coddle(KAH dil) vt. 1. to treat tenderly; pamper; 2. to cook eggs in the shell
gently in not-quite-boiling water for two to three minutes
- Babies must be coddledwhile they’re at the helpless stage.
- My parents used to enjoy coddledeggs, which I could never understand
because I found them runny and gross.
[-d, coddling] [Syn. pamper]
coerce(koh ERS) vt. 1. to persuade by use of force; 2. to persuade by use of
threats, legal or otherwise; 3. to constrain by use or threat of force - The U.S. armed forces were used to coerceIraq to leave Kuwait.
- The Internal Revenue Service is expert at coercingdelinquent taxpayers to
part with their funds. - Police frequently find it necessary to coerceprisoners to come along with
them.
[-d, coercing] [Syn. force]
cogent(KOH jint) adj. compelling; convincing and to the point (said of verbal
means as distinguished from physical) - Ralph gave Alice several cogentreasons they should vacation at a mountain
resort rather than at the beach. - Jackie’s arguments for using regular-grade gasoline rather than high test
were particularly cogent,to the tune of 42 cents per gallon.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. valid]
cognitive(KAHG ni tiv) adj. 1. having to do with knowing in the broadest
sense; 2. by means of perception, judgment, and conception - One’s cognitiveskills tend to diminish somewhat with the onset of old age.
- In judging a baking contest, one relies less on one’s cognitivefaculties and
more on one’s senses.
[-ly adv.]
cognizance(KAHG ni zins) n. 1. awareness of something; 2. knowledge perceiv-
able by observation; 3. noticing or perception of - June had no cognizanceof the fact that Frank was bringing a guest home to
dinner. - Cognizanceof the habits of the sperm whale has all been acquired by
surveillance. - Before it jumped into his lap, Omar had had no cognizanceof the cat’s
being present in the room.
complement(KAHMP li mint)n. 1. that which completes or makes perfect;
- the full amount; 3. either of two parts that complete each other
- Butter and jam complementthe flavor of a piece of toasted bread.
- Georgia had a full complementof 10 fingers and 10 toes.
- For a proper handshake, another person’s right hand is the perfect comple-
mentto one’s own.
[Syn. completer]
C: GRE Words 259