A Flashcards
abidcate
(v) formally give up the throne (or some other power or responsibility)
aberrant
(adj) abnormal, deviant
abjure
(v) give up, renounce, repudiate, recant, or shun (especially formally or under oath)
abridge
reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts throughout while retaining the main idea
admonish
(v) mildly scold; caution,advise, or remind to do something
adverse
(adj) opposing, harmful
affable
(adj) warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable
affectation
(n) fake behavior adopted to give a certain impression
aggrandize
(v) make greater; exaggerate
abate
(v) reduce, diminish
abhor
(v) detest, regard with disgust
acme
(n) summit, peak, highest, point
aggregate
(v, adj) gather together, amount to
(verb); constituting a whole made up of constituent parts (adj)
alacrity
(n) cheerful or speedy willingness
ambivalent
(adj) uncertain; unable to decide or wanting to do two contradictory things at once
anoint
(v) rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as by ceremony that includes applying oil to someone
anitpathy
(n) deep dislike, aversion, or repugnance, sometimes without reason
apocryphal
(adj) of questionable authenticity; false
appreciable
(adj) enough to be perceived, considerable
abritrary
(adj) based entirely on one’s discretion; capricious, unreasonable, or having no basis
arcane
(adj) known or understood by only a few; obscure; secret
arduous
(adj) very difficult, strenuous, severe, hard to endure
artless
(adj) free of deceit or craftiness, natural, genuine; lacking knowledge, crude, uncultured
ascetic
(adj, n) abstinent or austere in lifestyle (adj); a person who leads an austere and simple life without material pleasures, esp. someone who does it for religious reasons
assuage
(v) make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm
augment
(v) make larger
austere
(adj) severe in manner or appearance, very self disciplined, ascetic, without luxury or ease; sober or serious
autonomous
(adj) self-governing, independence
aver
(v) declare or affirm with confidence
avid
(adj) enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirous
abase
degrade or humble; to lower in rank, esteem
abeyance
temporary suspension, inactivity
abreast
side by side; staying aware of; remaining equal in progress with
abcission
cutting off; sudden termination; separation of parts from a plant or animal
abscond
depart suddenly and secretively
accede
agree, give consent; assume power
accretion
gradual increase; an added part or addition
acerbic
sour; harsh or sever
acidulous
sour; sharp or bitter (person’s tone)
accumen
keen, quick, accurate insight or judgement
adulterate
make impure by adding inappropriate or inferior ingredients; making it poorer quality by adding something
adumbrate
give a rough outline of; foreshadow; reveal only partially
aerie
dwelling or fortress built on a high place
albeit
although, even though
amalgamate
combine or unite to form one organization or structure
ameliorate
improve; make better or bearable
amortize
gradually pay off a debt or gradually write off an asset
anachronism
something that is not int it correct historical time; a mistake in chronology, such as by assigning a person or event to the wrong time period
analgesia
pain relief; inability to feel pain
anodyne
soothing, relieving pain
antedate
be older than, precede in time; assign to an earlier date
antithetical
directly opposed, opposite
apostate
person who deserts a party, cause, religion
apostle
pioneer of a reform movement
apposite
highly appropriate suitable or relevant
