Atmospheric CO2
Maximum Permissible:
350ppm
Today's Concentration:
The CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere are rising as we speak. The maximum possible value to avoid catastrophic climate change is 350ppm. We're already beyond the limit. Stop Talking About It, Do Something!
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Intriguing Words
These are words that I want to keep an eye on, while studying for my GRE. I hope you find them useful too!!!
I've included some humorous examples where possible, and where I had time. This is in no way a complete list. If you want some real preparation, my best suggestion is to head over to http://www.number2.com and create a free account (though I found their service more helpful for math than vocab.) Or you could search Google for wordlists.
Definitions have been adopted from various online dictionaries.
gainsay
To declare false, to deny, or to contradict.
There are many who gainsay global warming.
Gregarious
- Habitually living or moving in flocks or herds.
- Sociable, tending to associate with similar types.
- Tending to grow in clusters (as in plants).
- Living in a cluster or contiguous nest, but never forming a true colony (as in wasps, bees, and city folk).
Gregarious plants have grown over the roof of the building, the home to many gregarious people.
Impugn
To challenge, or attack, alleging falsity.
There is a movement afoot to impugn Dubya's allegations regarding WMDs.
Ineluctable
Inevitable, unavoidable, inescapable.
He was ineluctable; no matter how hard we tried, we could not elude him.
inveigh
To protest vehemently and vociferously.
Many humanists inveighed against the death sentence commutated to Timothy McVeigh.
Logorrhoea
Verbal Diarrhoea.
Garrulousness, Loquaciousness, and Logorrhoea are quite related.
Lugubrious
Sad, as in crying. Often in feign, ie, pretending to cry (for purposes of mirth, or exaggeration, etc.)
Grandpa lugubriously related the story of how he learned the truth about Santa.
Moribund
Dying, or about to die.
You can remember this word easily: Mort means death. Bund is close to bound. Therefore, Moribund = bound to die!
The moribund capitalist society is in bad need of replacement. (Note that this perhaps isn't the exactly correct use of this word, but it hits a nail that I wanted to.)
objurgate
To scold, rebuke sharply, or berate.
It is our human duty to objurgate certain CEOs, who can be known by their chicanery.
opprobrium
Noun
- Ignominy, or disgrace due to shameful conduct.
- Scorn, or contempt.
- A cause of shame or disgrace.
The invasion of Iraq, among other wars, will always remain an opprobrium for the USA.
pillory
Noun: a wooden structure to which offenders were historically fastened, to expose them to public humiliation and scorn.
Verb:
- To expose to ridicule and scorn.
- To put in a pillory.
The convicted perjurer was pillored as punishment.
Precocious
- Exceptionally early in development or occurance (as in physical maturity).
- Exhibiting mature qualities at an early age (as in thinking abilities, etc.)
The pears from this tree were quite precocious this year, could it be due to global warming?
Pusillanimous
Of weak spirit, cowardly, craven.
A pusillanimous person is difficult to categorise as puissant, for they have hardly any life (animous) at all; they are craven.
Saw
- Past tense of see.
- A proverb, a saying, an adage, a maxim, an apophthegm
- A tool used to cut.
- The act of cutting.
- A story.
The loquacious old man's speech was punctuated by saws. He often spoke of his work as a carpenter, sawing wood, and the different types of saws.
Sedulous
Meticulous, sincere, diligent.
We must sedulously remove all sources of pollution from our industries.
Sobriquet
A nickname, moniker.
My sobriquet is Swift Arrow.
Sockdolager
- The final answer - the thing that solves the problem.
- An extraordinary thing or idea.
An electric flying car - the sockdolager of personal mobility!
Truculent
Fierce, savage, ferocious, cruel, destructive.
Perhaps the word behind the phrase "I want no truc with him."
The truculent lion is certainly a puissant pussy!
Vituperate
- To Objurgate.
- To harshly abuse; to rail.
The soldier's mother vituperates Dubya every chance she gets.
