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TOEFL Word List # TOEFL/W57

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Description of quixotic (adjective)
foolishly idealistic; extravagantly chivalrous; impractical

Samples of quixotic
He was popular with the ladies due to his quixotic charm.
She had a quixotic view of the world, believing that humans need never suffer.



   
Description of anachronism (noun)
something out of place in time (e.g. an airplane in 1492); something that is obsolete or out of date

Samples of anachronism
The editor recognized an anachronism in the manuscript where the character from the 1500s boarded an airplane.
He realized that the film about cavemen contained an anachronism when he saw a jet cut across the horizon during a hunting scene.

Determination of anachronism
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Description of impeach (verb)
to accuse of wrongdoing; to cast discredit upon; to remove from office

Samples of impeach
He tried to impeach Mr Premadasa, accusing the president of corruption.
Within hours of the meeting, Mr Sharif addressed a special session of parliament which he had called in order to try to impeach the president.



   
Description of divisibility (noun)
ability to be separated or divided

Samples of divisibility
As can be seen, these are all fairly small, and in practice the lack of asset divisibility is not a major problem, although it does mean that a completely riskless arbitrage transaction may be impossible.

Determination of divisibility
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Description of scrutinize (verb)
to examine closely; to study; to investigate; to inspect

Samples of scrutinize
Even when there are specialist historians, producing approximations to truth which their colleagues test and scrutinize to professional standards, people make home brews from their own lives and knowledge and offer them to their successors.
After allowing his son to borrow the family car, the father scrutinized every section for dents.



   
Description of flagrant (adjective)
glaringly wrong; shameless; notorious; offensive

Samples of flagrant
The flagrant foul was apparent to everyone.



   
Description of inscrutable (adjective)
incapable of interpretation or understanding; impenetrable; mysterious

Samples of inscrutable
You can get a list from the Japanese Tourist Board in London, which for some inscrutable reason gives only half of them.
Magnificent Karnak, with its corridors of stone rams, sky-embracing pillars and gigantic inscrutable statues, stretching apparently as far as the eye can see, is breathtaking.

Determination of inscrutable
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Description of pecuniary (adjective)
pertaining to money; financial

Samples of pecuniary
The retiring employee was delighted when he received a pecuniary gift.



   
Description of allure (verb)
to attract; to tempt; to charm

Samples of allure
The romantic young man allured the beautiful woman by preparing a wonderful dinner.



   
Description of candor (noun)
sincerity; honesty; openness

Samples of candor
I imagine his candor (a candor that effectively deflects prurient interest) will be a tremendous help to a lot of young people in India and elsewhere.



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