A Flashcards
0
Q
Abet
A
abet\ə-ˈbet\ transitive verb 1 : to actively second and encourage (as an activity or plan) 2 : to assist or support in the achievement of a purpose synonyms see incite Other forms: abet·ted; abet·ting abet·ment -mənt\ noun abet·tor also abet·ter \ə-ˈbe-tər\ noun Examples She abetted the thief in his getaway. Did he abet the commission of a crime? Their actions were shown to abet terrorism. Origin: Middle English abetten, from Anglo-French abeter, from a- (from Latin ad-) + beter to bait, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English bǣtan to bait. First use: 14th century
1
Q
Abdicate
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1 : to cast off : discard 2 : to relinquish (as sovereign power) formallyintransitive verb : to renounce a throne, high office, dignity, or function
2
Q
Abjure
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1 a : to renounce upon oath b : to reject solemnly 2 : to abstain from : avoid Other forms: ab·jured; ab·jur·ing ab·jur·er noun Examples abjured some long-held beliefs when she converted to another religion a strict religious sect that abjures the luxuries, comforts, and conveniences of the modern world
3
Q
Ablution
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1 a : the washing of one’s body or part of it (as in a religious rite) b plural : the act or action of bathing 2 plural British : a building housing bathing and toilet facilities on a military base
4
Q
Abnegation
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: denial; especially : self-denial Examples the couple’s sudden abnegation of life in the fast lane for work as missionaries stunned everyone
5
Q
Abrasive
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1 : tending to abrade 2 : causing irritation
6
Q
Abrogate
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1 : to abolish by authoritative action : annul 2 : to treat as nonexistent synonyms see nullify
7
Q
Abut
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intransitive verb 1 : to touch along a border or with a projecting part 2 a : to terminate at a point of contact b : to lean for supporttransitive verb 1 : to border on 2 : to cause to abut
8
Q
Accede
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intransitive verb 1 a : to become a party (as to an agreement) b : to express approval or give consent : give in to a request or demand 2 archaic : approach 3 : to enter upon an office or position synonyms see assent Other forms: ac·ced·ed; ac·ced·ing Examples finally acceded to their pleas for more time to complete the project
9
Q
Accolade
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1 a : a ceremonial embrace b : a ceremony or salute conferring knighthood 2 a : a mark of acknowledgment : award b : an expression of praise 3 : a brace or a line used in music to join two or more staffs carrying simultaneous parts Examples for their exceptional bravery the firefighters received accolades from both local and national officials winning the Nobel Prize for Physics is generally regarded as the highest accolade for a physicist a screen performance that won virtually every accolade that the film world has to offer
10
Q
Acclivity
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noun : an ascending slope (as of a hill) Other forms: plural ac·cliv·i·ties Examples the steep acclivity was especially daunting for the novice hikers
11
Q
Accost
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transitive verb : to approach and speak to often in a challenging or aggressive way
12
Q
Accoutre
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transitive verb : to provide with equipment or furnishings : outfit synonyms see furnish Other forms: ac·cou·tred or ac·cou·tered; ac·cou·tring or ac·cou·ter·ing-ˈkü-tə-riŋ, -ˈkü-triŋ\ Examples hikers accoutred with walking sticks, water bottles, trail maps, and compasses
13
Q
Accretion
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noun 1 : the process of growth or enlargement by a gradual buildup: as a : increase by external addition or accumulation (as by adhesion of external parts or particles) b : the increase of land by the action of natural forces 2 : a product of accretion; especially : an extraneous addition
14
Q
Accrue
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intransitive verb 1 : to come into existence as a legally enforceable claim 2 a : to come about as a natural growth, increase, or advantage b : to come as a direct result of some state or action 3 : to accumulate or be added periodically transitive verb : to accumulate or have due after a period of time
15
Q
Acme
A
noun : the highest point or stage; also : one that represents perfection of the thing expressed synonyms see summit Examples the acme of their basketball season was their hard-won victory over last year’s state champs a movie that has come to be regarded as the acme of the Hollywood musical
16
Q
Acquiesce
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intransitive verb : to accept, comply, or submit tacitly or passively — often used with in and sometimes with to synonyms see assent Other forms: ac·qui·esced; ac·qui·esc·ing Examples apparently the contractor expected me to acquiesce to my own fleecing
17
Q
Acquittal
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noun : a setting free from the charge of an offense by verdict, sentence, or other legal process Examples confidently predicted that his client’s trial would result in a full acquittal
18
Q
Acrid
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adjective 1 : sharp and harsh or unpleasantly pungent in taste or odor : irritating 2 : deeply or violently bitter : acrimonious synonyms see caustic
19
Q
Acrimonious
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adjective : caustic, biting, or rancorous especially in feeling, language, or manner ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ly adverb ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ness noun Examples an acrimonious parting between the two former friends
20
Q
abate
A
subside or moderate
Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate.
21
Q
abscond
A
depart secretly and hide
The teller absconded with the bonds and was not found.
22
Q
aberrant
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abnormal or deviant
Given the aberrant nature of the data, we came to doubt the validity of the entire experiment.
23
Q
abeyance
A
suspended action
The deal was held in abeyance until her arrival.
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adamant
hard, inflexible
He was adamant in his determination to punish the wrongdoer.
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adulterate
make impure by mixing with baser substances
It is a crime to adulterate foods without informing the buyer.
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abase
lower; degrade; humiliate
Anna expected to have to curtsy to the King of Siam; when told to cast herself down on the ground before him, however she refused to abase herself.
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abash
embarrass
He was not at all abashed by her open admiration.
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abdicate
renounce; give up
When Edward VII abdicated the British throne, he surprised the entire world.
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abet
assist, usually in doing something wrong
She was unwilling to abet him in the swindle he had planned.
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abject
wretched; lacking pride
On the streets of New York the homeless live in abject poverty, huddling in doorways to find shelter from the wind.
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abjure
renounce upon oath
He abjured his allegiance to the king.
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ablution
washing
His daily ablutions were accompanied by loud noises that he humorously labeled "Opera in the Bath."
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abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrifice
Though Rudolph and Duchess Flavia loved one another, their love was doomed, for she had to wed the king; their act of abnegation was necessary to preserve the kingdom.
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abominate
loathe; hate
Moses scolded the idol worshippers in the tribe because he abominated the custom.
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abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind down
Just as abrasive cleaning powders can wear away a shiny finish, abrasive remarks can wear away a listener's patience.
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abrogate
abolish
He intended to abrogate the decree issued by his predecessor.
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absolve
pardon (an offense)
The father confessor absolved him of his sins.
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abstain
refrain; withhold from participation
After considering the effect of alcohol on his athletic performance, he decided to abstain from drinking while he trained for the race.
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abut
border upon; adjoin
Where our estates abut, we must build a fence.
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accede
agree
If I accede to this demand for blackmail, I am afraid that I will be the victim of future demands.
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acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill
The car could not go up the acclivity in high gear.
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accolade
award of merit
In Hollywood, an "Oscar" is the highest accolade.
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accost
approach and speak first to a person
When the two young men accosted me, I was frightened because I thought they were going to attack me.
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accoutre
equip
The fisherman was accoutred with the best that the sporting goods store could supply
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acidulous
slightly sour; sharp; caustic
James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks.
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acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point
Welles's success in Citizen Kane marked the acme of his career as an actor; never again did he achieve such popular acclaim.
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acquiesce
assent; agree passively
Although she appeared to acquiesce to her employer's suggestions, I could tell she had reservations about the changes he wanted made.
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acquittal
deliverance from a charge
His acquittal by the jury surprised those who had thought him guilty.
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acrid
sharp; bitterly pungent
The acrid odor of burnt gunpowder filled the room after the pistol had been fired.
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acrimonious
stinging, caustic
His tendency to utter acrimonious remarks alienated his audience.
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actuarial
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
According to recent actuarial tables, life expectancy is greater today than it was a century ago.
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actuate
motivate
I fail to understand what actuated you to reply to this letter so nastily.
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acumen
mental keenness
His business acumen helped him to succeed where others had failed.
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adage
wise saying; proverb
There is much truth in the old adage about fools and their money.
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addle
muddle; drive crazy
This idiotic plan is confusing enough to addle anyone.
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adjunt
something attached to but holding an inferior position
I will entertain this concept as an adjunct to the main proposal.
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adjuration
solemn urging
\Her adjuration to tell the truth did not change the witnesses' testimony.
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adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
Though Wellington delegated many tasks to his chief adjutant, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Somerset was in no doubt as to who made all major decisions.
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admonish
warn; reprove
He admonished his listeners to change their wicked ways.
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adulation
flattery; admiration
The rock star thrived on the adulation of his groupies and yes-men.
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advent
arrival
Most Americans were unaware of the advent of the Nuclear Age until the news of Hiroshima reached them.
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adventitious
accidental; casual
He found this adventitious meeting with his friend extremely fortunate.
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adverse
unfavorable; hostile
adverse circumstances compelled him to close his business.
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advert
refer to
Since you advert to this matter so frequently, you must regard it as important.
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aegis
shield; defense
Under the aegis of the Bill of Rights, we enjoy our most treasured freedoms.
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affable
courteous
Although he held a position of responsibility, he was an affable individual and could be reached by anyone with a complaint.
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affidavit
written statement made under oath
The court refused to accept his statement unless he presented it in the form of an affidavit.
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affinity
kinship
She felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were her pains.
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affix
attach or add on; fasten
First the registrar had to affix his signature to the license; then he had to affix his official seal.
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affront
insult; offend
Accustomed to being treated with respect, Miss Challoner was affronted by Vidal's offensive behavior.
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agape
openmouthed
She stared, agape, at the many strange animals in the zoo.
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aghast
horrified
He was aghast at the nerve of the speaker who had insulted his host.
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agog
highly excited; intensely curious
We were all agog at the news that the celebrated movie star was giving up his career in order to enter a monastery.
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alacrity
cheerful promptness
He demonstrated his eagerness to serve by his alacrity in executing the orders of his master.
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alcove
nook; recess
Though their apartment lacked a full-scale dining room, an alcove adjacent to the living room made an adequate breakfast nook for the young couple.
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alias
an assumed name
John Smith's alias was Bob Jones.
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alimony
payments make to an ex-spouse after divorce
Because Tony had supported Tina through medical school, on their divorce he asked the court to award him $500 a month in alimony.
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allay
calm; pacify
The crew tried to allay the fears of the passengers by announcing that the fire had been controlled.
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allege
state without proof
It is alleged that she had worked for the enemy.
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allegory
story in which characters are used as symbols; fable
Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the temptations and victories of the human soul.
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alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
"The furrow followed free" is an example of alliteration.
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allude
refer indirectly
Try not to allude to this matter in his presence because the topic annoys him.
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allusion
indirect reference
the allusions to mythological characters in Milton's poems bewilder the reader who has not studied Latin.
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alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
The farmers found the alluvial deposits at the mouth of the river very fertile.
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aloof
apart; reserved
Shy by nature, she remained aloof while all the rest conversed.
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aloft
upward
The sailor climbed aloft into the rigging.
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altercation
noisy quarrel
Throughout the altercation, not one sensible word was uttered.
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amalgamate
combine; unite in one body
The unions will attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body.
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amass
collect
The miser's aim is to amass and hoard as much gold as possible.
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ambidextrous
capable of using either hand with equal ease
A switch-hitter in baseball should be naturally ambidextrous.
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amble
moving at an easy pace
When she first mounted the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a gentle amble.
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ambrosia
food of the gods
ambrosia was supposed to give immortality to any human who ate it.
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amenable
readily managed; willing to be led
He was amenable to any suggestions that came from those he looked up to; he resented advice from his inferiors.
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amenities
convenient features; courtesies
In addition to the customary amenities for the business traveler -- fax machines, modems, a health club -- the hotel offers the services of a butler versed in social amenities.
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amiable
agreeable; lovable
His amiable disposition pleased all who had dealings with him.
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amicable
friendly
The dispute was settled in an amicable manner with no harsh words.
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amiss
wrong; faulty
Seeing her frown, he wondered if anything were amiss.
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amok
in a state of rage
The police had to be called in to restrain him after he ran amok in the department store.
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anachronism
something or someone misplaced in time
Shakespeare's reference to clocks in Julius Caesar is an anachronism; no clocks existed in Caesar's time.
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anarchist
person who rebels against the established order
Only the total overthrow of all governmental regulations would satisfy the anarchist.
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anathema
solemn curse; someone or something that is despised
He heaped anathema upon his foe.
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anathematize
curse
The high priest anathematized the heretic.
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anecdote
short account of an amusing or interesting event
Rather than make concrete proposals for welfare reform, President Raegan told anecdotes about poor people who became wealthy despite their impoverished backgrounds.
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animadversion
critical remark
He resented the animadversions of his critics, particularly because he realized they were true.
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animosity
active enmity
He incurred the animosity of the ruling class because he advocated limitations of their power.
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animus
hostile feeling or intent
The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks.
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annals
records; history
In the annals of this period, we find no mention of democratic movements.
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anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling
After the glass is annealed, it will be less subject to chipping and cracking.
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annihilate
destroy
The enemy in its revenge tried to annihilate the entire population.
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annuity
yearly allowance
The annuity he set up with the insurance company supplements his social security benefits so that he can live very comfortably without working.
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annul
make void
The parents of the eloped couple tried to annul the marriage.
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anodyne
drug that relieves pain; opiate
His pain was so great that no anodyne could relieve it.
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anoint
consecrate
The prophet Samuel anointed David with oil, crowning him king of Israel.
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anomalous
abnormal; irregular
He was placed in the anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures that he despised.
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anomaly
irregularity
A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly.
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antecede
precede
The invention of the radiotelegraph anteceded the development of television by a quarter of a century.
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antecedents
preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later; early life; ancestors
Before giving permission for Drummie to marry Estella, Miss Havisham had a few questions about the young man's birth and antecedents.
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antediluvian
antiquated; ancient
The antediluvian customs had apparently not changed for thousands of years.
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anthropoid
manlike
The gorilla is the strongest of the anthropoid animals.
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anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristics
Primitive religions often have deities with anthropomorphic characteristics.
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anticlimax
letdown in thought or emotion
After the fine performance in the first act, the rest of the play was an anticlimax.
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antiquated
obsolete; outdated
Accustomed to editing his papers on word processors, Philip thought typewriters were too antiquated for him to use.
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anvil
iron block used in hammering out metals
After heating the iron horseshoe in the forge, the blacksmith picked it up with his tongs and set it on the anvil.
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apex
tip; summit; climax
He was at the apex of his career.
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aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illness
After the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently.
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aphorism
pithy maxim
An aphorism differs from an adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific.
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apiary
a place where bees are kept
Although he spent many hours daily in the apiary, he was very seldom stung by a bee.
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aplomb
poise; composure
Wellington's nonchalance and aplomb in the heat of battle always heartened his followers.
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apocryphal
untrue; made up
To impress his friends, Tom invented apocryphal tales of his adventures in the big city.
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apogee
highest point
When the moon in its orbit is furthest away from the earth, it is at its apogee.
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apoplexy
stroke; loss of consciousness followed by paralysis
He was crippled by an attack of apoplexy.
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apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs
Because he switched from one party to another, his former friends shunned him as an apostate.
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apothecary
druggist
In Holland, apothecaries still sell spices as well as ointments and pills.
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apothegm
pithy, compact saying
Proverbs are apothegms that have become familiar sayings.
136
apotheosis
deification; glorification
The Roman empress Livia envied the late emperor his apotheosis; she hoped that on her death she, too,
would be exalted to the rank of a god.
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appal
dismay; shock
We were appalled by the horrifying conditions in the city's jails.
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appellation
name; title
He was amazed when the witches hailed him with his correct appellation.
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append
attach
I shall append this chart to my report.
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application
diligent attention; (secondary meaning) apply
Pleased with how well Tom had whitewashed the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for his application.
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apposite
appropriate; fitting
He was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion.
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apprehend
arrest ( a criminal); dread; perceive
The police will apprehend the culprit and convict him before long.
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apprehensive
fearful; discerning
His apprehensive glances at the people who were walking in the street revealed his nervousness.
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apprise
inform
When he was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, he decided to postpone his trip.
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approbation
approval
Wanting her parents' regard, she looked for some sign of their approbation.
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appurtennances
subordinate possessions
He bought the estate and all its appurtenances.
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apropos
with reference to; regarding
I find your remarks apropos of the present situation timely and pertinent.
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aptitude
fitness; talent
The counselor evaluated his aptitudes before advising him about the career he should follow.
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aquiline
curved, hooked
He can be recognized by his aquiline nose, curved like the beak of the eagle.
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arbitrate
act as judge
She was called upon to arbitrate the dispute between the union and the management.
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arboretum
place where different varieties of trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
Walking along the treelined paths of the arboretum, Rita noted poplars, firs, and some particularly fine sycamores.
152
arcade
a covered passageway, usually lined with shops
The arcade was popular with shoppers because it gave them protection from the summer sun and the winter rain.
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arcane
secret; mysterious
What was arcane to us was clear to the psychologist.
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archetype
prototype; primitive pattern
The Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the many spans that now connect Manhattan with Long Island and New Jersey.
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archives
public records; place where public records are kept
These documents should be part of the archives so that historians may be able to evaluate them in the future.
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ardor
heat; passion; zeal
Katya's ardor was contagious; soon all her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
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arduous
hard; strenuous
Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy.
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argot
slang
In the argot of the underworld, she "was taken for a ride."
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aria
operatic solo
At her Metropolitan Opera audition, Marian Anderson sang an aria from Norma.
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arid
dry; barren
The cactus had adapted to survive in an arid environment.
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armada
fleet of warships
Queen Elizabeth's navy was able to defeat the mighty armada that threatened the English coast.
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arraign
charge in court; indict
After his indictment by the Grand Jury, the accused man was arraigned in the County Criminal Court.
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array
\*
marshal; draw up in order
His actions were bound to array public sentiment against him.
\*\*
clothe; adorn
She liked to watch her motherarray herself in her finest clothes before going out for the evening.
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arrears
being in debt
He was in arrears with his payments on the car.
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artifacts
products of primitive culture
Archaeologists debated the significance of the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia Minor and came to no conclusion.
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artifice
deception; trickery
The Trojan War proved to the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effective than military might.
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artless
without guile; open and honest
Red Riding Hood's artless comment, "Grandma, what big eyes you have!" indicates the child's innocent surprises at her "grandmother's" changed appearance.
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ascendancy
controlling influence
President Marcos failed to maintain his ascendency over Philippines.
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ascetic
practicing self-denial; austere
The wealthy young man could not understand the ascetic life led by the monks.
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asceticism
doctrine of self-denial
We find asceticism practiced in many monastries.
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ascribe
refer; attribute; assign
I can ascribe no motive for her acts.
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asceptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
Hospitals succeeded in lowering the mortality rate as soon as they introduced asceptic conditions.
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ashen
ash-colored; deadly pale
Her face was ashen with fear.
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asinine
stupid
Your asinine remarks prove that you have not given this problem any serious consideration.
175
askance
with a sideways or indirect look
Looking askance at her questioner, she displayed her scorn.
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askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
When he placed his hat askew upon his head, his observers laughed.
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asperity
sharpness (of temper)
These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been directed.
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aspersion
slanderous remark
Do not cast aspersions on her character.
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aspirant
seeker after position or status
Although I am as aspirant for public office, I am not willing to accept the dictates of the party bosses.
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assail
assault
He was assailed with questions after his lecture.
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assay
analyze; evaluate
When they assayed the ore, they found that they had discovered a very rich vein.
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assent
agree; accept
It gives me great pleasure to assent to your request.
183
assert
state strongly or positively; insist on or demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc).
When Jill asserted that nobody else in the junior class had such an early curfew, her parents Asserted themselves, telling her that if she didn't get home by nine o'clock she would be grounded for the week.
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assiduous
diligent
It took Rembrandt weeks of assiduous labor before he was satisfied with his portrait of his son.
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assimilate
absorb; cause to become homogenous
The manner in which the United States was able to assimilate the hordes of immigrants during the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth centuries will always be a source of pride.
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assuage
ease; lessen(pain)
Your messages of cheer should assuage her suffering.
187
assurance
promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence
When Gutherie gave Guiness his assurance that rehearsals were going well, he spoke with such assurance that Guiness was convinced.
188
astigmatism
eye defect that prevents proper focus
As soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from astigmatism, they took him to the optometrist for corrective glasses.
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astringent
binding; causing contraction; harsh or severe
The astringent quality of unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult.
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astute
wise; shrewd
That was a very astute observation.
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asunder
into parts; apart
Their points of view are poles asunder.
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atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback
Martin seemed an atavism to his Tuscan ancestors who lavished great care on their small plots of soil.
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atone
make amends for; pay for
He knew no way in which he could atone for his brutal crime.
194
attenuate
make thin; weaken
By withdrawing their forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines.
195
attest
testify; bear witness
Having served as a member of a grand jury, I can attest that our system of indicting individuals is in need of improvement.
196
attribute
ascribe; explain
I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents.
197
attrition
gradual wearing down
They decided to wage a war of attrition rather than to rely on all-out attack.
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audacious
daring; bold
Audiences cheered as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia made their audacious, death-defying leap to freedom and escaped Darth Vader's troops.
199
audit
examination of accounts
When the bank examiners arrived to hold their annual audit, they discovered the embezzlements of the chief cashier.
200
augury
omen; prophecy
He interpreted the departures of the birds as an augury of evil.
201
august
impressive; majestic
Visiting the palace at Versailes, she was impressed by the august surroundings in which she found herself.
202
aureole
sun's corona; halo
Many medieval paintings depict saintly characters with aureols around their heads.
203
auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis
The auroral display was particularly spectacular that evening.
204
auspicious
favoring success
With favorable weather conditions, it was an auspicious moment to set sail.
205
autocrat
monarch with supreme power
He ran his office like an autocrat, giving no one else any authority.
206
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humans
Long before science fiction readers became aware of robots, writers were creating stories of automation who could outperform humans.
207
aver
state confidently
I wish to aver that I am certain of success.
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averse
reluctant
He was averse to revealing the sources of his information.
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aversion
firm dislike
Their mutual aversion was so great that they refused to speak to one another.
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avert
prevent; turn away
She averted her eyes from the dead cat on the highway.
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aviary
enclosure for birds
The aviary at the zoo held nearly 300 birds.
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avid
greedy; eager for
He was avid for learning and read everything he could get.
213
avocation
secondary or minor occupation
His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his avocation.
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avow
declare openly
I must avow that I am innocent.
215
avuncular
like an uncle
Avuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew's shortcomings.
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awe
solemn wonder
The tourists gazed with awe at the tremendous expanse of the Grand Canyon.
217
awl
pointed tool used for piercing
She used an awl to punch additional holes in the leather belt she had bought.
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awry
distorted; crooked
He held his head awry, giving the impression that he had caught cold in his neck during the night.
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axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
Before a student can begin to think along the lines of Euclidean geometry, he must accept certain principles or axioms.
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