®
The 45-Day
GRE Vocab Book
Sample Copy
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Aristotle Prep 45-Day Vocab Book
10-digit International Standard Book Number: 81-926637-2-8
13-digit International Standard Book Number: 978-81-926637-2-2
Publisher: Aristotle Prep
Copyright © 2013 Aristotle Prep
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Contents
Introduction ……………………………………..…..……………..………… 5
Basic Word Lists 1- 25………………………………………………………..7
Advanced Word Lists 1-20…………………………………………………67
Answers………………………………………………………………………112
5
Introduction
The GRE Revised General test comprises two verbal sections (barring any unscored section) of 30 minutes
duration each, with 20 questions in each section. The questions will be divided into three question types –
Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence, and Reading Comprehension.
The following is the break-up of these question types within each verbal reasoning section:
1) Text Completion – 6 questions in each section
2) Sentence Equivalence - 4 questions in each section
3) Reading Comprehension - 10 questions in each section from approximately 5 passages
Essentially, the GRE Verbal Reasoning section will test students’ abilities in the following two areas Vocabulary and Comprehension. The Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions will test students
on their vocabulary skills while the Reading Comprehension questions will test students’ understanding of
unfamiliar textual matter.
Here it is important to point out the importance of vocabulary on the GRE. There seems to be a general
consensus among students that the Revised GRE lays much less stress on vocabulary compared to the older
GRE test. However, if you look at the break-up of the verbal reasoning section, you will notice that 50% of
the test still comprises questions that are primarily a test of vocabulary. Thus a lot of effort will still have to
be put in to improve vocabulary, especially by those students who are non-native speakers of English. So,
does this mean students need to cram thousands of words to do well on the GRE?
Absolutely not.
We have spent considerable time and effort debriefing students who have taken the revised GRE Test and
there is a set of words that seems to be tested regularly on the GRE. Accordingly we have made a
compilation of these words and added some more, based on our understanding and experience, to arrive at a
list of 1000 high frequency words i.e. words that have a very high probability of appearing on the GRE. We
have further divided these words into two categories of 500 words each – Basic and Advanced. Once you
complete these words, if you still have time on your hands, you can easily do more words beyond these 1000.
To ensure that you stay motivated through this task, we have divided these words into 45 groups, each
comprising around 20-25 words. You need to complete one group on one day i.e. you will complete the
entire list of 1000 words 45 days from now. To make it more fun to absorb new words, we have also
provided a vocabulary exercise after each word group which could be in the form of a story (in which you
need to fill the blanks), or a crossword puzzle, or simply plain old fashioned antonyms and synonyms
exercises.
We hope that you will find this book useful in your quest to achieve a high GRE score. Please send us your
thoughts on this book at [email protected].
Good luck!
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Basic Word List
Words 1-20
1.
Abash – embarrass
2.
Abate – lessen; reduce in intensity
3.
Aberrant – not normal; varying from the usual
4.
Abject – hopeless and downtrodden
5.
Abrasive – irritating in manner
6.
Abscond – run away; depart secretly
7.
Abstain – hold back from doing; refrain
8.
Abysmal – great extent; immeasurable
9.
Acquiesce – agree with some reluctance
10. Acrid – bitter; sour to taste
11. Adherent – supporter or follower
12. Admonish – warn; strongly criticize
13. Adulterate – to mix or to make impure
14. Adversity – bad luck; difficulties
15. Advocate – to support or speak in favour of something
16. Aesthetic – related to or pertaining to beauty
17. Affable – friendly
18. Affectation – pretended behaviour to make an impression
19. Aggravate – to worsen; to make more severe
20. Aggregate – forming a collection from separate parts
7
Exercise 1: Match the words in the box with their meanings below
1. Abash
6. Abscond
11. Adherent
16. Aesthetic
2. Abate
7. Abstain
12. Admonish
17. Affable
3. Aberrant
8. Abysmal
13. Adulterate
18. Affectation
4. Abject
9. Acquiesce
14. Adversity
19. Aggravate
5. Abrasive
10. Acrid
15. Advocate
20. Aggregate
a.
Markedly different from an accepted norm
b.
Sharply disagreeable
c.
Depart secretly and hide
______
______
______
d. To choose not to do something
______
e.
Most unfortunate or miserable ______
f.
To agree or express agreement ______
g.
Harsh in taste or odour; sharp in manner or temper
______
h. Unnatural or artificial behaviour, usually intended to impress ______
i.
Extreme or unfathomable
______
j.
Someone who believes in and helps to spread the doctrine of another ______
k.
To caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty ______
l.
A state of misfortune or affliction
______
m. Speak, plead, or argue in favour of
______
n. Concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
o.
Courteous and pleasant; sociable; easy to speak to
p. Make worse
______
______
______
q.
Gather in a mass, sum, or whole
______
r.
Cause to be embarrassed
s.
Corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance ______
t.
Become less in amount or intensity
______
______
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Words 21-40
21. Aghast – horrified
22. Alchemy – ancient chemistry pertaining to converting metals into gold
23. Allege – to assert without proof or confirmation
24. Allusion – passing reference or indirect mention
25. Amalgamate – to bring or combine together
26. Ambience – the atmosphere or environment of a place
27. Ambiguous – having more than one possible meaning
28. Ameliorate – to make better
29. Amenable – agreeable; someone who can be persuaded
30. Amiable – friendly; warm
31. Amorous – pertaining to love
32. Amorphous – having no definite form or distinct shape
33. Amortize – to diminish by instalment payments
34. Anarchy – a state of lawlessness and disorder
35. Ancillary – subordinate or supplementary
36. Androgynous – having both male and female characteristics
37. Anaesthetic – drug that causes temporary loss of bodily sensations
38. Animosity – a feeling of ill will or hostility
39. Antediluvian – old; archaic; outdated
40. Anomaly – deviation from the normal or common order
9
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the box
1.
Aghast
6.
Ambience
11. Amorous
16. Androgynous
2.
Alchemy
7.
Ambiguous
12. Amorphous
17. Anaesthetic
3.
Alleged
8.
Ameliorate
13. Amortize
18. Animosity
4.
Allusion
9.
Amenable
14. Anarchy
19. Antediluvian
5.
Amalgamate
10. Amiable
15. Ancillary
20. Anomaly
a.
Anti-inflammatory treatment can ______________ injury-induced neuropathic pain, making things
better for the sufferer.
b. He had been ____________ of her since his college days because he found her very attractive.
c.
The gentle music and soft lighting helped create a romantic ____________ in the restaurant.
d. Temperatures in England have reached an unprecedented high, an ____________ in an otherwise
cool country.
e.
The musician Pennine Wilson, with her short, cropped hair, dark pants and masculine blazer has an
____________ look on stage.
f.
Several accounting experts have pointed out that the company’s failure to ____________, or reduce
the value of the assets on its books over time, has had a negative impact on business.
g. John is a friendly individual, described as ____________ by most of his acquaintances.
h. Most people would be put off by the looting, arson, and general____________ prevailing in the
country.
i.
Mostly, songwriters avoid direct expression of their feelings, preferring to speak through a veil of
____________ and imagery.
j.
There are some countries which have failed to keep up with the times and whose citizens still have
an extremely ____________mindset.
k. Earlier, doctors and dentists widely used cocaine as a form of ____________ to numb patients.
l.
In addition to its primary use as a bonding agent, the compound also has several other ____________
uses.
m. Water is an ____________substance, taking the shape of its container.
n. The ____________ of the two competing firms led to the creation of a behemoth in the retail industry.
o. In the aftermath of the stock market crash, people watched____________ as their assets lost value.
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p. The ____________ and ill-will among the staff members threaten the lab's ability to provide essential
prosecution evidence.
q. The bank has ____________ that its chief cashier was involved in an embezzlement scam.
r.
Marilyn Monroe’s life and personality have always been ____________, sometimes appearing
promising and sometimes tragic.
s.
Jerry knew his boss was an ____________ person and hence could be persuaded to grant him a tenday leave from work.
t.
Modern chemistry was born out of the futile ambitions of ____________ , or the chemistry of the
ancient times.
11
Words 41-60
41. Antecedent – a preceding occurrence or event
42. Anthology – a collection of selected literary passages
43. Antipathy – a feeling of intense dislike
44. Antithesis – opposite
45. Apprise – make aware of
46. Approbation – official recognition or approval
47. Arbitrary – based on individual discretion or preference
48. Arcane – difficult to understand; mysterious
49. Archaic – extremely old
50. Archetype – an original model on which something is patterned
51. Ardent – characterized by intense emotion
52. Ardour – feelings of great warmth and intensity
53. Arduous – difficult to accomplish
54. Arrest – cause to stop
55. Articulate – characterized by clear expressive language
56. Assimilate – absorb; become similar to one's environment
57. Assuage – to make easier or milder; relieve
58. Astute – marked by practical intelligence
59. Audacious – extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave
60. Augment – add on; enlarge or increase
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Exercise 3: Story Time Exercise - Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the box
1.
Antecedent
4.
Antithesis
7.
Arbitrary
2.
Anthology
5.
Apprised
8.
Arcane
3.
Antipathy
6.
Approbation
9.
Archaic
10. Archetype
The dilapidated building at the end of Andover road had always been a point of dispute in the
neighbourhood. In an_____(a)______to the modern buildings around it, its _____(b)______ porch was
on the verge of collapse. Professor Raymond had, however, managed to secure _____(c)______ for the
building as a heritage site – making it impossible to demolish. He was oblivious to the ___(d)_____ of
the neighbours as he had lived in this building for 30 years and was very comfortable here.
In fact, the professor had more important things on his mind. On top of the list was the rare American
___(e)_____ which contained accounts of the Founding Fathers. These were not the result of
an___(f)_____ whim; they were his life’s work. The passages were also the ____(g)______ of his new
upcoming book. The neighbourhood had been _____(h)_____ of the Professor’s work by his student
researchers – but the knowledge did not make him any more popular than he already was. The general
consensus was that going to such lengths to simply write such ____(i)____ books was unnecessary. For
them it was merely an___(j)_______ to more eccentric behaviour from the Professor.
11.
Ardent
14.
12.
Ardour
15. Articulate
18. Astute
16. Assimilate
19. Audacious
13. Arduous
Arrest
17. Assuaged
20.
Augment
It was to _____(k)______ his meagre income that Paulo had taken to sculpturing, an_____(l)_____
attempt on his part given his lack of professional training in the field. According to his _____(m)____
mother, these were pieces of marble which could ___(n)_____the viewer’s attention. She could, of
course, be excused for such a description on the basis of her ___(o)____ for her first born. It was Paulo
who knew that the ___(p)______ process was nothing close to poetry. He was merely fuelled with
an___(q)____ desire to create. The time and effort he spent on his sculptures, instead of his job,
sometimes made him feel guilty. However, these feelings were easily ____(r)_____ by the happiness he
felt in the studio. He was ____(s)____ enough to realize that his work had the potential to be the best
since he had the ability to ____(t)____ seemingly unmatched pieces of stone into seamless harmony.
13
Advanced Word List
Advanced Words 26-50
1.
Apogee – farthest point from the earth in the orbit of a heavenly body
2.
Apostate – a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause
3.
Apotheosis – elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
4.
Apposite – appropriate; fitting
5.
Appal – fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised
6.
Appropriate – to set aside or allocate
7.
Arrogate – seize and take control forcefully
8.
Arrant – blatant; notorious
9.
Artless – without guile; open and honest
10. Ascetic – practicing great self-denial; austere
11. Asperity – difficulty; harshness; bitterness
12. Aspersion – an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
13. Assay – an appraisal of the state of affairs
14. Asseverate – to affirm earnestly and with emphasis
15. Assiduous – marked by care and persistent effort
16. Astringent – harshly biting; caustic
17. Attenuate – become weaker in strength, value, or magnitude
18. Attrition – a reduction or decrease in numbers
19. Augury – an omen or prophecy
20. August – profoundly honoured
21. Auspice – patronage
22. Auspicious – attended by favourable circumstances
23. Avarice – extreme greed for material wealth
24. Axiomatic – evident without proof or argument
25. Baleful – deadly or sinister
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Exercise 27: Match the words in Table A with their Synonyms in Table B
Table A
Table B
1.
Apogee
a.
Innocent; naive
2.
Apostate
b.
Assessment; evaluation
3.
Apotheosis
c.
Diligent; sedulous
4.
Apposite
d. Acrimony; acerbity
5.
Appal
e.
Aegis; protection
6.
Appropriate
f.
Acrid; biting
7.
Arrogate
g.
Forewarning; harbinger
8.
Arrant
h. Cupidity; covetousness
9.
Artless
i.
Acme; crest
10. Ascetic
j.
Erosion; thinning
11. Asperity
k.
Abate; lessen
12. Aspersion
l.
Malevolent; threatening
13. Assay
m. Grand; lofty
14. Asseverate
n. Certain; indubitable
15. Assiduous
o.
16. Astringent
p. Suitable; relevant
17. Attenuate
q.
Advantageous; fortunate
18. Attrition
r.
Allot; apportion
19. Augury
s.
Flagrant; glaring
20. August
t.
Aver; avow
21. Auspice
u. Idolization; elevation
22. Auspicious
v.
23. Avarice
w. Confiscate; usurp
24. Axiomatic
x.
Calumny; defamation
25. Baleful
y.
Renegade; dissenter
Disconcert; astound
Abstemious; disciplined
15
Advanced Words 51-75
26. Banal – obvious and dull; predictable
27. Bane – something that causes misery or death
28. Beatify – make blessedly happy
29. Bedizen – dress up garishly and tastelessly
30. Beget – to produce; to make happen
31. Bent – determined; set upon doing something
32. Bilge – to bulge or swell out
33. Blandish – to coax by using flattery
34. Blithe – carefree and happy; light-hearted
35. Brook – put up with something or somebody unpleasant
36. Byzantine – highly involved or intricate
37. Cabal – a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue
38. Cachinnate – laugh loudly and in an unrestrained way
39. Cacophony – loud confusing disagreeable sounds
40. Cadge – to beg; to borrow without any intent to repay
41. Cajole – influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
42. Calumniate – charge falsely or with malicious intent
43. Calumny – an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
44. Canard – a deliberately misleading statement
45. Canon – a rule or a principle
46. Canonical – recognized; accepted; authorized
47. Caparison – to adorn or to dress richly
48. Capitulate – to surrender under agreed conditions
49. Captious – excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism
50. Caret – a mark used by an author or editor to indicate where something is to be inserted into a text
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Exercise 28: Coffee break Crossword (Words 51-75)
1
16
23
18
3
2
14
22
25
4
5
6
7
8
19
15
24
9
10
11
12
17
Across:
1. A small group of intriguers, especially one formed for political purposes
2. Trite; commonplace
3. To laugh loudly or immoderately
4. Resolved; determined to do something
5. Dress in a gaudy manner
6. Slander; defamation
7. Baseless rumour
8. To bulge or swell out
9. Music: frequent use of discords of a harshness and relationship difficult to understand
10. To bear; suffer; tolerate
11. Produce as an effect
12. To dress richly; deck; trappings
Down:
2. To make holy or to glorify
3. To make false and malicious statements about
4. Complex or intricate
5. To seek to persuade or influence by mild flattery; coax
14. Lawful; sanctioned
15. To find faults with others
16. Joyous, merry, or gay in disposition;
18. To give up resistance
19. A fundamental principle or general rule
22. To irritate
23. Obsolete: that which causes death or destroys life
24. To coax someone by flattery to do what one wants
25. Latin: there is missing
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Answers
Exercise 3
Exercise 2
Exercise 1
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Exercise 27
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Exercise 28
1 Ac
Cabal
2
Banal
3
Cachinnate
4
Bent
5
Bedizen
6
Calumny
7
Canard
8
Bilge
9
Cacophony
10
Brook
11
Beget
12
Caparison
2 Dn
Beatify
3
Calumniate
4
Byzantine
5
Blandish
14
Canonical
15
Captious
16
Blithe
18
Capitulate
19
Canon
22
Cadge
23
Bane
24
Cajole
25
Caret
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