Wordly Wise · Topic Cheatsheet
Book 12 · Advanced
300 key results accumulated across 20 chapters.
acolyte (n)
Ch 1
A devoted follower.
coalesce (v)
Ch 1
To merge into one.
covert (adj)
Ch 1
Secret.
declaim (v)
Ch 1
To speak rhetorically.
demagogue (n)
Ch 1
A leader appealing to popular prejudice.
encomium (n)
Ch 1
Glowing praise.
obdurate (adj)
Ch 1
Stubbornly persistent.
prescient (adj)
Ch 1
Having foreknowledge.
protagonist (n)
Ch 1
The leading character.
sedulous (adj)
Ch 1
Diligent and persistent.
tirade (n)
Ch 1
A long angry speech.
trenchant (adj)
Ch 1
Sharp and incisive.
utopia (n)
Ch 1
An imagined perfect place.
valedictory (adj)
Ch 1
Of a farewell.
venerate (v)
Ch 1
To regard with great respect.
absolve (v)
Ch 2
To declare free from guilt.
adumbrate (v)
Ch 2
To indicate faintly.
apothegm (n)
Ch 2
A short witty saying.
aspersion (n)
Ch 2
A damaging remark.
coadjutor (n)
Ch 2
An assistant or helper.
congenital (adj)
Ch 2
Existing from birth.
delineate (v)
Ch 2
To describe precisely.
germane (adj)
Ch 2
Relevant.
hiatus (n)
Ch 2
A pause or break.
immure (v)
Ch 2
To shut up in a wall.
officious (adj)
Ch 2
Asserting authority in an annoying way.
purloin (v)
Ch 2
To steal.
redolent (adj)
Ch 2
Strongly reminiscent of.
salacious (adj)
Ch 2
Lustful.
supplicate (v)
Ch 2
To plead humbly.
amalgam (n)
Ch 3
A blend.
antediluvian (adj)
Ch 3
Very old; out of date.
apothecary (n)
Ch 3
A pharmacist.
ascetic (n/adj)
Ch 3
One who renounces pleasure; austere.
beneficent (adj)
Ch 3
Doing good.
charlatan (n)
Ch 3
A fraud claiming knowledge.
denizen (n)
Ch 3
An inhabitant.
doyen (n)
Ch 3
The most respected member of a group.
flora (n)
Ch 3
Plants of a region.
imbibe (v)
Ch 3
To drink in.
nostrum (n)
Ch 3
A quack remedy.
obviate (v)
Ch 3
To remove a need.
perennial (adj)
Ch 3
Lasting through the year.
putative (adj)
Ch 3
Generally regarded as such.
savant (n)
Ch 3
A learned person.
archaic (adj)
Ch 4
Very old or old-fashioned.
carouse (v)
Ch 4
To drink and be merry.
chicanery (n)
Ch 4
Trickery.
contentious (adj)
Ch 4
Quarrelsome; controversial.
dissemble (v)
Ch 4
To conceal one's motives.
execrate (v)
Ch 4
To detest.
fealty (n)
Ch 4
Loyalty.
microcosm (n)
Ch 4
A miniature representation.
paroxysm (n)
Ch 4
A sudden attack of an emotion.
pecuniary (adj)
Ch 4
Of money.
rectitude (n)
Ch 4
Moral uprightness.
stratagem (n)
Ch 4
A scheme for gaining advantage.
stultify (v)
Ch 4
To make ineffective; to dull.
subterfuge (n)
Ch 4
A deceitful trick.
vendetta (n)
Ch 4
A long bitter feud.
actuate (v)
Ch 5
To put into action.
brackish (adj)
Ch 5
Slightly salty.
cognitive (adj)
Ch 5
Of mental processes.
dissertation (n)
Ch 5
A long formal essay.
dolorous (adj)
Ch 5
Mournful.
endemic (adj)
Ch 5
Native to a place.
fecund (adj)
Ch 5
Fertile.
genealogy (n)
Ch 5
A line of descent.
inebriated (adj)
Ch 5
Drunk.
insidious (adj)
Ch 5
Treacherous; harmful in a hidden way.
moribund (adj)
Ch 5
At the point of death.
morose (adj)
Ch 5
Sullen.
officinal (adj)
Ch 5
Used in medicine.
ramification (n)
Ch 5
A consequence.
torpid (adj)
Ch 5
Sluggish.
abjure (v)
Ch 6
To renounce solemnly.
amorphous (adj)
Ch 6
Without clear shape.
animus (n)
Ch 6
Hostility.
dichotomy (n)
Ch 6
A division into two opposed parts.
exemplar (n)
Ch 6
An ideal model.
herculean (adj)
Ch 6
Requiring great strength.
inchoate (adj)
Ch 6
Just begun; not yet fully formed.
invidious (adj)
Ch 6
Likely to cause resentment.
nefarious (adj)
Ch 6
Wicked.
nihilistic (adj)
Ch 6
Believing nothing has meaning.
ratify (v)
Ch 6
To formally approve.
schism (n)
Ch 6
A split in an organisation.
trenchant (adj)
Ch 6
Sharp and clear.
variegated (adj)
Ch 6
Showing different colours.
vitriolic (adj)
Ch 6
Bitter and caustic.
aboriginal (adj)
Ch 7
Native to a region.
abrogate (v)
Ch 7
To formally repeal.
bivouac (n)
Ch 7
A temporary camp.
cetacean (n)
Ch 7
A whale or dolphin.
decry (v)
Ch 7
To publicly denounce.
leviathan (n)
Ch 7
A monstrous creature.
mawkish (adj)
Ch 7
Excessively sentimental.
misapprehend (v)
Ch 7
To misunderstand.
obeisance (n)
Ch 7
A bow of respect.
parochial (adj)
Ch 7
Narrow in outlook.
recourse (n)
Ch 7
A source of help in difficulty.
replete (adj)
Ch 7
Filled abundantly.
rescind (v)
Ch 7
To revoke.
tractable (adj)
Ch 7
Easily managed.
waiver (n)
Ch 7
An act of giving up a right.
apposite (adj)
Ch 8
Apt; appropriate.
calumny (n)
Ch 8
A false damaging statement.
domain (n)
Ch 8
An area controlled or studied.
dorsal (adj)
Ch 8
Of the back.
enervate (v)
Ch 8
To weaken.
epicure (n)
Ch 8
A connoisseur of fine food.
exculpate (v)
Ch 8
To free from blame.
heterogeneous (adj)
Ch 8
Of mixed types.
infinitesimal (adj)
Ch 8
Extremely small.
lateral (adj)
Ch 8
Of the side.
primeval (adj)
Ch 8
Of the earliest times.
quintessential (adj)
Ch 8
Most perfect example.
serrated (adj)
Ch 8
Having a saw-like edge.
veritable (adj)
Ch 8
Worthy of the name.
viviparous (adj)
Ch 8
Giving birth to live young.
acumen (n)
Ch 9
Keen judgement.
apotheosis (n)
Ch 9
The highest point.
chastening (adj)
Ch 9
Inflicting punishment to improve.
demarcation (n)
Ch 9
A boundary.
dictum (n)
Ch 9
A formal pronouncement.
erstwhile (adj)
Ch 9
Former.
forte (n)
Ch 9
A strong point.
noisome (adj)
Ch 9
Offensive in smell; harmful.
peripatetic (adj)
Ch 9
Travelling from place to place.
prodigal (adj)
Ch 9
Wastefully extravagant.
sycophantic (adj)
Ch 9
Self-seeking and flattering.
tenuous (adj)
Ch 9
Very weak or slight.
verisimilitude (n)
Ch 9
The appearance of truth.
vouchsafe (v)
Ch 9
To grant in a condescending way.
wraith (n)
Ch 9
A ghost.
obloquy (n)
Ch 10
Strong public criticism.
palpable (adj)
Ch 10
Able to be touched; obvious.
parity (n)
Ch 10
Equality.
polemic (n)
Ch 10
A strong verbal attack.
polemicist (n)
Ch 10
One skilled at polemics.
raze (v)
Ch 10
To tear down completely.
redoubt (n)
Ch 10
A small fortification.
stoic (adj)
Ch 10
Calm under suffering.
supplicant (n)
Ch 10
One who pleads humbly.
temporize (v)
Ch 10
To delay decision making.
venal (adj)
Ch 10
Open to bribery.
verbiage (n)
Ch 10
Excessive words.
vicissitude (n)
Ch 10
A change of circumstance.
winnow (v)
Ch 10
To separate the worthwhile from the worthless.
zealot (n)
Ch 10
An uncompromising follower.
apprise (v)
Ch 11
To inform.
beatific (adj)
Ch 11
Blissful.
cogent (adj)
Ch 11
Clear and convincing.
colloquy (n)
Ch 11
A conversation.
deprave (v)
Ch 11
To corrupt morally.
discrete (adj)
Ch 11
Individually separate.
efface (v)
Ch 11
To erase; to wipe out.
infernal (adj)
Ch 11
Of hell; horrible.
lachrymose (adj)
Ch 11
Tearful.
morbid (adj)
Ch 11
Showing unhealthy interest in death.
omniscient (adj)
Ch 11
Knowing everything.
palliative (n/adj)
Ch 11
Easing without curing.
preternatural (adj)
Ch 11
Beyond the natural.
salutary (adj)
Ch 11
Beneficial.
verity (n)
Ch 11
A true principle.
abut (v)
Ch 12
To touch at one end.
adjure (v)
Ch 12
To urge solemnly.
desecrate (v)
Ch 12
To violate the sacredness of.
dilettante (n)
Ch 12
An amateur dabbler.
equivocal (adj)
Ch 12
Open to multiple interpretations.
equivocate (v)
Ch 12
To use ambiguous language.
exhume (v)
Ch 12
To dig up a buried body.
extirpate (v)
Ch 12
To root out completely.
insolvent (adj)
Ch 12
Unable to pay debts.
jocose (adj)
Ch 12
Playful in mood.
portal (n)
Ch 12
A grand entrance.
progenitor (n)
Ch 12
An ancestor.
propitiate (v)
Ch 12
To win or regain favour.
secular (adj)
Ch 12
Not religious.
supercilious (adj)
Ch 12
Haughtily disdainful.
acerbic (adj)
Ch 13
Sharp and biting.
canard (n)
Ch 13
A false story.
debonair (adj)
Ch 13
Suave and charming.
deign (v)
Ch 13
To stoop to do.
dotage (n)
Ch 13
Mental decline of old age.
insipid (adj)
Ch 13
Lacking flavour or interest.
lugubrious (adj)
Ch 13
Mournful.
narcissistic (adj)
Ch 13
Excessively self-loving.
paean (n)
Ch 13
A song of praise.
pander (v)
Ch 13
To gratify (a base desire).
parlance (n)
Ch 13
A particular way of speaking.
sartorial (adj)
Ch 13
Of clothing.
svelte (adj)
Ch 13
Slender and elegant.
trenchant (adj)
Ch 13
Vigorous and effective.
voluptuous (adj)
Ch 13
Suggestive of sensual pleasure.
anachronism (n)
Ch 14
A thing out of its time period.
archetype (n)
Ch 14
An original model.
carcinogen (n)
Ch 14
A substance causing cancer.
checkered (adj)
Ch 14
Marked by various changes of fortune.
cornucopia (n)
Ch 14
An abundant supply.
devolve (v)
Ch 14
To pass to another.
equitable (adj)
Ch 14
Fair and impartial.
exigencies (n pl)
Ch 14
Urgent demands.
fatalism (n)
Ch 14
Belief that events are predetermined.
gustatory (adj)
Ch 14
Of taste.
minutiae (n pl)
Ch 14
Tiny details.
motley (adj)
Ch 14
Made up of varied parts.
nadir (n)
Ch 14
The lowest point.
panegyric (n)
Ch 14
A speech of praise.
vernal (adj)
Ch 14
Of spring.
apocalyptic (adj)
Ch 15
Of a great disaster.
concatenation (n)
Ch 15
A linked series.
convulsion (n)
Ch 15
A violent disturbance.
decree (v/n)
Ch 15
To order officially.
expatriate (n)
Ch 15
One living abroad.
fetid (adj)
Ch 15
Smelling extremely unpleasant.
holocaust (n)
Ch 15
Great destruction by fire.
infraction (n)
Ch 15
A violation.
insouciance (n)
Ch 15
Casual lack of concern.
minion (n)
Ch 15
A subservient assistant.
sanguinary (adj)
Ch 15
Bloody.
staccato (adj)
Ch 15
Short and detached in sound.
sybaritic (adj)
Ch 15
Devoted to luxury.
thespian (n)
Ch 15
An actor.
verisimilitude (n)
Ch 15
The appearance of being real.
ancillary (adj)
Ch 16
Providing support.
badinage (n)
Ch 16
Playful banter.
bedizen (v)
Ch 16
To dress gaudily.
celerity (n)
Ch 16
Swiftness.
cynosure (n)
Ch 16
A centre of attention.
itinerary (n)
Ch 16
A travel plan.
lissome (adj)
Ch 16
Lithe and graceful.
obstreperous (adj)
Ch 16
Noisily defiant.
perquisite (n)
Ch 16
A privilege of office.
punctilious (adj)
Ch 16
Strictly careful with detail.
staid (adj)
Ch 16
Sedate and serious.
supernumerary (n)
Ch 16
An extra person.
symbiotic (adj)
Ch 16
Mutually dependent.
tendentious (adj)
Ch 16
Expressing a strong opinion.
verdure (n)
Ch 16
Lush green vegetation.
abortive (adj)
Ch 17
Failing to succeed.
arrogate (v)
Ch 17
To claim without right.
cadaver (n)
Ch 17
A corpse.
cadaverous (adj)
Ch 17
Resembling a corpse.
cerebral (adj)
Ch 17
Of the brain; intellectual.
coma (n)
Ch 17
A deep unconscious state.
comatose (adj)
Ch 17
In a coma.
consanguineous (adj)
Ch 17
Related by blood.
ghoul (n)
Ch 17
An evil being.
infringe (v)
Ch 17
To violate a law.
lassitude (n)
Ch 17
A state of weariness.
nadir (n)
Ch 17
The lowest point.
nuptial (adj)
Ch 17
Of marriage.
onus (n)
Ch 17
A burden of duty.
protocol (n)
Ch 17
Official procedure.
appellation (n)
Ch 18
A name or title.
conjugal (adj)
Ch 18
Of marriage.
didactic (adj)
Ch 18
Intended to instruct.
efflorescence (n)
Ch 18
Flowering; a blooming.
effulgence (n)
Ch 18
A radiant brightness.
exegesis (n)
Ch 18
Critical interpretation.
limn (v)
Ch 18
To portray in words.
miscreant (n)
Ch 18
A villain.
mordant (adj)
Ch 18
Sharply sarcastic.
mores (n pl)
Ch 18
Customs of a community.
nemesis (n)
Ch 18
An unbeatable rival.
peccadillo (n)
Ch 18
A small fault.
prolix (adj)
Ch 18
Long-winded.
supercilious (adj)
Ch 18
Haughtily superior.
taciturn (adj)
Ch 18
Saying little.
despoil (v)
Ch 19
To plunder.
despoliation (n)
Ch 19
Pillage.
equable (adj)
Ch 19
Even-tempered.
insular (adj)
Ch 19
Narrow-minded.
mayhem (n)
Ch 19
Violent disorder.
parlous (adj)
Ch 19
Dangerous.
pellucid (adj)
Ch 19
Transparently clear.
propinquity (n)
Ch 19
Close proximity.
rapacious (adj)
Ch 19
Greedy; grasping.
salutary (adj)
Ch 19
Producing good effects.
sublimate (v)
Ch 19
To divert energy to higher ends.
talisman (n)
Ch 19
An object thought to bring good fortune.
terrestrial (adj)
Ch 19
Of the Earth.
vitiate (v)
Ch 19
To spoil or weaken.
voluble (adj)
Ch 19
Speaking fluently and at length.
apocryphal (adj)
Ch 20
Of doubtful truth.
circumlocution (n)
Ch 20
A roundabout way of speaking.
deleterious (adj)
Ch 20
Harmful.
ephemeral (adj)
Ch 20
Lasting only briefly.
fastidious (adj)
Ch 20
Very attentive to detail.
ineffable (adj)
Ch 20
Too great for words.
litany (n)
Ch 20
A long repetitive list.
magnanimous (adj)
Ch 20
Generous in spirit.
obfuscate (v)
Ch 20
To deliberately confuse.
perspicacious (adj)
Ch 20
Having keen judgement.
ponderous (adj)
Ch 20
Heavy and slow.
rancorous (adj)
Ch 20
Full of bitter resentment.
soporific (adj)
Ch 20
Causing sleep.
torpor (n)
Ch 20
Sluggishness.
vainglorious (adj)
Ch 20
Excessively proud of oneself.