Barrons J-K

n jabber

chatter rapidly or unintelligibly

s jab

poke abruptly with something sharp; punch with short blows

n jaded

tired or uninterested by surfeit; fatigued; surfeited; worn out; wearied; Ex. jaded appetite

jargon

language used by special group; technical terminology; gibberish; nonsensical or incoherent talk

n jaundiced

yellowed; prejudiced (envious

s jaundice

medical condition in which the skin

n jaunt

trip; short journey

n jaunty

cheerful and pleased with life; lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree; dapper in appearance; Ex. jaunty person/hat

jeopardize

endanger; imperil; put at risk; N. jeopardy: danger

n jettison

throw overboard (from a ship or plane)

n jibe

agree; be in harmony with; gibe

jingoist

extremely aggressive and militant patriot; warlike chauvinist; N. jingoism: extreme nationalism

n jocose

given to(having a tendency of) joking

n jocular

said or done in jest or playfully; marked by joking

s jest

playful remark or act; V. act or speak playfully

n jocund

merry

n jollity

gaiety; cheerfulness; ADJ. jolly: merry; gay

n jostle

shove; bump; push against (someone) rather roughly; Ex. jostled by the crowds

s shove

push forward; push roughly; Ex. pushing and shoving to get on the bus; N.

s bump

hit or knock against with force; N.

n jovial

good-natured; merry; cheerful

jubilation

rejoicing; great joy

judicious

sound on judgment; wise

n juggernaut

irresistible crushing force; overwhelming advancing force that crushes everything in its path

s jug

pitcher; container for holding liquids

n juncture

crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining

n junket

trip especially one taken for pleasure by an official at public expense

n junta

group of persons joined in political intrigue; cabal; group of military officers ruling a country after seizing power (by force)

n jurisprudence

science of law

s jurisdiction

right and power to apply the law; authority

s juridical

of the law and its administration; CF. judicial: of courts of law; CF. judiciary

n juxtapose

place side by side; CF. next

n kaleidoscope

tube in which patterns made by the reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass

n ken

range of knowledge; Ex. beyond one's ken

kernel

central or vital part; core; whole seed (as of corn)

n killjoy

grouch; spoilsport; one who intentionally spoils the pleasure of others

s grouch

bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps complaining; V: complain; grumble

s spoilsport

one who spoils the pleasure of others

kindle

start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse

n kindred

related; belonging to the same group; similar in nature or character; Ex. kindred languages; N: relative; kin; kinship

kinetic

producing motion; of motion

n kismet

fate; destiny; Ex. Kismet is the Arabic word for fate.

n kleptomaniac

person who has a compulsive desire to steal

n knave

untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel; jack; N. knavery

n knead

mix; work dough; mix and work into a uniform mass (with the hands); Ex. knead dough

n knell

tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral

s toll

sound (a large bell) slowly at regular intervals; N: sound of a bell; fixed tax or charge

s curfew

regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew

n knit

contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together closely; make (a fabric or garment) by interwining yarn or thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex. The bones should knit together in a few weeks.

s crochet

make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet

n knoll

little round hill; hillock

n knotty

intricate; difficult; tangled; CF. knot

n kudos

honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement

s entourage

group of attendants; retinue; CF. surround