A Flashcards
abate, v.
to decrease; reduce
abdicate, v.
to give up a position, right, or power
de facto, adj.
in fact, whether by right or not; exercising power without being legally established (Latin: from the fact)
aberrant, adj.*
deviating from what is normal
deviant, n.
a person whose behavior differs from the accepted standards of society
abeyance, n.*
temporary suppression or suspension
abject, adj.
miserable; pitiful
abjure, v.
to reject; abandon formally
abscission, n.
the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant
abscond, v.
to depart secretly
abstemious, adj.*
moderate in appetite
abstinence, n.
the giving up of certain pleasures
accretion, n.
growth in size or increase in amount (from ad- “to” + crescere “grow”).
Accretion concerns the growth of natural bodies. Accrual, by contrast, concerns an increase or concerns something that accumulates. It therefore has less to do with natural bodies.
accrue, v.
to accumulate; grow by additions.
Accretion concerns the growth of natural bodies. Accrual, by contrast, concerns an increase or concerns something that accumulates. It therefore has less to do with natural bodies.
adamant, adj.
uncompromising; unyielding
adjunct, n.
something added, attached, or joined
admonish, v.
to caution or reprimand
adulterate, v.
to corrupt or make impure
aesthetic, adj.
relating to beauty or art
affected, adj.
pretentious, phony
affinity, n.
fondness; liking; similarity
aggrandize, v.
to make larger or greater
aggregate, adj.
amounting to a whole; total.
Aggregate means to bring together or to collect into a mass or sum while amalgamate means to merge, combine, blend or join. Amalgamate means to coalesce, hence any difference is blended or joined after the thing is amalgamated, while aggregate concerns the mere combination of particulars such that their identity is not lost after aggregation. As a noun aggregate is a mass, assemblage, or sum of particulars; something consisting of elements but considered as a whole.
*alacrity, n.
cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed
alchemy, n.
medieval chemical philosophy based on changing medal into gold; a seemingly magical power or process of transmutation
allay, v.
to lessen; ease; soothe
*alleviate, v.
to relieve; improve partially
alloy, n.
a combination; a mixture of two or more metals
allure, n.
the power to entice by charm
*amalgamate, v.
to combine into a unified whole
Aggregate means to bring together or to collect into a mass or sum while amalgamate means to merge, combine, blend or join. Amalgamate means to coalesce, hence any difference is blended or joined after the thing is amalgamated, while aggregate concerns the mere combination of particulars such that their identity is not lost after aggregation. As a noun aggregate is a mass, assemblage, or sum of particulars; something consisting of elements but considered as a whole.
*ambiguous, adj.
unclear or doubtful in meaning
*ambivalence, n.
the state of having two conflicting emotional attitudes
ambrosia, n.
something delicious; the food of the gods
*ameliorate, v.
to improve
amenable, adj.
agreeable; cooperative
amenity, n.
something that increases comfort
amulet, n.
ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
*anachronism, n.
something out of the proper time
analgesic, n.
medication that reduces or eliminates pain
*analogous, adj.
comparable
analogy, n.
similarity in some ways between things that are otherwise dissimilar
*anarchy, n.
absence of government; state of disorder
anodyne, n.
something that calms or soothes pain
*anomalous, adj.
irregular; deviating from the norm
antecedent, n.
something that comes before
antediluvian, adj.
prehistoric
*antipathy, n.
dislike; hostility
*apathy, n.
indifference
apex, n.
the highest point
As nouns the difference between apex and apogee is that apex is the highest point of something while apogee is (astronomy) the point, in an orbit about the earth, that is furthest from the earth: the apoapsis of an earth orbiter
apogee, n.
the point in an orbit most distance from the body being orbited; the highest point
As nouns the difference between apex and apogee is that apex is the highest point of something while apogee is (astronomy) the point, in an orbit about the earth, that is furthest from the earth: the apoapsis of an earth orbiter.
apothegm, n.
a terse, witty saying (pronounced AP-uh-them and also spelled apophthegm
appease, v.
to calm; pacify; placate
As verbs the difference between pacify and appease is that pacify is to bring peace to (a place or situation), by ending war, fighting, violence, anger or agitation while appease is to make quiet; to calm; to reduce to a state of peace; to dispel (anger or hatred). Pacify deals more with places and objects, appease with emotions, though there’s little difference between them.
appellation, n.
name
apposite, adj. (apazit)
strikingly appropriate and relevant
apprise, v. (apprize)
to inform
approbation, n.
praise; approval
appropriate, v.
to take possession of for one’s own use; confiscate
apropos, adj.
relevant
arabesque, n.
ornate design featuring intertwined curves; a ballet position in which one leg is extended in back while the other supports the weight of the body
archeology, n.
the study of material evidence of past human life
ardor, n.
great emotion or passion
arduous, adj.
extremely difficult; laborious
argot, n.
a specialized vocabulary used by a group
arrest, v.
to stop; to seize
artifact, n.
item made by human craft
artless, adj.
guileless; natural Ex: “The source of meaning of artless as guileless is the poet John Dryden, who wrote of William Shakespeare in 1672: ‘Such artless beauty lies in Shakespeare’s wit…’”
ascetic, n.
one who practices self-denial
asperity, n.
severity; harshness; irritability
aspersion, n.
slander; false rumor
assiduous, adj.
diligent; hard-working
assuage, v.
to make less severe
astringent, adj.
harsh; severe
asylum, n.
place of refuge or shelter
atavism, n.
in biology, the reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence; individual or a part that exhibits atavism; return of a trait after a period of absence
attenuate, v.
to weaken
audacious, adj.
bold; daring
austere, adj.
stern; unadorned
autonomous, adj.
self-governing; independent
avarice, n.
greed
aver, v.
to affirm; declare to be true
avocation, n.
secondary occupation
avuncular, adj.
like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
axiomatic, adj.
taken for granted
