Which of the other word pairs are antonyms? Only (E): cacophonous describes jarring, discordant sound and harmonious describes pleasing sounds.

SWAN : CYGNET ::
A) lion : pride
B) goose : gosling
C) bevy : beauties
D) swan : genus
E) foal : horse

The correct answer is (B). The relationship here is one of parent to offspring--a cygnet is a baby swan. While choice (E) also contain two words that have the parent-offspring relationship, the words are reversed (offspring to parent instead of parent to offspring like the initial pair of words.)

FICKLE : DECISIVE ::
A) laughter : joy
B) agitated : uneasy
C) capricious : fixed
D) elemental : primary
E) biased : judgmental

Something or someone who is fickle is not decisive. Likewise, something that is capricious is not fixed (C).

CONTENT : EUPHORIC ::
A. upset : irritated
B. mournful : oblivious
C. passionate : appreciative
D. unhappy : miserable
E. vocal : quiet

This is a degree of intensity analogy. Someone who is euphoric is extremely content, while someone who is miserable is extremely unhappy. Note that the word pair in choice C also have a degree of intensity relationship, however they are in the reverse order (the first word is more intense than the second word, unlike the original pair of words, so this is not the correct answer, which is D).

NORTH : BOREAL ::
A) west : occidental
B) global : universal
C) forest : desert
D) latitude : equator
E) west : east

This is a definitional analogy: boreal describes the north, as occidental describes the west (A).

FERTILIZER : GROWTH
A. antibiotic : bacteria
B. water : faucet
C. disease : cure
D. yeast : leavening
E. net : fish

Fertilizer is used to stimulate growth, while yeast is used for stimulating leavening (rising)- choice D.

BOTANY : PLANTS ::
A. astronomy : stars
B. medicine : analgesic
C. teacher : class
D. disease : etiology
E. event : action

Botany is the study of plants, as astronomy is the study of stars. In choice D, etiology is the study of disease, but these words are in the reverse order from the original pair.

WASP : INSECT
A. snake : cobra
B. bird : mammal
C. turtle : reptile
D. lion : tiger
E. fish : whale

This is a member and class type of analogy. A wasp is a kind of insect, as a turtle is a kind of reptile (C).

NAÏVE :: EXPERIENCE ::
A. unschooled : education
B. rude : ill-mannered
C. miserly : money
D. pristine : elegance
E. mournful : humility

This is a definitional type of analogy. Someone who is naïve lacks experience. Likewise, someone who is unschooled (A) lacks an education.

GUZZLE : DRINK ::

A. gorge : eat
B. imbibe : inhale
C. saunter : walk
D. expel : admit
E. advanced : primitive

This is a degree of intensity analogy. To guzzle is to drink a lot, rapidly. Likewise, to gorge is to eat intensely.

COMPOSURE : EQUANIMITY ::
A. passion : apathy
B. solitude : privacy
C. destiny : randomness
D. fear : surprise
E. illusory : predictable

Composure and equanimity are synonyms describing a calm or peaceful state of mind, as solitude and privacy are synonyms describing the state of being along or separate from others.

NEBULOUS : DEFINITION ::

A. flawless : perfection
B. fraudulent : authenticity
C. deceitful : intent
D. amoral : nefarious
E. dominant : respected

Something that is nebulous is hazy or vague, lacking in definition. Similarly, something that is fraudulent is lacking in authenticity.

HERMETIC : AIR ::
A. porous : liquid
B. desert : sand
C. tank : fuel
D. autoclave : sterile
E. opaque : light

Something that is hermetic is completely sealed against the escape or entry of air. Likewise, something that is opaque blocks light completely (E).

DEADLY : PERNICIOUS ::
A. churlish : boorish
B. suspicious : abandonment
C. condescend : support
D. equivocate : decisive
E. daring : greed

Deadly and pernicious are synonyms. The only other pair of synonyms is choice A (churlish and boorish), which describes someone who is vulgar and rude.

QUILT : FABRIC ::
A. fabric : tapestry
B. portrait : paint
C. manuscript : author
D. mosaic : tile
E. grain : sand

A quilt is made up of many pieces of fabric, as mosaic is made up of many pieces of tile.

SPLINTER : WOOD ::
A. shard : glass
B. bread : loaf
C. rock : stone
D. clay : earth
E. lumber : tree

A splinter is a sharp piece of wood, while a shard is a sharp piece of glass.

SPECTRUM : COLOR ::
A. dark : light
B. wave : amplitude
C. scale : tone
D. form : function
E. rainbow : thunderstorm

This is a part to whole analogy. The spectrum is made up of a series of colors in a particular order. A musical scale is a series of tones in a particular arrangement.

More Practice Questions

1. OSTEOPATH : BONE ::
A) physician : medicine
B) conductor : lightening
C) dermatologist : skin
D) artery : blood
E) lumberjack : tree

The relationship here is person to tool (specialist to body part treated); the correct choice is (C) since a dermatologist treats the skin.

2. ARID : DRY ::
A) acrid : tart
B) humid : damp
C) acrimonious : quarrel
D) sec : saturated
E) saturated : wet

The relationship here is one of intensity to condition. Aridity is an intense form of dryness, and saturated is an intense form of wetness. The correct choice is (E).

3. PERAMBULATE : WALK ::
A) gallop : trot
B) saunter : stroll
C) gyrate : twist
D) amble : path
E) baby carriage : walk

The relationship here is that of intensity to condition Perambulate is a leisurely walk, and a saunter is a leisurely stroll. Thus, the correct choice is (B).

4. NOCTURNAL : DIURNAL ::
A) nightly : daily
B) dark : light
C) black : white
D) sunset : sunrise
E) opalescent : iridescent

The relationship here is that of opposite portions of the day. Nocturnal means nightly; diurnal means daily. Thus, (A) is the answer.

5. OPTOMETRIST : OPHTHALMOLOGIST ::
A) nurse : physician
B) physician : surgeon
C) urologist : gynecologist
D) optician : obstetrician
E) cardiologist : physicist

The relationship here is more complex. It is one of specialist, who can diagnose and treat a patient with drugs, to specialist who can operate. The only other such relationship is (B).

6. BELLICOSE : PACIFIC
A) sarcastic : pugilistic
B) beauty : peace
C) tempestuous : Atlantic
D) horrific : sympathetic
E) cacophony : euphony

The relationship here is one of opposites with the noisy nature of war to the pleasant nature of peace. Thus the answer is (E) since cacophony is noise and euphony is a pleasant sound.

7. EPIDERMIS : HUMAN ::
A) scale : snake
B) tree : bark
C) bird : feather
D) carapace : turtle
E) hump : camel

The relationship here is one of part to whole. The epidermis (skin) covers a human completely. Neither (B) nor (C) can be correct since the order is wrong. Thus the answer is (A) since scales do cover a snake completely.

8. ACQUIESCENT : REBEL ::
A) accepting : taking
B) courteous : rude
C) unctuous : poltergeist
D) charismatic : pedant
E) luminosity : lamp

The relationship here is not just one of opposites; it is characteristic of persons. The answer is (D) since a pedant is a dry, boring teacher who certainly would never be charismatic.

9. ARCHITECT : BLUEPRINT ::
A) composer : score
D) engineer : bridge
C) optician : spectacles
D) beautician : cosmetics
E) doctor : stethoscope

The relationship here is one of person to tool--specifically a written tool. Thus, the answer is (A).

10. PENCIL : GRAPHITE ::
A) pen : plastic
B) house : mortar
C) gunpowder : cordite
D) car : engine
E) dress : Woolite

The relationship here is one of tool to the product that makes it work. Thus, the answer is (C). A house does not work with mortar, and a pen does not work with plastic in order to write.

Practice Set 1

1. SWAN : CYGNET ::
A) lion : pride
B) goose : gosling
C) bevy : beauties
D) swan : genus
E) foal : horse

2. COMMANDEER : STEAL ::
A) legal : illegal
B) borrow : purchase
C) purloin : purchase
D) steal : fleece
E) takeover : buy

3. FICKLE : STABLE ::
A) laughter : barn
B) equine : horse
C) capricious : fixed
D) elemental : fundamental
E) idiot : judge

4. ARTICULATE : SPEAK ::
A) exacerbate : cure
B) inanimate : dead
C) reanimate : alive
D) manipulate : control
E) differentiate : alter

5. HEN : BROOD ::
A) cattle : drive
B) scouts : troop
C) bees : swarm
D) mother : nurslings
E) sheep : flock

6. NORTH : BOREAL ::
A) west : occidental
B) orient : east
C) austral : south
D) southeast : Arizona
E) west : California

7. SPELUNKER : CAVE ::
A) enemy : hostile
B) father : sire
C) archaeologist : fossil
D) gardener : garden
E) astronomer : heavens

8. CELL : BODY ::
A) roe : fish
B) word : dictionary
C) teeth : mouth
D) odometer : speed
E) chronometer : time

9. VERTIGO : HEIGHT ::
A) xenophobia : fear
B) triskaidekaphobia : numbers
C) agoraphobia : space
D) claustrophobia : breathing
E) paranoia : morbidity

1. (B) The relationship here is one of parent to offspring--a cygnet is a baby swan. (E) is offspring to parent and (A) and (C) refer to groups.

2. (A) The relationship here is one of intent. To commandeer something is to take it legally; whereas, to steal something is to do it illegally. The only pair that shows this relationship is (A).

3. (C) The relationship here is one of opposites. Although (D) is opposite, it does not also show the idea of something that changes and something that is fixed.

4. (D) The relationship here is one of degree.

5. (D) The relationship here is one of parent to offspring.

6. (A) The relationship here is one of direction with its latinate equivalent. (B) and (C) do give that relationship, but they are in the wrong order.

7. (E) The relationship here is one of person to place of exploration. (C) cannot be correct since an archaeologist explores for fossils, not in a fossil. The answer is (E) because an astronomer does explores the heavens in the same way as a spelunker explores a cave.

8. (B) The relationship here is one of part to whole.

9. (C) The relationship here is one of Greek "fear of" to the actual fear. (A), (B), and (D) are not accurate or precise enough.

F. Additional hints for solving analogy problems

The basic strategies outlined above rely on your ability to discern the meaning of all the given words in the original pair of words as well as the answer choices. What if you don't know some of the words in the answer choices? First, eliminate any answer choices that you know do not fit into your sentence describing how the original words relate to each other. Also eliminate any word pairs that seem to have no clear relationship to each other. Careful: before eliminating a word pair that seem to lack a relationship, consider alternate meanings for each of the words in question. If you still cannot find any pair that seems to fit into the same relationship as the original pair of words, go back to the original sentence you created to describe the relationship between these words. Is the relationship you described reasonable and clear? Can you make it more explicit or precise? As with all the question types on the verbal section of the GRE, improving your vocabulary will greatly help you answer questions correctly. However, by familiarizing yourself with the most common analogy relationships and learning how to carefully construct sentences that precisely define the relationship between words will help you master the analogy portion of the test

Section E: Antonyms

    Antonyms are words which are opposite, or nearly opposite, in meaning. In this section, you are given a capitalized word and asked to choose a word, or phrase, which is most nearly opposite in meaning to that word.

    When you are doing the antonym portion of the GRE, keep in mind the prefixes, suffixes, and roots that you learned while developing your vocabulary. Remember, however, that some words can have several meanings. Very often the word that is most nearly opposite to the capitalized word is also opposite to a secondary meaning.

    Many of the words you encounter in this section, and in the GRE itself, will be challenging; thus, it really is important that you maximize your vocabulary. When you read, write down words you have never seen before. See if you can guess at the word's meaning from the context before checking its definition in a dictionary. Once you have looked up that word, check it to see if it has secondary meanings--often the GRE focuses on those secondary meanings. Finally, look up that word in a thesaurus for possible synonyms.

    Your brain is like a computer. If you know several synonyms, one may act as a trigger to remember the others. Choosing the correct antonym while working under time pressure, as you do while taking the GRE, often triggers that memory system subconsciously. For this reason, the more words you can substitute for a particular word, the better your chances to do well on the GRE.

    One difficulty of the antonym section, is that you cannot guess at a meaning from the context because there is no context. Consequently, perhaps the best tactic for working on antonyms, if you don't know what the capitalized word means, is to look at the list of words that follows. Often after eliminating those words that are either all positive or all negative, there is only one opposite. See the example below:

ABASH:
A) obliterate
B) send away
C) meddlesome
D) embarrass
E) encourage

   In this example, the prefix AB means away from--a negative quality. The words obliterate, send away, meddlesome, and embarrass all have negative qualities. Encourage (E) is the only choice with a positive connotation. ABASH means to destroy self-confidence; thus, the antonym would be (E).

    If you think you know a word's meaning, try making up a sentence using the capitalized word, and then substitute each of the words or phrases that follow to see which is most nearly the opposite in meaning. The words used in the GRE are usually nouns, verbs, or adjectives.

    Once again, remember that the most nearly opposite means you are looking for the best choice from the words given. The following examples demonstrate the procedure for solving antonym questions.

Choose the lettered word or phrase which is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters.

1. IRKSOME:
A) unreasonable
B) absorbing
C) irrupting
D) petulant
E) anomalous

IRKSOME means tending to bore. The word most nearly opposite is absorbing (taking one's whole attention).The answer is (B).

2. RECIDIVATE:
A) remedy
B) relapse
C) reproduce
D) renovate
E) repeat

RECIDIVATE means to suffer a relapse. The word most nearly opposite is remedy, which would prevent a relapse. The answer is (A).