Vertebrate having a backbone or spinal column; n: group of animals having a segmented spinal column

suckle give or take milk at the breast or udder

nurse suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind; Ex. nursing mother; Ex. nurse a hope/grudge against someone

mammoth gigantic; enormous

manacle restrain; handcuff; N.

mandate order; charge; authoritative command; power to govern another country; power to given to a government; region under administration; V: give a mandate to; place under a mandate; Ex. mandated territory

mandatory obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate

mangy shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance

mange skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair

maniacal raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm

manifest evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly

manifestation outward demonstration; manifesting; indication of the presence of something; Ex. manifestation of his pronounced musical bent

pronounced distinct; very noticeable; Ex. pronounced limp

manifesto public declaration of principles; statement of policy

manifold many in number or kind; numerous; varied

manipulate operate with one's hands; control or play upon (people, forces, etc.) artfully; maneuver; Ex. how to manipulate publicity and men; ADJ. manipulative

mannered affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech

mannerism distinctive behavioral trait; affected style in art (according to a set of styles)

manumit emancipate; free from slavery or bondage

marital pertaining to marriage

maritime bordering on(adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of the ships or the sea; Ex. Maritime Provinces

marked noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man

marred damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure

marshal put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place; Ex. marshal the children into the museum; N: military officer; official

enlist (cause to) join the armed forces; obtain (help, sympathy, or support)

marsupial one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch(pocket of skin or leather); CF. kangaroo, opossum, wombat

martial warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law

cadet student at a military school

martinet strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet

martyr one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism

masochist person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism

masticate chew

materialism preoccupation with physical comforts and things; excessive regard for worldly concerns (rather than spiritual matters)

maternal motherly; N. maternity: motherhood

matriarch woman who rules a family or larger social group

matriculate enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix

matrix point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western civilization

maudlin effusively sentimental

sentimental swayed by sentiment; appealing to the sentiments

maul handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer

Barron's word list 30

mausoleum monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF. Mausolos

mauve pale purple

maverick rebel; nonconformist (in a group)

mawkish mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental

maxim proverb; truth pithily stated

mayhem injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person; violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; CF. maim

meager scanty; inadequate

mealymouthed indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive

meander wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly

meddlesome interfering; V. meddle: interfere

mediate settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire