GRE Word List H(part 1)

habitat natural home of a plant or animal; CF. habitation
habituate accustom or familiarize; addict
hackles hairs on back and neck, especially of a dog; Ex. make someone’s hackles rise
hackneyed commonplace; trite
haggard wasted away; gaunt; Ex. haggard faces of the rescued miners
haggle argue about prices (in an attempt to bargain)
hail frozen rain drop; V: salute or greet; precipitate hail
halcyon calm; peaceful; Ex. halcyon days
hale healthy
halfhearted exhibiting little interest or enthusiasm
hallowed blessed; consecrated; Ex. hallowed ground; V. hallow: set apart as holy
hallucination delusion; false idea; false perception of objects with a compelling sense of their reality; objects so perceived; V. hallucinate; ADJ. hallucinatory
halting hesitant; faltering; not fluent; Ex. halting steps/voice; V. halt: proceed or act with uncertainty; falter; hesitate; waver; stop
hamper obstruct; prevent the free movement of;
handsome large in quantity; generous; Ex. handsome reward
hap chance; luck
haphazard random; by chance; happening in an unplanned manner; Ex. haphazard growth of the town
hapless unfortunate; luckless
harangue long, passionate, and vehement speech; V.
harass annoy by repeated attacks
harbinger forerunner (which foreshadows what is to come)
harbor give protection (by giving food and shelter); provide a refuge for; hide; keep in mind (thoughts or feelings); Ex. harbor a grudge/criminal; N: place of shelter; refuge
hardy (of people or animals) sturdy; robust; (of plants) able to stand inclement(stormy) weather
harping tiresome dwelling on a subject; V. harp: dwell on(think or speak a lot about) tediously
harrowing agonizing; distressing; traumatic; V. harrow: break up and level (soil) with a harrow; inflict great distress on; agonize; N: farming machine to break up the earth
harry harass, annoy, torment (by repeated attacks); raid
hatch deck opening; lid covering a deck opening; V: emerge from an egg; produce (young) from an egg
haughtiness pride; arrogance; ADJ. haughty
haunt (of a spirit) visit (a place); come to mind continually; visit (a place) regularly; frequent; Ex. haunted house; Ex. haunted by his last words; N: place much frequented
haven place of safety; refuge; harbor; Ex. tax haven
havoc widespread damage; disorder; chaos
hazard venture; put in danger; risk; Ex. hazard a guess; N: possible source of danger
hazardous dangerous
hazy slightly obscure; misty; unclear; N. haze: light mist or smoke; confused state of mind
headfirst moving with the head leading; headlong
headlong hasty; rash; headfirst; ADV.
headstrong willful; stubborn; unyielding; determined to have one’s own way; CF. no ‘excessive’
healthful conducive to good health; Ex. healthful mountain air
healthy possessing good health; healthful
heckler person who verbally harasses others; V. heckle: verbally harass as with gibes (by interrupting a speaker or speech)
hedonist one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life; CF. hedonism: practice of living one’s life purely for pleasure
heed pay attention to; N: close attention
heedless not noticing; disregarding
hegemony dominance especially of one nation over others
heinous atrocious; wicked; hatefully bad; Ex. heinous crime
helm steering wheel of a ship; position of control
hem surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex. hem in; N.
herald messenger; sign of something to come; V: announce; proclaim; Ex. unheralded researcher
herbivorous grain-eating; CF. herbivore
herd group of animals; crowd; one who looks after a herd; Ex. shepherd/goatherd; Ex. herd instinct; Ex. herdsman; V: come together in a herd; look after a herd; Ex. herd cattle
hereafter life after death
heresy opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion; ADJ. heretical; CF. heretic
hermetic concerning alchemy or magic; obscure and mysterious; occult
hermitage home of a hermit
herpetologist one who studies reptiles; CF. herpetology: branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and amphibians
heterodox (of beliefs) against accepted opinion; unorthodox; unconventional
heterogeneous dissimilar; mixed; not homogeneous; consisting of dissimilar elements or plants
hew cut to pieces with ax or sword; chop; N.
heyday time of greatest success or power; prime
hiatus gap; pause; gap or interruption in space or time; break
hibernal wintry; wintery; of or like winter
hibernate sleep throughout the winter; N. hibernation
hide skin of an animal
hideous repulsive to the sight; ugly; repugnant; Ex. hideous face/scream
hierarchy arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranks; body of persons having authority
hieroglyphic picture writing; ADJ.
high-flown highly pretentious or inflated
hilarity boisterous mirth(merriment; laughter); ADJ. hilarious: full of laughter
hindmost furthest behind; farthest to the rear
hindrance block; obstacle; V. hinder