Studying for the GRE

adjective

Loud and clear

Think: clear clarinet

Squidward’s clarion clarinet produces a loud, obnoxious sound that resembles a dying animal. 

Noun

An act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust

Although Jin GuangYao was guilty of perfidy for everyone around him, in the end, he was killed by the only person he never thought of betraying or even harming a bit.

Verb - Remove the moisture from something

Think: dehydrate

Also:  dry, drain

I like to desiccate my vegetables in order to get a satisfying crunch out of them.

Nevada’s Lake Mead has been slowly desiccated by pollution and drought. 

Adjective

Showing respect

I am deferential to anyone who doesn’t end up binge watching good shows with cliffhangers because of the amount of self control they have.

verb

To dispel someone’s illusions or false impressions about something

Think: Not abuse, make sure people can’t abuse them

Also: disillusion, enlighten, correct

Opposite of: Exploit, deceive

 While some might argue that it’s morally correct to disabuse some of the preconceived notions children have, it can feel somewhat abusive to disabuse their more innocent beliefs.

After my sister disabused my niece’s belief in Santa Clause, she cried for several hours. 

On the other hand, if someone had manage to disabuse Don Quixote’s hallucinations, he might not have died such a painful death. 

Then again, if someone had disabused Mr. Krabs’ boot hallucinations, he might not have ever come clean about trying to hide them. 

Noun

The quality of talking or writing easily and continuously

I feel like volutility is a key trait if you want to be a great BSer.

noun

government ruled by old people

Think: Geriatric Oligarchy

Also: The Republican Party

In my upcoming novel, I’d like to compose a subversion of Lord of the Flies, instead detailing the steady rise of a gerontocracy on the beaches of an abandoned isle after a retirement cruise goes horribly wrong. 

One of the biggest critiques made towards government officials, is that the floor tends to be inundated with old, white guys effectively forming a gerontocracy.

Adjective

Not serious in content or attitude or behavior

Although a dog bite resulting in the death of a person should be taken very seriously, I cannot help but find the situation a bit frivolous while imagining how Siwon had to explain the situation to his company, assistants, and lawyers. 

Siwon: I’m in big trouble!

Assistant: What happened? Is everything alright? Did you get caught on a date or have a secret child or something?

Siwon: You see, my dog just murdered my neighbor...

Assistant: What?! How big is your dog?

Siwon: umm it’s a French bulldog so like 20 pounds?

Assistant: How the fudge did this happen???

Siwon: Yeah so my dad was taking it out for a walk without a leash, he bit my neighbor, and she died of sepsis a week later.

adjective

Having an extremely plain and simple style or appearance

Also: Plain, inconspicuous, unadorned

Opposite of: Ostentatious, garish, elaborate

The austere appearance of your average protagonist is usually an intentional decision to allow the audience to project themselves onto the main character.

Joker’s austere sense of style is meant to help him blend into crowds and draw attention away from his Phantom Thief pastimes. 

Noun

A state of guilt or responsibility for a fault or wrong; blame.

The culpability of the phantom troupe is greater than just massacring the Kurta clan because not only did they kill the Kurta so they could sell their eyes for a high price on the black market, the phantom troupe also brutally tortured the Kurta before killing them, to ensure their eyes would turn.

/ˈpednt/

noun - a person who makes an excessive display of learning, excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning

think: pedagogically pedantic

also: smartass, purist, formalist

Some might say that the concept of using a standardized test to determine a student’s eligibility for grad school is a useless ritual that only appeals to pedants. Some might say that...

“Um...actually” is usually a phrase that pedants use to preclude minor corrections.

Verb

Make less severe or harsh

Cheng Ling being kidnapped and tortured was basically just for Ah Xu and Lao Wen to save him together so he can mitigate the fight between them.

Our little angel Cheng Ling doing so much for this family!

/səˈlisədəs/

adjective characterized by or showing interest or concern.

Think: Available to solicit

Wilt, a solicitous friend, is someone you can always solicit for help.

Also: Considerate, caring, concerned

A good first date should be characterized by solicitous behavior.

Verb

Keep from happening or arising; make impossible

Compared to dynamically typed languages like Python, statically typed languages like Java preclude type errors during execution so it is more efficient and secure.

ləˈkänik

adjective (of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words.

Also: “Silent type”, terse, monosyllabic, taciturn

The opposite of: Loquacious, verbose, Phineas

Think: Lacking phonics

Do not be misled by Ferb’s laconic nature, despite his silence likening itself to a lack of phonics, he speaks rather eloquently.

Noun

A strong liking

Saying Honey Senpai has a predilection for cake is an understatement when he literally consumes three whole cakes for dessert every single night on top of hosting an all you can eat "Special Cake Night” at midnight once a week.

adjective patnt

1) easily recognizable; obvious

2) (of a vessel, duct or aperture) open and unobstructed; failing to close

Think: “in order for patents to work, they must be patent to the general public”

Also: Apparent, obvious, evident

Since the extent patents of are not always patent to various marketers, it isn’t uncommon to see a wide array of knock-offs that are patent references to the real thing.