GRE Word List V(part 2)

vicissitude change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; CF. the last emperor of China
victuals food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food
vie contend; compete
vigil keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours); Ex. all-night vigil
vigilant watchful; on the alert; watchfully awake; alert to spot danger; N. vigilance
vigilante one who without authority assumes law enforcement powers
vignette small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description of a character or scene
vigor active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ. vigorous
vile despicable; unpleasant; disgusting; Ex. vile slander
vilify slander; speak evil of; N. vilification
vindicate clear from blame; free from blame or accusation (with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one’s client; Ex. vindicate one’s claim; CF. vindicator
vindictive disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge; spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex. vindictive streak
vintner wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine
violate break (a law); defile; desecrate; assault sexually; Ex. violate graves
viper poisonous snake
virile manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength
virtual in essence; existing in essence though not in actual form; for practical purposes; Ex. virtual ruler/space
virtue goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage; Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of necessity
virtuoso highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano virtuoso
virulent (of a disease or poison) extremely harmful or poisonous; (of a feeling) hostile; bitter; N. virulence; CF. virus; CF. venom
virus disease communicator
visage face; appearance
visceral felt in one’s inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate
viscid adhesive; gluey
viscous (of a liquid) thick and sticky; gluey; viscid; CF. consistency
vise vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device
vision eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by the imagination; experience of seeing the supernatural
visionary produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical; showing foresight; N: one having foresight; one given to speculative impractical ideas
vital full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living; breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize
vitiate spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally
vitreous of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V. vitrify: change into glass; CF. petrify
vitriolic causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic; corrosive; sarcastic; of vitriol; N. vitriol: sulphuric acid (which burns flesh deeply); bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression; CF. glass
vituperative abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold; rail against abusively
vivacious lively or animated; sprightl sprightly/lively
vivid (of light or color) bright and distinct; evoking lifelike mental images; Ex. vivid red hair/description
vivisection act of dissecting living animals
vixen female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew
vociferous clamorous; noisy; V. vociferate: cry out loudly (when complaining)
vogue popular fashion; Ex. Jeans became the vogue.
volatile changeable; of a quickly changing nature (as of temper); mercurial; tending to violence; evaporating rapidly; Ex. volatile character/situation in the street
volition act of using one’s will; act of making a conscious choice; Ex. She selected this dress of her own volition.
volley simultaneous discharge of a number of shots; V.
voluble fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility
voluminous having great volume (as of a garment or container); bulky; large
voluptuous sensual; of or giving sensual pleasure; indulging in sensual pleasures; Ex. voluptuous lines; Ex. voluptuous life of the Romans; N. voluptuary: voluptuous person
voodoo religion practiced chiefly in Haiti
voracious ravenous; eating large quantities of food; exceedingly eager; insatiable; Ex. voracious animal/reader
vortex whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged
vouch give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher
vouchsafe grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment
voyeur Peeping Tom; person who derives sexual gratification from observing the sexual acts of others
vulgar of the common people; deficient in refinement; not refined; coarse; Ex. vulgar display of wealth; N. vulgarism: vulgarity; crudely indecent word; CF. vulgarian: vulgar person; boor; lout
vulnerable susceptible to wounds or attack; N. vulnerability
vulpine like a fox; crafty
vulture carrion-eating birds
vying contending; CF. vie