ESSENTIAL 500 WORDS

1. abate

become less in amount or intensity

2. abdicate

give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors

3. aberrant

markedly different from an accepted norm

4. abeyance

temporary cessation or suspension

5. abject

of the most contemptible kind

6. abjure

formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief

7. abscission

the act of cutting something off

8. abscond

run away

9. abstemious

marked by temperance in indulgence

10. abstinence

the trait of refraining from something, especially alcohol

11. abysmal

resembling an abyss in depth; so deep as to be immeasurable

12. accretion

an increase by natural growth or addition

13. accrue

grow by addition

14. adamant

very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a gem

15. adjunct

something added to another thing but not essential to it

16. admonish

take to task

17. adulterate

make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance

18. aesthetic

characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste

19. affected

influenced

20. affinity

a natural attraction or feeling of kinship

21. aggrandize

add details to

22. aggregate

a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together

23. alacrity

liveliness and eagerness

24. alchemy

a pseudoscientific forerunner of chemistry in medieval times

25. allay

lessen the intensity of or calm

26. alleviate

provide physical relief, as from pain

27. alloy

a mixture containing two or more metallic elements

28. allure

the power to entice or attract through personal charm

29. amalgamate

to bring or combine together or with something else

30. ambiguous

having more than one possible meaning

31. ambivalence

mixed feelings or emotions

32. ambrosia

the food and drink of the gods

33. ameliorate

to make better-

verb

make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.

he reform did much to ameliorate living standards

34. amenable

disposed or willing to comply

adjective

(of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled

1. My husband never complains about anything and is amenable to all my vacation suggestions.

2. Even though these budget cuts are necessary, I know most of the staff will not be amenable to the cutbacks.

3. For the class project, Josh was more amenable to writing a long essay than he was to creating a short film.

4. Is this contract set in stone or is it amenable to change?

35. amenity

pleasantness resulting from agreeable conditions

a desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place.

"the property is situated in a convenient location, close to all local amenities"

36. amulet

Noun

an ornament or small piece of jewelry thought to give protection against evil, danger, or disease.

a trinket thought to be a magical protection against evil

37. anachronism

something located at a time when it could not have existed

38. analgesic

capable of relieving pain

39. analogous

similar or equivalent in some respects

40. anarchy

a state of lawlessness and disorder

41. anodyne

capable of relieving pain

42. anomalous

deviating from the general or common order or type

43. anomie

lack of moral standards in a society

44. antecedent

a preceding occurrence or cause or event

45. antediluvian

of or relating to the period before the biblical flood

46. antipathy

a feeling of intense dislike

47. apathy

an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

48. apex

the highest point of something

49. apogee

the farthest point in an orbit around the Earth

50. apothegm

a short pithy instructive saying

51. appease

make peace with

52. appellation

identifying words by which someone or something is called

53. apposite

being of striking appropriateness and pertinence

54. apprise

inform somebody of something

55. approbation

official approval

56. appropriate

suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc

57. apropos

of an appropriate or pertinent nature

58. arabesque

position in which the dancer has one leg raised behind

59. archeology

the branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people and their cultures

60. ardor

feelings of great warmth and intensity

61. arduous

characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion

62. argot

a characteristic language of a particular group

63. arrest

take into custody

64. artifact

a man-made object taken as a whole

65. artless

simple and natural; without cunning or deceit

66. ascetic

someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline

67. asperity

harshness of manner

68. aspersion

a disparaging remark

69. assiduous

marked by care and persistent effort

70. assuage

provide physical relief, as from pain

71. astringent

Adj: causing the contraction of body tissues, typically of the skin.

an astringent skin lotion

sharp or severe in manner or style.

her astringent words had their effect

tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue

72. asylum

Noun: the protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee.

she applied for asylum and was granted refugee status

an institution offering shelter and support to people who are mentally ill.

a shelter from danger or hardship

73. atavism

Anatavismfrom"theoldborderriders"ofScotlandshonethroughtheboy,andhetookonquickly.a reappearance of an earlier characteristic

74. attenuate

reduce the force, effect, or value of.

become weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude

attenuated strains of rabies virus

the filter must severely attenuate frequencies above 10 Hz

75. audacious

adjective

- disposed to venture or take risks

76. austere

adjective

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor - - an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook

77. autonomous

existing as an independent entity

78. avarice

noun

reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth

extreme greed for wealth or material gain

79. aver

verb

to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true

he averred that he was innocent of the allegations

80. avocation

noun

a hobby or minor occupation.

an auxiliary activity

They are basically doctors, and negotiators by avocation

81. avuncular

adjective

being or relating to an uncle

kind and friendly towards a younger or less experienced person.

"he was avuncular, reassuring, and trustworthy"

82. axiomatic

Adj: self-evident or unquestionable.

It is axiomathic that he is an innocent

evident without proof or argument

83. bacchanalian

adjective

used of riotously drunken merrymaking

A wild party at a college fraternity is an example of something that is bacchanalian.

84. banal

repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

1. Because the movies plot was banal, we knew exactly how the film would end.

2. At nearly every meeting, he made that same banal speech.

3. I was bored to death because of his banal conversation.

4. Filled with repetitive tasks, Sallys job can only be described as banal.

5. Professor Hamms lectures are so banal they cause me to fall asleep.

adjective

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.

"songs with banal, repeated words"

85. banter

light teasing repartee

86. bard

a lyric poet

87. bawdy

, ( () )

humorously vulgar

noun-humorously indecent talk or writing.

adjective

adjective:bawdy;

comparative adjective:bawdier;

superlative adjective:bawdiest

adj: dealing with sexual matters in a comical way; humorously indecent.

1. The church is certainly not the place for your bawdy remarks.

2. With such bawdy language, it is not surprising the novel is not being carried in religious bookstores.

3. I am not sure why Carol chose to dress as a bawdy prostitute for a childs costume party.

4. During the bachelor party, Jims intoxicated friends made several bawdy predictions about his honeymoon night.

5. My children are not allowed to listen to music with bawdy lyrics.

88. beatify

make blessedly happy

89. bedizen

decorate tastelessly

90. behemoth

someone or something that is abnormally large and powerful

91. belie

be in contradiction with

92. beneficent

doing or producing good

93. bifurcate

split or divide into two

94. bionics

application of biological principles to the study and design of engineering systems (especially electronic systems)

95. blandishment

flattery intended to persuade

96. blase

nonchalantly unconcerned

97. bolster

support and strengthen

98. bombastic

ostentatiously lofty in style

99. boorish

ill-mannered and coarse in behavior or appearance

100. bovine

any of various wild or domestic cattle

101. brazen

unrestrained by convention or propriety

102. broach

bring up a topic for discussion

103. bucolic

devoted to raising sheep or cattle

104. burgeon

grow and flourish

105. burnish

polish and make shiny

106. buttress

a support usually of stone or brick

107. cacophonous

having an unpleasant sound

108. cadge

obtain or seek to obtain by wheedling

109. callous

having calluses

110. calumny

a false accusation of an offense

111. canard

a deliberately misleading fabrication

112. canon

a collection of books accepted as holy scripture

113. cant

a slope in the turn of a road or track

114. cantankerous

stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate

115. capricious

determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity

116. captious

tending to find and call attention to faults

117. cardinal

a variable color averaging a vivid red

118. carnal

of or relating to the body or flesh

119. carping

persistent petty and unjustified criticism

120. cartography

the making of maps and charts

121. caste

a hereditary social class among Hindus

122. castigation

verbal punishment

123. cataclysm

a sudden violent change in the earth's surface

124. catalyst

substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction

125. categorical

relating to or included in a class or classes

126. caucus

meet to select a candidate or promote a policy

127. causal

involving an entity that produces an effect

128. caustic

capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

129. celestial

relating to or inhabiting a divine heaven

130. centrifugal

tending to move away from a center

131. centripetal

tending to move toward a center

132. champion

someone who has won first place in a competition

133. chasten

censure severely

134. chicanery

the use of tricks to deceive someone

135. chivalry

the medieval principles governing knightly conduct

136. churlish

having a bad disposition; surly

137. circuitous

deviating from a straight course

138. clairvoyant

someone who can perceive things not present to the senses

139. clamor

utter or proclaim insistently and noisily

140. clique

an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose

141. cloister

residence that is a place of religious seclusion

142. coagulate

change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state

143. coalesce

fuse or cause to grow together

144. coda

the closing section of a musical composition

145. codify

organize into a system, such as a body of law

146. cognizant

having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization

147. collage

a paste-up of pieces to form an artistic image

148. commensurate

corresponding in size or degree or extent

149. compendium

a publication containing a variety of works

150. complacent

contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions

151. complaisant

showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others

152. complement

something added to embellish or make perfect

153. compliant

disposed to act in accordance with someone's wishes

154. compunction

a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed

155. concave

curving inward

156. conciliatory

making or willing to make concessions

157. concoct

make something by mixing

158. concomitant

following or accompanying as a consequence

159. condone

excuse, overlook, or make allowances for

160. confound

be confusing or perplexing to

161. congenial

suitable to your needs

162. conjugal

relating to the relationship between a wife and husband

163. connoisseur

an expert able to appreciate a field

164. conscript

enroll into service compulsorily

165. consecrate

give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause

166. contend

compete for something

167. contentious

showing an inclination to disagree

168. contiguous

having a common boundary or edge

169. continence

voluntary control over urinary and fecal discharge

170. contrite

feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses

171. contumacious

willfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient

172. conundrum

a difficult problem

173. convention

the act of meeting formally

174. converge

be adjacent or come together

175. convex

curving or bulging outward

176. convivial

occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company

177. convoluted

rolled longitudinally upon itself

178. copious

large in number or quantity

179. coquette

talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions

180. cornucopia

a horn filled with fruit and grain symbolizing prosperity

181. cosmology

metaphysical study of the origin and nature of the universe

182. covert

secret or hidden

183. covetous

immoderately desirous of acquiring something

184. cozen

be dishonest with

185. craven

lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful

186. credence

the mental attitude that something is believable

187. credo

any system of principles or beliefs

188. daunt

cause to lose courage

189. dearth

an insufficient quantity or number

190. debauchery

a wild gathering involving drinking and promiscuity

191. decorum

propriety in manners and conduct

192. de facto

existing in fact whether with lawful authority or not

193. defame

charge falsely or with malicious intent

194. default

an option that is selected automatically

195. defer

yield to another's wish or opinion

196. deference

courteous regard for people's feelings

197. defunct

no longer in force or use; inactive

198. delineate

represented accurately or precisely

199. demographic

a statistic characterizing human populations

200. demotic

of or for the common people

201. demur

take exception to

202. denigrate

charge falsely or with malicious intent

203. denizen

a plant or animal naturalized in a region

204. denouement

the outcome of a complex sequence of events

205. deride

treat or speak of with contempt

206. derivative

a compound obtained from another compound

207. desiccate

lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless

208. desuetude

a state of inactivity or disuse

209. desultory

marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose

210. deterrent

something immaterial that interferes with action or progress

211. detraction

a petty disparagement

212. deviant

a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable

213. diaphanous

so thin as to transmit light

214. diatribe

thunderous verbal attack

215. dichotomy

being twofold

216. diffidence

lack of self-assurance

217. diffuse

spread out; not concentrated in one place

218. digression

a turning aside

219. dirge

a song or hymn of mourning as a memorial to a dead person

220. disabuse

free somebody from an erroneous belief

221. discern

detect with the senses

222. discerning

having or revealing keen insight and good judgment

223. discomfit

cause to lose one's composure

224. discordant

not in agreement or harmony

225. discredit

the state of being held in low esteem

226. discrepancy

a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions

227. discrete

constituting a separate entity or part

228. discretion

power of making choices unconstrained by external agencies

229. disingenuous

not straightforward or candid

230. disinterested

unaffected by concern for one's own welfare

231. disjointed

taken apart at the points of connection

232. dismiss

stop associating with

233. disparage

express a negative opinion of

234. disparate

fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind

235. dissemble

behave unnaturally or affectedly

236. disseminate

cause to become widely known

237. dissident

a person who dissents from some established policy

238. dissolution

separation into component parts

239. dissonance

disagreeable sounds

240. distend

cause to expand as it by internal pressure

241. distill

undergo condensation

242. distrait

having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety

243. diverge

move or draw apart

244. divest

take away possessions from someone

245. divulge

make known to the public information previously kept secret

246. doctrinaire

a stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions

247. document

a representation of a person's thinking with symbolic marks

248. doggerel

a comic verse of irregular measure

249. dogmatic

pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative

250. dormant

inactive but capable of becoming active

251. dross

worthless or dangerous material that should be removed

252. dupe

fool or hoax

253. ebullient

joyously unrestrained

254. eclectic

selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas

255. effervescence

the process of bubbling as gas escapes

256. effete

marked by excessive self-indulgence and moral decay

257. efficacy

capacity or power to produce a desired effect

258. effrontery

audacious behavior that you have no right to

259. egoism

concern for your own interests and welfare

260. egotistical

having an inflated idea of one's own importance

261. elegy

a mournful poem; a lament for the dead

262. elicit

call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response

263. elixir

a substance believed to cure all ills

264. elysian

relating to the abode of the blessed after death

265. emaciated

very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold

266. embellish

make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color

267. emollient

a substance with a soothing effect when applied to the skin

268. empirical

derived from experiment and observation rather than theory

269. emulate

strive to equal or match, especially by imitating

270. encomium

a formal expression of praise

271. endemic

native to or confined to a certain region

272. enervate

weaken mentally or morally

273. engender

make children

274. enhance

increase

275. entomology

the branch of zoology that studies insects

276. enunciate

express or state clearly

277. ephemeral

anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day

278. epistemology

the philosophical theory of knowledge

279. equable

not varying

280. equanimity

steadiness of mind under stress

281. equitable

fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience

282. equivocation

intentionally vague or ambiguous

283. errant

straying from the right course or from accepted standards

284. erudite

having or showing profound knowledge

285. esoteric

understandable only by an enlightened inner circle

286. essay

an analytic or interpretive literary composition

287. estimable

deserving of respect or high regard

288. ethnocentric

centered on a specific ethnic group, usually one's own

289. etiology

the cause of a disease

290. etymology

a history of a word

291. eugenics

the study of improving qualities by selective breeding

292. eulogy

a formal expression of praise for someone who has died

293. euphemism

an inoffensive expression substituted for an offensive one

294. euphoria

a feeling of great elation

295. euthanasia

the act of killing someone painlessly

296. evince

give expression to

297. evocative

serving to bring to mind

298. exacerbate

make worse

299. exact

marked by strict and complete accordance with fact

300. exculpate

pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

301. execrable

unequivocally detestable

302. exhort

spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts

303. exigency

a pressing or urgent situation

304. existential

relating to or dealing with the state of being

305. exorcise

expel through adjuration or prayers

306. expatiate

add details, as to an account or idea

307. expatriate

a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country

308. expiate

make amends for

309. explicate

elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses

310. expository

serving to expound or set forth

311. extant

still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost

312. extemporaneous

with little or no preparation or forethought

313. extirpate

destroy completely, as if down to the roots

314. extraneous

not belonging to that in which it is contained

315. extrapolation

an inference about the future based on known facts

316. extrinsic

not forming an essential part of a thing

317. facetious

cleverly amusing in tone

318. facilitate

make easier

319. factotum

a servant employed to do a variety of jobs

320. fallacious

containing or based on incorrect reasoning

321. fallow

left unplowed and unseeded during a growing season

322. fatuous

devoid of intelligence

323. fauna

all the animal life in a particular region or period

324. fawning

attempting to win favor by flattery

325. felicitous

exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style

326. feral

wild and menacing

327. fervor

feelings of great warmth and intensity

328. fetid

offensively malodorous

329. fetter

a shackle for the ankles or feet

330. fiat

a legally binding command or decision

331. fidelity

the quality of being faithful

332. filibuster

a tactic for delaying legislation by making long speeches

333. finesse

subtly skillful handling of a situation

334. fissure

a long narrow depression in a surface

335. flag

a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design

336. fledgling

young bird that has just fledged or become capable of flying

337. flora

all the plant life in a particular region or period

338. florid

elaborately or excessively ornamented

339. flourish

grow vigorously

340. flout

treat with contemptuous disregard

341. flux

a flow or discharge

342. foment

try to stir up public opinion

343. forbearance

a delay in enforcing rights or claims or privileges

344. forestall

keep from happening or arising; make impossible

345. formidable

extremely impressive in strength or excellence

346. forswear

formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief

347. founder

a person who establishes some institution

348. fracas

noisy quarrel

349. fractious

easily irritated or annoyed

350. fresco

a mural done with watercolors on wet plaster

351. frieze

an ornament consisting of a horizontal sculptured band

352. froward

habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition

353. frugality

prudence in avoiding waste

354. fulminate

cause to explode violently and with loud noise

355. fulsome

unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating

356. fusion

the act of melding or melting together

357. futile

producing no result or effect

358. gainsay

take exception to

359. gambol

play boisterously

360. garrulous

full of trivial conversation

361. gauche

lacking social polish

362. geniality

a disposition to be friendly and approachable

363. gerrymander

divide voting districts unfairly and to one's advantage

364. glib

artfully persuasive in speech

365. goad

stab or urge on as if with a pointed stick

366. gossamer

a gauze fabric with an extremely fine texture

367. gouge

an impression in a surface, as made by a blow

368. grandiloquent

lofty in style

369. gregarious

temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others

370. grouse

popular game bird having a plump body and feathered legs

371. guile

shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception

372. guileless

free of deceit

373. guise

an artful or simulated semblance

374. gullible

naive and easily deceived or tricked

375. gustatory

of or relating to the sense of taste

376. halcyon

a mythical bird said to breed at the winter solstice

377. hallowed

worthy of religious veneration

378. harangue

a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion

379. harrowing

extremely painful

380. herbivorous

feeding only on plants

381. hermetic

completely sealed or airtight

382. heterodox

characterized by departure from accepted standards

383. heuristic

a commonsense rule to help solve some problem

384. hieroglyph

a writing system using picture symbols

385. hirsute

having or covered with hair

386. histrionic

characteristic of acting or a stage performance

387. homeostasis

metabolic equilibrium maintained by biological mechanisms

388. homily

a sermon on a moral or religious topic

389. homogeneous

all of the same or similar kind or nature

390. hyperbole

extravagant exaggeration

391. iconoclastic

characterized by attack on established beliefs

392. idolatry

the worship of idols or images that are not God

393. igneous

produced by the action of fire or intense heat

394. imbroglio

an intricate and confusing interpersonal situation

395. immutable

not subject or susceptible to change or variation

396. impair

make worse or less effective

397. impassive

having or revealing little emotion or sensibility

398. impecunious

not having enough money to pay for necessities

399. impede

be a hindrance or obstacle to

400. impermeable

preventing especially liquids to pass or diffuse through

401. imperturbable

marked by extreme calm and composure

402. impervious

not admitting of passage or capable of being affected

403. impinge

infringe upon

404. implacable

incapable of being placated

405. implausible

highly imaginative but unlikely

406. implicit

implied though not directly expressed

407. implode

burst inward

408. imprecation

the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil

409. impute

attribute or credit to

410. inadvertently

without knowledge or intention

411. incarnate

possessing or existing in bodily form

412. inchoate

only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

413. incongruity

the quality of disagreeing

414. inconsequential

lacking worth or importance

415. incorporate

make into a whole or make part of a whole

416. incursion

the act of entering some territory or domain

417. indeterminate

not fixed or known in advance

418. indigence

a state of extreme poverty or destitution

419. indolent

disinclined to work or exertion

420. ineluctable

impossible to avoid or evade

421. inert

unable to move or resist motion

422. inertia

the tendency of something to stay in rest or motion

423. ingenuous

lacking in sophistication or worldliness

424. inherent

existing as an essential constituent or characteristic

425. innocuous

not injurious to physical or mental health

426. insensible

barely able to be perceived

427. insinuate

give to understand

428. insipid

lacking interest or significance or impact

429. insouciant

marked by unconcern

430. insularity

the state of being isolated or detached

431. insuperable

incapable of being surmounted or excelled

432. intangible

incapable of being perceived by the senses especially touch

433. interdict

command against

434. internecine

within a group or organization

435. interpolate

insert words into texts, often falsifying it thereby

436. interregnum

the time between two reigns or governments

437. intimate

marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity

438. intractable

difficult to manage or mold

439. intransigence

stubbornly refusing to compromise

440. introspective

given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences

441. inundate

fill or cover completely, usually with water

442. inured

made tough by habitual exposure

443. invective

abusive language used to express blame or censure

444. inveigh

complain bitterly

445. inveigle

influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

446. inveterate

habitual

447. invidious

containing or implying a slight or showing prejudice

448. irascible

quickly aroused to anger

449. irresolute

uncertain how to act or proceed

450. itinerant

traveling from place to place to work

451. itinerary

an established line of travel or access

452. jaundiced

affected by yellowing of the skin

453. jibe

shift from one side of the ship to the other

454. jocose

characterized by jokes and good humor

455. juggernaut

a massive inexorable force

456. junta

a group of officers who rule a country after seizing power

457. juxtapose

place side by side

458. kudos

an expression of approval and commendation

459. labile

liable to change

460. laconic

brief and to the point

461. lambaste

censure severely or angrily

462. lascivious

driven by lust

463. lassitude

a feeling of lack of interest or energy

464. latent

potentially existing but not presently evident or realized

465. laud

praise, glorify, or honor

466. lethargic

deficient in alertness or activity

467. levee

an embankment built to prevent a river from overflowing

468. levity

a manner lacking seriousness

469. liberal

showing or characterized by broad-mindedness

470. libertine

unrestrained by convention or morality

471. libido

(psychoanalysis) a Freudian term for sexual urge or desire

472. lilliputian

very small

473. limn

make a portrait of

474. limpid

clear and bright

475. linguistic

consisting of or related to language

476. litany

any long and tedious address or recital

477. literati

the literary intelligentsia

478. litigation

a legal proceeding in a court

479. log

a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

480. loquacious

full of trivial conversation

481. lucid

transparently clear; easily understandable

482. lucre

informal terms for money

483. luminous

softly bright or radiant

484. lustrous

reflecting light

485. Machiavellian

of or relating to amoral or conniving political principles

486. machination

a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends

487. maelstrom

a powerful circular current of water

488. magnanimity

liberality in bestowing gifts

489. malign

speak unfavorably about

490. malinger

avoid responsibilities and duties

491. malleable

capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out

492. maverick

someone who exhibits independence in thought and action

493. megalomania

a psychological state characterized by delusions of grandeur

494. menagerie

a collection of live animals for study or display

495. mendacious

given to lying

496. mendicant

a pauper who lives by begging

497. meretricious

tastelessly showy

498. mesmerize

attract strongly, as if with a magnet

499. metamorphosis

striking change in appearance or character or circumstances

500. metaphysics

the philosophical study of being and knowing