5000 English Vocabulary Words - Sheet1 Flashcards
abase v
To lower in position, estimation, or the like; degrade
abbess n
The lady superior of a nunnery
abbey n
The group of buildings which collectively form the dwelling-place of a society of monks or nuns
abbot n
The superior of a community of monks
abdicate v
To give up (royal power or the like)
abdomen n
In mammals, the visceral cavity between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor; the belly
abdominal n
Of, pertaining to, or situated on the abdomen
abduction n
A carrying away of a person against his will, or illegally
abed adv
In bed; on a bed
aberration n
Deviation from a right, customary, or prescribed course
abet v
To aid, promote, or encourage the commission of (an offense)
abeyance n
A state of suspension or temporary inaction
abhorrence n
The act of detesting extremely
abhorrent adj
Very repugnant; hateful
abidance n
An abiding
abject adj
Sunk to a low condition
abjure v
To recant, renounce, repudiate under oath
able-bodied adj
Competent for physical service
ablution n
A washing or cleansing, especially of the body
abnegate v
To renounce (a right or privilege)
abnormal adj
Not conformed to the ordinary rule or standard
abominable adj
Very hateful
abominate v
To hate violently
abomination n
A very detestable act or practice
aboriginal adj
Primitive; unsophisticated
aborigines n
The original of earliest known inhabitants of a country
aboveboard adv/adj
Without concealment, fraud, or trickery
abrade v
To wear away the surface or some part of by friction
abrasion n
That which is rubbed off
abridge v
To make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor particles
abridgment n
A condensed form as of a book or play
abrogate v
To abolish, repeal
abrupt adj
Beginning, ending, or changing suddenly or with a break
abscess n
A Collection of pus in a cavity formed within some tissue of the body
abscission n
The act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation
abscond v
To depart suddenly and secretly, as for the purpose of escaping arrest
absence n
The fact of not being present or available
absent-minded adj
Lacking in attention to immediate surroundings or business
absolution n
Forgiveness, or passing over of offenses
absolve v
To free from sin or its penalties
absorb v
To drink in or suck up, as a sponge absorbs water
absorption n
The act or process of absorbing
abstain v
To keep oneself back (from doing or using something)
abstemious adj
Characterized by self denial or abstinence, as in the use of drink, food
abstinence n
Self denial
abstruse adj
Dealing with matters difficult to be understood
absurd adj
Inconsistent with reason or common sense
abundant adj
Plentiful
abusive adj
Employing harsh words or ill treatment
abut v
To touch at the end or boundary line
abyss n
Bottomless gulf
academic adj
Of or pertaining to an academy, college, or university
academician n
A member of an academy of literature, art, or science
academy n
Any institution where the higher branches of learning are taught
accede v
To agree
accelerate v
To move faster
accept v
To take when offered
access n
A way of approach or entrance; passage
accessible adj
Approachable
accession n
Induction or elevation, as to dignity, office, or government
accessory n
A person or thing that aids the principal agent
acclaim v
To utter with a shout
accommodate v
To furnish something as a kindness or favor
accompaniment n
A subordinate part or parts, enriching or supporting the leading part
accompanist n
One who or that which accompanies
accompany v
To go with, or be associated with, as a companion
accomplice n
An associate in wrong-doing
accomplish v
To bring to pass
accordion n
A portable free-reed musical instrument
accost v
To speak to
account n
A record or statement of receipts and expenditures, or of business transactions
accouter v
To dress
accredit v
To give credit or authority to
accumulate v
To become greater in quantity or number
accuracy n
Exactness
accurate adj
Conforming exactly to truth or to a standard
accursed adj
Doomed to evil, misery, or misfortune
accusation n
A charge of crime, misdemeanor, or error
accusatory adj
Of, pertaining to, or involving an accusation
accuse v
To charge with wrong doing, misconduct, or error
accustom v
To make familiar by use
acerbity n
Sourness, with bitterness and astringency
acetate n
A salt of acetic acid
acetic adj
Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of vinegar
ache v
To be in pain or distress
Achillean adj
Invulnerable
achromatic adj
Colorless,
acid n
A sour substance
acidify v
To change into acid
acknowledge v
To recognize; to admit the genuineness or validity of
acknowledgment n
Recognition
acme n
The highest point, or summit
acoustic adj
Pertaining to the act or sense of hearing
acquaint v
To make familiar or conversant
acquiesce v
To comply; submit
acquiescence n
Passive consent
acquire v
To get as one’s own
acquisition n
Anything gained, or made one’s own, usually by effort or labor
acquit v
To free or clear, as from accusation
acquittal n
A discharge from accusation by judicial action
acquittance n
Release or discharge from indebtedness, obligation, or responsibility
acreage n
Quantity or extent of land, especially of cultivated land
acrid adj
Harshly pungent or bitter
acrimonious adj
Full of bitterness
acrimony n
Sharpness or bitterness of speech or temper
actionable adj
Affording cause for instituting an action, as trespass, slanderous words
actuality n
Any reality
actuary n
An officer, as of an insurance company, who calculates and states the risks and premiums
actuate v
To move or incite to action
acumen n
Quickness of intellectual insight, or discernment; keenness of discrimination
acute adj
Having fine and penetrating discernment
adamant n
Any substance of exceeding hardness or impenetrability
addendum n
Something added, or to be added
addle v
To make inefficient or worthless; muddle
adduce v
To bring forward or name for consideration
adhere v
To stick fast or together
adherence n
Attachment
adherent adj
Clinging or sticking fast
adhesion n
The state of being attached or joined
adieu inter
Good-by; farewell
adjacency n
The state of being adjacent
adjacent n
That which is near or bordering upon
adjudge v
To award or bestow by formal decision
adjunct n
Something joined to or connected with another thing, but holding a subordinate place
adjuration n
A vehement appeal
adjutant adj
Auxiliary
administrator n
One who manages affairs of any kind
admissible adj
Having the right or privilege of entry
admittance n
Entrance, or the right or permission to enter
admonish v
To warn of a fault
admonition n
Gentle reproof
ado n
unnecessary activity or ceremony
adoration n
Profound devotion
adroit adj
Having skill in the use of the bodily or mental powers
adulterant n
An adulterating substance
adulterate v
To make impure by the admixture of other or baser ingredients
adumbrate v
To represent beforehand in outline or by emblem
advent n
The coming or arrival, as of any important change, event, state, or personage
adverse adj
Opposing or opposed
adversity n
Misfortune
advert v
To refer incidentally
advertiser n
One who advertises, especially in newspapers
advisory adj
Not mandatory
advocacy n
The act of pleading a cause
advocate n
One who pleads the cause of another, as in a legal or ecclesiastical court
aerial adj
Of, pertaining to, or like the air
aeronaut n
One who navigates the air, a balloonist
aeronautics n
the art or practice of flying aircraft
aerostat n
A balloon or other apparatus floating in or sustained by the air
aerostatics n
The branch of pneumatics that treats of the equilibrium, pressure, and mechanical properties
affable adj
Easy to approach
affect v
To act upon
affectation n
A studied or ostentatious pretense or attempt
affiliate n
Some auxiliary person or thing
affirmative adj
Answering yes; to a question at issue
affix v
To fasten
affluence n
A profuse or abundant supply of riches
affront n
An open insult or indignity
afire adv
/ adj
afoot adv
In progress
aforesaid adj
Said in a preceding part or before
afresh adv
Once more, after rest or interval
afterthought n
A thought that comes later than its appropriate or expected time
agglomerate v
To pile or heap together
aggrandize v
To cause to appear greatly
aggravate v
To make heavier, worse, or more burdensome
aggravation n
The fact of being made heavier or more heinous, as a crime , offense, misfortune, etc
aggregate n
The entire number, sum, mass, or quantity of something
aggress v
To make the first attack
aggression n
An unprovoked attack
aggrieve v
To give grief or sorrow to
aghast adj
Struck with terror and amazement
agile adj
Able to move or act quickly, physically, or mentally
agitate v
To move or excite (the feelings or thoughts)
agrarian adj
Pertaining to land, especially agricultural land
aide-de-camp n
An officer who receives and transmits the orders of the general
ailment n
Slight sickness
airy adj
Delicate, ethereal
akin adj
Of similar nature or qualities
alabaster n
A white or delicately tinted fine-grained gypsum
alacrity n
Cheerful willingness
albeit conj
Even though
albino n
A person with milky white skin and hair, and eyes with bright red pupil and usually pink iris
album n
A book whose leaves are so made to form paper frames for holding photographs or the like
alchemy n
Chemistry of the middle ages, characterized by the pursuit of changing base metals to gold
alcohol n
A volatile, inflammable, colorless liquid of a penetrating odor and burning taste
alcoholism n
A condition resulting from the inordinate or persistent use of alcoholic beverages
alcove n
A covered recess connected with or at the side of a larger room
alder n
Any shrub or small tree of the genus Alumnus, of the oak family
alderman n
A member of a municipal legislative body, who usually exercises also certain judicial functions
aldermanship n
The dignity, condition, office, or term of office of an alderman
alias n
An assumed name
alien n
One who owes allegiance to a foreign government
alienable adj
Capable of being aliened or alienated, as lands
alienate v
To cause to turn away
alienation n
Estrangement
aliment n
That which nourishes
alkali n
Anything that will neutralize an acid, as lime, magnesia, etc
allay v
To calm the violence or reduce the intensity of; mitigate
