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GP Vocab > “A” > Flashcards

“A” Flashcards

1
Q

Abdicate (v)

A

To give up a position, usually one of leadership

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2
Q

Abject (adj)

A
  • of sth: (Extreme) pain/ disappointment eg. ~ poverty ; ~ misery
  • of a person/behaviour: completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing eg. ~ apology
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3
Q

Synonyms: Obsequious, grovelling, crawling, creeping, fawning, toadyish, servile, cringing, snivelling, ingratiating

A

Abject (adj)

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4
Q

Abjure (v)

A

To reject, renounce
Eg. To prove his honestly, the president abjured the evil policies of his wicked predecessor.

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5
Q

Abridge (v)

A
  • shorten (a book, film, speech etc.) without losing the sense eg. An abridged text of his speech
  • LAW curtail (a right or privilege) eg. Even the right to free speech can be abridged.
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6
Q

Synonyms: shorten, cut, cut short/down, curtail, truncate

A

Abridged (v)

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7
Q

Abrogate (v)

A

To abolish, usually by authority
Eg. The Bill of Rights assures that the government cannot abrogate our right to a free press.

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8
Q

Abstemious (adj)

A

Indulging only very moderately in something esp. food and drinks
Eg. We only had a bottle. Very abstemious of you.

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9
Q

Synonyms: Temperate, Abstinent, Ascetic

A

Abstemious (adj)

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10
Q

Abstruse (adj)

A

Difficult to understand, obscure
Eg. An abstruse philosophical inquiry

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11
Q

Synonyms: obscure, arcane, esoteric, little known, recherché

A

Abstruse (adj)

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12
Q

Abysmal (adj)

A

Having immense or fathomless extension downward, backward or inward
Eg. ~ ignorance

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13
Q

Acerbic (adj)

A

Biting, bitter in tone or taste
Eg. Jill became extremely ~ and began to cruelly make fun of all her friends.)

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14
Q

Acrimony (n)

A

Bitterness, discord (hostile)
Eg. Bill and Trevor could not keep ~ from overwhelming their friendship after they both fell in love with the lovely Teresa.

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15
Q

Acrid (adj)

A

Unpleasantly bitter or pungent
Eg. ~ smoke

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16
Q

Synonyms: pungent, bitter, sharp

A

Acrid (adj)

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17
Q

Acumen (n)

A

Keen/ sharp insight
Eg. Because of his mathematical ~, Larry was able to figure out in minutes problems that took other students’ hours.

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18
Q

Acquiesce (v)

A

To agree without protesting

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19
Q

Adroitness (n)

A

Cleverness or skill
Eg. He lacks political adroitness

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20
Q

Synonyms: skill, prowess, expertise, adeptness, handiness, nimbleness, dexterity, dextrousness, deftness

A

Adroitness (n)

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21
Q

Adduce (v)

A

To mention or provide (sth, such as a fact or example) as evidence or proof to support an argument
Eg. In support of a 12-month school year, the committee adduced data from other school districts.

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22
Q

Synonyms: quote, cite, instance, mention

A

Adduce (v)

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23
Q

Adumbrate (v)

A

To sketch out in a vague way (lacks details)
Eg. The coach adumbrated a game plan, but none of the players knew precisely what to do.

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24
Q

Adulation (n)

A

High praise
Eg. He found it difficult to cope with the adulation of the fans.

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25
Q

Agrarian (adj)

A

Relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land
Eg. Brazil is rapidly diversifying its agrarian economy.

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26
Q

Alacrity (n)

A

Eagerness, speed
Eg. Do something with alacrity

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27
Q

Altruistic (adj)

A

Showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish
Eg. It was an entirely altruistic act.

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28
Q

Synonyms: unselfish, selfless, self-sacrificing

A

Altruistic (adj)

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29
Q

Amenable (adj)

A
  • open and responsiveness to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled; compliant, acquiescent
    Eg. Parents who have amenable children.
  • capable of being acted upon in a particular way; susceptible, receptive, responsive
    Eg. Cardiac failure not amenable to medical treatment.
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30
Q

Anachronistic (adj)

A

Out-of-date, not attributed to the correct historical period

31
Q

Analogous (adj)

A

Comparable in certain respects, typically in a way which makes clearer the nature of the things compared
Eg. They saw the relationship between a ruler and his subjects as analogous to that of father and children.

32
Q

Synonyms: comparable, parallel, similar

A

Analogous (adj)

33
Q

Anathema (n)

A

A cursed, detested person (enemy)
Eg. I never want to see that murderer. He is an anathema to me.

34
Q

Anodyne (adj)

A
  • not likely to cause offence or disagreement and somewhat dull eg. ~ music
    Eg. She tired to keep the conversation as anodyne as possible.
    (n) a painkilling drug or medicine
    Eg. She had even refused anodynes.
35
Q

Synonyms: bland, inoffensive, innocuous, neutral, unobjectionable, unexceptionable, unremarkable, commonplace, dull, tedious, run-of-the-mill

A

Anodyne (adj)

36
Q

Antediluvian (adj)

A
  • of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood; Rare primigenial Eg. Gigantic bones of antediluvian animals
  • humorous: ridiculous old-fashioned
    Eg. They maintain antediluvian sex-role stereotypes
37
Q

Synonyms: before the flood, prehistoric, primeval, primordial, primal, earliest, ancient, early

A

Antediluvian (adj)

38
Q

Synonyms: out of date, outdated, outmoded, antiquated, ancient

A

Antediluvian (adj)

39
Q

Synonyms: painkiller, painkilling drug, analgesic, pain reliever, palliative

A

Antediluvian (adj)

40
Q

Antipathy (n)

A

A strong dislike, repugnance
Eg. I know you love me, but because you are a liar and a thief, I feel nothing but ~ for you.

41
Q

Apathy (n)

A

Lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern
Eg. Widespread ~ among students

42
Q

Synonyms: indifference, lack of interest

A

Apathy (n)

43
Q

Ape (v)

A

Imitate (someone or something), especially in an absurd or unthinking way
Eg. New architecture can respect the old without aping its style.

44
Q

Apocryphal (adj)

A

(Of a story or statement) of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true.
Eg. An ~ story about a former president.

45
Q

Synonyms: fictitious, made-up, untrue

A

Apocryphal (adj)

46
Q

Apprise (v)

A

Inform or tell (someone)
Eg. I thought it right to ~ Chris of what had happened.

47
Q

Synonyms: inform, notify, tell, let know

A

Apprise (v)

48
Q

Approbation (n)

A

Praise
Eg. The crowd welcomed the heroes with ~.

49
Q

Ardent (adj)

A

Very enthusiastic or passionate
Eg. An ~ supporter of the conservation cause

50
Q

Synonyms: passionate, avid, impassioned, fervent, fervid

A

Ardent (adj)

51
Q

Armamentarium (n)

A

The medicines, equipment and techniques available to medical practitioner.
Eg. The leeches of the medieval ~ are making a comeback in modern medicine.

52
Q

Arrogate (v)

A

To take without justification
Eg. The king arrogated the right to order executions to himself exclusively.

53
Q

Artifice (n)

A

Clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others
Eg. An industry dominated by ~.

54
Q

Synonyms: trickery, deviousness, deceit

A

Artifice (n)

55
Q

Ascendancy (n)

A

Occupation of a position of dominant power or influence
Eg. The ~ of good over evil.

56
Q

Synonyms: dominance, domination, supremacy

A

Ascendency (n)

57
Q

Ascetic (adj)

A

Practicing restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually religious
Eg. The priest lives an ~ life devoid of television, savoury foods and other pleasures.

58
Q

Aspersion (n)

A

A curse, expression of ill-will
Eg. The rival politicians repeatedly cast aspersions on each other’s integrity.

59
Q

Assiduous (adj)

A

Hardworking, diligent
Eg. The construction workers erected the skyscraper during two years of ~ labour.

60
Q

Astringent (adj)

A

Very critical in a sharp and often clever way
Eg. An ~ critic of modern movies

61
Q

Atrophy (n)

A

Gradually decline in effectiveness or vigour due to underuse or neglect
Eg. The imagination can ~ from lack of use.

62
Q

Synonyms: peter out, taper off , tail off, dwindle, deteriorate

A

Atrophy (n)

63
Q

Attest (v)

A

Provide or serve as clear evidence of; certify
Eg. His status is attested by his becoming an alderman.

64
Q

Astute (n)

A

Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage Eg. An ~ businessman

65
Q

Synonyms: shrewd, sharp, sharp-witted, razor-sharp, acute

A

Astute (n)

66
Q

Auspice (n)

A

A divine or prophetic token

67
Q

Austere (adj)

A

-severe or strict in manner or attitude.
Eg. He was an ~ man, with rigid puritanical outlook

  • having no comfort or luxuries
    Eg. Conditions in the prison could hardly be more ~
  • having a plain and unadorned appearance
    Eg. The cathedral is impressive in its ~ simplicity
68
Q

Synonyms: severe, stern, strict, harsh (of living conditions or a way of life)

A

Austere (adj)

69
Q

Synonyms: strict, self-denying, self-abnegating, frugal, Spartan, restrained, ascetic, puritanical, hairshirt, abstemious, abstinent, celibate, chaste, continent

A

Austere (adj)

70
Q

Synonyms: plain, simple, basics

A

Austere (adj.)

71
Q

Aversion (n)

A

A strong dislike or disinclination (stay away)
Eg. They made plain their ~ to the use of force

72
Q

Synonyms: dislike of, distaste for, disinclination

A

Aversion (n)

73
Q

Acquiescence

A

agreement to do what someone wants, or acceptance of what they do even though you do not agree with it; reluctant agreement

GP Vocab (2 decks)

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