A Flashcards
abandon
n. total lack of inhibition
The normally conservative executive danced with abandon at the party.
abase
v. to humble, disgrace
The commoner abased himself before his king.
abash
v. embarrass
Grace was abashed by all the fuss her family made about her birthday.
abatement
n. decrease, reduction
We were relieved at the abatement of the hurricane.
abdicate
v. to give up a position, right, or power
The aging king abdicated in favor of his son.
aberrant
adj. deviating from what is normal
The student’s behavior was considered aberrant.
aberration
n. something different from the usual or normal
Getting a “d” was an aberration for the normally excellent student.
abet
v. to aid, act as an accomplice
Mr. Harris said that he refuses to abet the misconduct of his colleagues.
abeyance
n. temporary suppression or suspension
Hold your judgment in abeyance until we have all the facts of the case.
abhor
v. to loathe, detest
Tim abhors the idea of killing animals.
abhorrent
adj. disgusting, repellent, loathsome
The group’s values are considered abhorrent by most people.
abject
adj. miserable, pitiful
The peasants live in abject poverty.
abjure
v. to reject, abandon formally
The president abjured any wrongdoing by members of his administration.
ablution
n. act of cleansing
“You’d better shorten your morning ablutions or you’ll be late for school,” Clara’s mom said.
abnegation
n. self-denial
The religion encourages its followers to practice abnegation periodically.
abolitionist
n. one who opposes the practice of slavery
Abolitionists in the northern states of the United States helped rid that country of slavery.
abomination
n. abhorrence; a cause of disgust
Torture is regarded as an abomination.
aboriginal
adj. being the first of its kind in a region
The aboriginal people of Australia traditionally hold a nighttime festival called a “corroboree.”
abortive
adj. interrupted while incomplete
Scientists studied the abortive flight of the rocket to determine what had gone wrong.
abrade
v. to wear off or down by scraping or rubbing
Millions of years of erosion had abraded the hillside.
abridge
v. to condense, shorten
The long novel was abridged to make it easier for people to read.
abrogate
v. to abolish or invalidate by authority
The president has the power to abrogate the agreement by executive order.
abscission
n. act of cutting; natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant
The botanist is studying the process of abscission in the Norway maple.
abscond
v. to depart secretly
The treasurer absconded with the funds.
absolutism
n. a form of government in which all power is vested in a single authority
Moral absolutism holds that there are absolute moral standards by which moral questions can be judged.
absolve
v. to forgive, free from blame
The priest absolved the woman’s sins.
abstemious
adj. moderate in appetite
Be an abstemious eater if you want to be thin.
abstinence
n. the giving up of certain pleasures
The priest urged the man to practice sexual abstinence.
abstract (adj.)
adj. theoretical; not concrete
The plan is fine in the abstract; the problem will be carrying it out in reality.
abstract (n.)
n. statement that summarizes the important points of a text
John wrote an abstract of Professor Mill’s study of green algae.
abstraction
n. act or result of considering something independently of its qualities.
It’s wise to not use too many abstractions like “freedom” and “goodness” in your writing without defining them.
abstruse
adj. difficult to comprehend
The mathematical equation was so abstruse no one in the class could understand it.
abysmal
adj. very bad
Amanda’s performance on the test was so abysmal that she dropped the subject.
academic
adj. having no practical purpose, theoretical
Researchers argue that the discovery will be of more than academic interest.
accede
v. to express approval; agree to
“If I accede to your request for a favor, the other employees will be angry with me,” the boss said.
accessible
adj. attainable, available; approachable
Students like teachers who are accessible so they can ask them questions.
accessory
n. attachment, ornament; accomplice, partner
Liz was named as an accessory because she drove the car to the scene of the crime.
acclaim
n. loud applause, approval
The novelist won acclaim for her portrayal of life in ancient Rome.
accolade
n. praise, distinction
The highest accolade a teacher can win is the appreciation of his students.
accommodate
v. to allow for, bring into harmony
The teacher organizes his class so that the abilities and interests of each student are accommodated.
accordance
n. agreement
Since we are in accordance on this issue, we can move on to the next item for discussion.
accost
v. to approach and speak to someone
She doesn’t like being accosted by strangers on the street.
accretion
n. growth in size or increase in amount
The steady accretion in the federal budget is a concern to many citizens.
accrue
v. to accumulate, grow by additions
Compound interest helps your savings to accrue quickly.
acculturation
n. adoption of the cultural patterns of another group
The process of acculturation is usually easier for young immigrants than for old immigrants.
acerbic
adj. bitter, sharp in taste or temper
Late night talk show hosts often make acerbic comments about current events.
acidulous
adj. sour in taste or manner; sharp; caustic
His acidulous criticism of the novel was labeled as unfair by other critics.
acknowledge
v. recognize; admit
I was forced to acknowledge that he was a better tennis player after he beat me three times in a row.
acme
n. highest point; summit; zenith
John considered winning the Pulitzer Prize to be the acme of his career in journalism.
acoustics
n . scientific study of sound; the total effect of a sound
The orchestra refused to play in the hall because of its poor acoustics.
acquiesce
v. to agree without protesting
The people acquiesced to the dictator’s demands.
acquiescent
adj. disposed or willing to agree without protesting
Management was acquiescent to the workers’ demands.
acquittal
n. release from blame
The jury voted for acquittal after concluding that the woman was innocent of the crime.
acrid
adj. harsh, bitter
The lemon left an acrid taste in my mouth.
acrimonious
adj. disposed to bitterness and animosity
The dispute was acrimonious.
acrimony
n. bitterness, animosity
The fight for the presidential nomination caused acrimony within the political party.
acronym
n. a ward formed from the initial letters of a name or series of words
Some acronyms - such as “radar” - are so common that we tend to forget that they are acronyms.
acuity
n. sharpness
Some people are born with excellent visual acuity.
acumen
n. sharpness of insight
Some people believe that business acumen can only be learned in the “school of hard knocks.”
acute
adj. sharp, pointed
Jill has an acute sense of taste.
adage
n. old saying or proverb
Everyone has heard the adage “Haste makes waste.”
adamant
adj. uncompromising, unyielding
The prime minister is adamant that she will not resign.
adapt
v. to accommodate, adjust
Life on earth frequently must adapt to changing climatic conditions.
adduce
v. to cite as an example as a means of proof
The lawyer adduced his client’s good standing in the community as evidence of her good character.
adhere
v. to cling or follow without deviation
Some people criticize schools because they encourage students to adhere unthinkingly to rules.
adherent
n. follower
A debate broke out between groups of the religious leader’s adherents with different views.
ad hoc
adj. for the present purpose only
An ad hoc committee was formed by the school to investigate the growing problem of student lateness to class.
ad hominem
adj. appealing to prejudice or passions; attacking one’s adversary rather than his or her argument
The debate moderator warned participants that she would not tolerate ad hominem arguments.
ad infinitum
adv. forever; without limit
Mathematicians believe that pi represented as a decimal continues ad infinitum.
adjacent
adj. next to
My office is adjacent to a supermarket.
adjudicate
v. to study and settle a dispute
The chief umpire was called in to adjudicate the dispute during the baseball game.
adjunct
v. something added, attached, or joined
The army officer was assigned as an adjunct to advise the civilian government agency.
admonish
v. to caution or reprimand
Children who misbehave in public should be admonished by their parents.
admonition
n. mild reproof
The student received an admonition for being a few minutes late to class.
ad nauseum
adv. to a disgusting or ridiculous degree
The issue has been debated ad nauseum.
adobe
adj. relating to sun-dried brick of clay and straw
The adobe houses in that area were hilt over 300 years ago.
adroit
adj. skillful
With an adroit move, the wrestler pinned his opponent.
adulation
n. high praise
The writer won adulation for his masterly biography of George Washington.
adulterate
v. to corrupt or make impure
Be careful not to drink water that has been adulterated.
adumbrate
v. to sketch in a shadowy way; foreshadow
The theory was adumbrated in his early work, but only now he has clearly outlined it.
advent
v. coming or arrival
The advent of football season is greeted with enthusiasm by football fans.
adventitious
adj. added from without
The architect confirmed that the house was Colonial, without adventitious later additions.
adversarial
adj. antagonistic; competitive
I would prefer that we have a cooperative relationship rather than an adversarial one.
adverse
adj. unfavorable, unlucky, harmful
The investigators gave an adverse report on the governor’s conduct.
advocate (v.)
v. to speak or write in favor of something
The speaker advocated better funding of public education.
advocate (n.)
n. person who pleads for
Many scientists are advocates for increased spending on basic scientific research.
aegis
n. protection; sponsorship; shield
Negotiations are being conducted under the aegis of the United Nations.
aerial
adj. having to do with the air
Aerial warfare was a major factor in determining the outcome of World War II.
aerie
n. nook or nest built high in the air
The eagle kept her young safe in an aerie on the mountain.
aerodynamic
adj. relating to objects moving through the air
Engineers who design cars take into consideration aerodynamic factors.
aesthetic (adj.)
adj. pertaining to beauty or art
The town council banned billboards for aesthetic reasons.
aesthetic (n.)
n. guiding principle in art
Every new movement in the arts has its own aesthetic.
affable
adj. pleasant to speak to; approachable
The affable teacher is popular with students and fellow teachers.
affectation
n. artificial behavior to impress others
Tom’s affectation is that he adopts a high-class English accent.
affected
adj. pretentious, phony
His fake-sounding accent made him seem affected.
affective
adj. relating to the emotions
In life, affective skills are often as important as intellectual skills.
affinity
n. fondness, liking; similarity
The young people’s affinity for each other was so strong that they spent nearly all their free time together.
affirm
v. to make a positive assertion; confirm
The new citizens affirmed their loyalty to the country.
affirmation
n. confirmation; positive assertion
The couple made an affirmation of their love for one another.
afflatus
n. creative impulse; divine inspiration
The novelist at the writing workshop says that it is better to start writing than to wait for divine afflatus because that may never arrive.
affluent
adj. rich; abundant
Affluent people and poor people often live in different areas of a town.
affront
n. personal offense, insult
The president of the company regards the criticism of his employees as an affront.
aficionado
n. an enthusiastic admirer
A wine aficionado, Bob can tell how good a wine is with one sip.
a fortiori
adv. for a still stronger reason
“But I do not feel that I and my fellow citizens have a religious duty to sacrifice our lives in war on behalf of our own state, and, a fortiori, I do not feel that we have an obligation or a right to kill and maim citizens of other states or to devastate their land.” (Arnold Toynbee)
agenda
n. plan, schedule
The agenda for the meeting says that launch is at 12:30 p.m.
aggrandize
v. to make larger or greater
During the nineteenth century many Americans wanted the country to do things to aggrandize itself.
aggregate
adj. relating to a collective mass or sum; relating to a total
The aggregate wealth of a country includes public as well as private possessions and resources.
aggrieve
v. to afflict; to distress
I am aggrieved by your refusal to apologize for your misconduct.
agile
adj. well-coordinated, nimble
Gymnasts should be very agile.
agitation
n. commotion, excitement; uneasiness
The nightly bombings were causing agitation in the children.
agnostic (n.)
n. one who doubts that people can know God
Many scientists are agnostics.
agnostic (adj.)
adj. non-committal
Larry is agnostic on the question of whether war is ever justified.
agrarian
adj. relating to the land and its cultivation
The country has a predominantly agrarian economy.
alacrity
n. cheerful willingness, eagerness; speed
We were happy when the clerk replaced the faulty cartridge with alacrity.
albedo
n. the proportion of incident radiation reflected by a surface
Fresh snow has a very high albedo.
albeit
conj. even though; notwithstanding; although
There is sufficient food, albeit at high prices.
alchemical
adj. seemingly magical process of change
Psychologists say that love produces alchemical changes in personality.
alchemy
n. medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold; seemingly magical process of change
Alchemy was the forerunner of the modern science of chemistry.
algorithm
n. a problem-solving procedure
The intelligence officers are trying to find the correct algorithm to break the enemy code.
alias
n. assumed name
Many actors use aliases or change their name legally.
alien (n.)
n. person note included in a group; outsider
It took the alien several years to adjust to his new country.
alien (adj.)
adj. strange
The astronauts stepped onto the alien surface of Mars.
alienated
adj. distanced, estranged
His extreme policies have created a large group of alienated voters.
alienation
n. being separated; feeling of detachment from the world or society
Alienation is a major problem in large, modern societies.
aligned
adj. precisely adjusted; committed to one side
During the Cold War many countries were aligned to either the Soviet Union or the United States.
allay
v. to lessen, ease, or soothe
The cal from her friend allayed the mother’s fear about her daughter’s safety.
allegiance
n. loyalty
He pledged his allegiance to his new country.
allegorical
adj. characteristic of symbolic representation
Allegorical stories are not nearly as popular now as they were in the Middle Ages.
allegory
n. symbolic representation
In literature a voyage is often used as an allegory for the journey through life.
alleviate
v. to relieve, improve partially
Coffee was used by the Aztecs to alleviate the effects of illness.
alliteration
n. repetition of the beginning sounds of words
The phrase “the great and the good” uses alliteration.
allocation
n. allowance, portion
The political party disputed its allocation of votes in the national assembly.
alloy
n. a combination; a mixture of two or more metals
Steel is an alloy of iron, carbon, and other substances.
allude
v. to make an indirect reference to
Don’t allude to something in your writing unless you’re confidant your readers will be familiar with it.
allure
n. the power to entice by charm
Vickie bought a new dress to add to her allure.
alluring
adj. enticing
The child found the chocolate too alluring to resist.
allusion
n. indirect reference
His allusion to an earlier character in his work was understood by readers familiar with his earlier books.
alluvial
adj. relating to alluvium, that is, sediment that is deposited by flowing water
Farmers like the area’s rich alluvial soil.
aloof
adj. detached, indifferent
The new student remained aloof from the other students.
altercation
n. noisy dispute
The altercation became so serious that someone called the police.
alter ego
n. a second self; a perfect substitute or deputy
The president’s chief adviser acts as his alter ego during his absence.
altruism
n. unselfish generosity
Altruism motivated the student to volunteer in the shelter for homeless people.
altruistic
adj. unselfishly generous
Few people act from entirely altruistic motives.
amalgam
n. mixture, combination
The artist drew a sketch of the suspect that was an amalgam of the facial characteristics reported by witnesses.
amalgamate
v. combine in a homogeneous whole
The three schools decided to amalgamate because of declining enrollments.
ambidextrous
adj. able to use both hands well
The ambidextrous painter worked equally well with each of his hands.
ambience
n. the special mood or atmosphere created by a particular environment
The restaurant’s romantic ambience makes it popular with young couples.
ambiguity
n. lack of clarity in meaning
Avoid ambiguity in your essays.
ambiguous
adj. unclear or doubtful in meaning
Please clarify your ambiguous statement.
ambit
n. sphere or scope
The court ruled that the case was not within the ambit of state law.
ambivalence
n. the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes
Gail’s ambivalence toward Ray has prevented her from accepting a date with him.
ambivalent
adj. exhibiting or feeling conflicting emotional attitudes
Hillary is ambivalent about dating Tim.
ambrosia
n. something delicious; the food of the gods
To some people raw oysters are ambrosia.
ameliorate
v. to improve; make better
Congress passed legislation to ameliorate the effects of poor nutrition among poor children.
amenable
adj. agreeable, cooperative; suited
I am amenable to your plan to start a new school.
amend
v. to correct flaws; to improve
After the bill was amended, it was passed unanimously.
amenity
n. something that increases comfort
Modern navy vessels have amenities onboard that sailors of 300 years ago could only dream of.
amiable
adj. friendly and agreeable; good-natured
We met some amiable people in the train and had a pleasant conversation.
amicable
adj. friendly, agreeable
After the war the two countries restored amicable relations.
amity
n. friendship
Amity between nations is one of the goals of the United Nations.
amoral
adj. neither moral nor immoral; not caring about right and wrong
Many people believe that science is amoral in that it can be used for good or for bad.
amorous
adj. showing love
Ray’s amorous intentions toward Jessica were evident from the roses in his hand.
amorphous
adj. lacking definite form
My ideas tend to be amorphous until I write them down; then they being to take shape.
amphitheater
n. an area for spectacles; a level area surrounded by upward sloping ground
We all crowded into the amphitheater to hear the famous writer’s lecture.
ample
adj. abundant, plentiful
There is ample food in the world for everyone; the problem is distributing it equitably.
amulet
n. ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
Joe’s birthstone is emerald, a piece of which he wears around his neck as an amulet.
anachronism
n. something out of the proper time
Movie producers have to be careful not to accidentally allow anachronisms to appear in movies about the past.
anachronistic
adj. containing an error in the date of a event
This historical novel, set in 1550, contains anachronistic references to events that didn’t occur until the nineteenth century.
analgesic
n. medication that reduces or eliminates pain
Aspirin is one of the best all-around analgesics.
analog
n. something that is comparable to something else
A computer is an analog of the human brain.
analogous
adj. comparable
If we compare a book to a person’s life, then each of its pages can be regarded as analogous to a period in the person’s life.
analogy
n. similarity
An analogy can be made between the capacity of a car engine and a person’s capacity for thinking.
anarchic
adj. lawless
After the revolution the country was anarchic.
anarchist
n. one who does not believe in government
The anarchist attacked the government as an infringement of individual freedom.
anarchy
n. absence of government; state of disorder
The ruler warned of anarchy if the rebellion continued.
anathema
n. ban, curse; something shunned
Guys who don’t shower regularly are anathema to most girls.
ancillary
adj. accessory, subordinate
The armed forces have many ancillary units that support the main fighting forces.
androgynous
adj. having both female and male characteristics
The film portrays the aliens as androgynous.
android
n. a self-operasting machine made from biological materials to resemble a human
The country’s military plans to use androids as soldiers in the next war.
anecdote
n. short account of an event
The teacher told an amusing anecdote to break the monotony of the lesson.
angst
n. a feeling of anxiety or apprehension
The counselor dismissed the student’s anxiety as “teenage angst.”
angular
adj. characterized by sharp angles
Belinda thinks her features are too angular, so she used makeup to make them appear more rounded.
animadvert
v. to comment critically
The travel writer animadverts against nearly every country he visits.
animation
n. enthusiasm; excitement
The speaker’s animation was infectious; members of the audience got to their feet and began to cheer.
animism
n. the belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects
Native American religion is sometimes wrongly dismissed as “simple animism.”
animosity
n. hatred, hostility
As the campaign increased in intensity, so also did the animosity between the two main candidates.
animus
n. ill will
The biographer’s animus toward her subject is obvious.
annex
v. to add or join to
Great powers often increase their territory by annexing smaller neighboring countries.
annihilate
v. to destroy completely
The asteroid threatens to annihilate the earth.
annihilation
n. complete destruction
The asteroid’s impact with the earth caused the annihilation of life on the plannet.
annotate
v. to add notes or commentary
The English professor annotated Shakespeare’s King Lear.
annul
v. to cancel, nullify, or declare void
The marriage was annulled by order of the judge.
anodyne
n. something that calms or soothes pain
I applied an anodyne to my burn to relieve the pain.
anomalous
adj. deviating from or inconsistent with the common order, form, or rule; irregular; abnormal
Some scientists speculate that life is anomalous in the universe.
anomaly
n. irregularity; deviation from the norm
There was an anomaly in the data, so the experiment was repeated.
anomie
n. alienation and purposelessness as a result of a lack of values or ideals
The premise of the sociological study is that anomie is the underlying cause of crime.
anonymity
n. the state of being unknown
The philanthropist prefers anonymity.
anonymous
adj. having no name
The anonymous donor gave no hint of his identity.
antagonism
n. hostility; opposition
There is considerable antagonism to the new idea.
antagonistic
adj. hostile; opposed
The rivals for the big promotion became antagonistic toward each other.
antebellum
adj. before or existing before the war, especially the American Civil War
The historian specializes in the antebellum period in American history.
antecedent
n. something that comes before something else
An antecedent of the automobile was the horse-drawn carriagbe.
antedate
v. precede in time
The invention of the automobile antedates the invention of the airplane.
antediluvian
adj. prehistoric
Scientists have pieced together a fascinating picture of human life in antediluvian times.
anterior
adj. preceding, previous
The prosecutor asked the witness to recall all the events anterior to the crime.
anthology
n., collection of literary works
This anthology contains the best stories published in America this year.
anthropocentrism
n. regarding man as the center of the universe
It is hard to imagine anthropocentrism surviving human contact with a vastly superior alien civilization.
anthropogenic
adj. caused by humans
The government is working to reduce the amount of anthropogenic pollution.
anthropoid
adj. resembling a human
The cartoon features anthropoid mice.
anthropology
n. the scientific study of the origin, behavior, and development of humans
The study of social organization and kinship is a central focus of anthropology.
anthropomorphic
adj. attributing human qualities to non-humans
This anthropomorphic cartoon features talking trees and thinking flowers.
anthropomorphize
v. to attribute human qualities to non-humans
The poet anthropomorphized the sea, calling it “the brooding ocean.”
antipathy
n. dislike, hostility
Antipathy toward strangers seems to be inborn in human beings.
antipodes
n. any two places on opposite sides of the earth
New York City and Singapore are nearly antipodes.
antiquated
adj. too old to be fashionable; outmoded
The tenant asked his landlord to modernize the apartment’s antiquated electrical system.
antiquity
n. ancient times
Athens was one of the great centers of classical antiquity.
antithesis
n. contrast; the opposite of
Could good exist without its antithesis, evil?
antithetical
adj. contrasting; opposite
Out views are so antithetical I feel that we should simply agree to disagree.
apartheid
n. an official policy of racial segregation formerly practiced in South Africa against non-whites; segregation
Apartheid was abolished in South Africa in 1991.
apathetic
adj. lacking feeling or emotion
Voters are unusually apathetic this year; fewer than half are planning to vote.
apathy
n. indifference
Apathy was high in the election because there was no major controversy or issue to arouse voter interest.
apex
n. the highest point
Scientists believe that humanity is the apex reached by evolution on earth.
aphasia
n. loss of the ability to articulate ideas or comprehend language, resulting from brain damage
The speech therapist is working with a patient suffering from aphasia.
aphelion
n. point in a planet’s orbit furthest from the sun
At aphelion, Pluto is so far from the sun that it is barely in the solar system.
aphorism
n. short pithy statement
On his desk was a sign with the aphorism, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
aphrodisiac
n. substance arousing or intensifying sexual desire
The Romans worshipped the apple as an aphrodisiac.
aplomb
n. self-confident assurance
Movie audiences admire how James Bond keeps his aplomb in every situation.
apocalyptic
adj. portending devastation or doom
Many religions contain beliefs in a period of time marked by apocalyptic events.
apocryphal
adj. not genuine, fictional
Historians regard the story of George Washington and the cherry tree as apocryphal.
apogee
n. the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited
When the spacecraft reached its apogee in its orbit around the Earth it fired rockets that would send it to Mars.
apologia
n. a formal defense or justification
Critics see his work as an apologia for elitism.
apologist
n. a person who defends or justifies a cause
The economist Milton Friedman was a leading apologist for capitalism.
apoplexy
n. sudden impairment of neurological function; a fit of extreme anger
The man had a fit of apoplexy after hearing the news.
apostate
n. one who renounces a religious faith
Jim became an apostate from his faith when he decided he did no longer believe in its central beliefs.
apothegm
n. terse, witty saying
Most people have heard the apothegm from Romeo and Juliet, “He stumbles who runs fast.”
apotheosis
n. glorification; glorified ideal
The hero was regarded as the apotheosis of courage.
apparent
adj. readily seen; easily understood
The truth of the saying “life is tough” became apparent to Bob when he embarked on his first job search.
appease
v. to calm, pacify, placate
To appease workers angry at having their pay cut,the company increased their health benefit.
appellation
n. name
Rulers often assign themselves appellations such as “The Great” and “The Magnificent.”
apperception
n. conscious perception with full awareness; the process of understanding by which newly observed qualities of an object are related to past experience
“The art of watching has become mere skill at rapid apperception and understanding of continuously changing visual images. The younger generation has acquired this cinematic perception to an amazing degree.” (John Huizinga)
apposite
adj. strikingly appropriate and relevant
The talk show host has a gift for making apposite comments on what her guests say.
apprehend
v. to understand; know; dread
To the best of our knowledge, only human beings are able to apprehend the laws of nature.
apprehensive
adj. fearful about the future
Rapid changes tend to make people apprehensive.
apprise
v. to inform
The president asked to be kept apprised of the situation on the Korean peninsula.
approbation
n. praise, approval
The young governor had received nothing but approbation in the early part of her presidential campaign.
appropriate
v. to take possession for one’s own use
The army appropriated the trucks during the emergency.
a priori
adj. from a general law to a particular instance; valid independently of observation; formed or conceived beforehand
The judge reminded the jury not to reach any a priori conclusions about the guilt or innocence of the accused.
apropos
adj. relevant
When you write an essay, try to make all of your points apropos to the subject you’re discussing.
apt
adj. precisely suitable
An apt quotation can improve a piece of writing.
aptitude
n. a natural or acquired talent or ability; intelligence
Aptitude for mathematics is to a significant degree inherited.
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
Arabesques have a central role in Islamic art.
arable
adj. suitable for cultivation
Countries such as Japan and South Korea are handicapped by not having much arable land.
arbitrary
adj. unreasonable; randomly selected; determined by whim
The appeals court ruled that the judge’s decision had been arbitrary and overturned it.
arbitrator
n. a person chosen to settle an issue in dispute between parties
The union and the company agreed on an arbitrator to settle their dispute.
arboreal
adj. relating to trees; living in trees
Scientists say that the distant ancestors of human beings were small arboreal creatures.
arcana
n. secrets; mysteries
A great deal of arcana is represented in the symbolism of tarot cards.
arcane
adj. secret, obscure; known only to a few
For most of us the arcane workings of a computer are “invisible.”
archaic
adj. antiquated; out of date
Morse code is an archaic form of communication, but it still plays a role in emergency communications.
archeology
n. the study of material evidence of past human life
Archeology has discovered that the Egyptian pyramids were built by about 20,000 people working in teams.
archetypal
adj. characteristic of an original model after which others are patterned
Sherlock Holmes is the archetypal private detective.
archetype
n. original model after which others are patterned
Sherlock Holmes is the archetype for many other intellectual sleuths.
archipelago
n. large group of islands
Indonesia is a nation in the Malay archipelago consisting of over 13,000 islands.
archive
n. place or collection containing records of historical interest
The file room of a local newspaper is usually an excellent archive of the town’s history.
ardent
adj. passionate, enthusiastic, fervent
Charlie is a devoted Yankee fan, while his wife is an equally ardent Red Sox fan.
ardor
n. great emotion or passion
Although Sue and Ted had been married for twenty years, their ardor for each other was undiminished.
arduous
adj. extremely difficult; laborious
We made the arduous drive across Australia.
argot
n. a speciallized vocabulary used by a group
Some of the argot of the hippies of the 1960s - “rip-off,” for example - has passed into general usage.
arid
adj. extremely dry
Death Valley is extremely hot and arid, so make sure you have plenty of water before you drive across it.
aristocracy
n. hereditary ruling class; government by the elite
Some people compare families like the Kennedys and Bushes to aristocracies.
arraign
v. to call to court to answer an indictment
The defendant was arraigned on a charge of fraud.
array
n. an impressive display of persons or objects
The array of important officials at the governor’s inauguration was impressive.
arrogance
n. pride; haughtiness
The new president felt he had to guard against the arrogance that can come with winning an election.
arrogate
v. to claim or seize without justification
They believe that the federal government has arrogated powers to itself not specified in the Constitution.
arrogation
n. the act of claiming or seizing without justification
The treaty forbids the arrogation of territory by any of the countries.
arsenal
n. ammunition storehouse; storehouse
The arsenal is closely guarded to prevent enemy forces from capturing it.
articulate
adj. distinct; effective
One of the best ways to become an articulate writer is to read good prose.
articulate
v. to speak clearly and distinctly; to express in coherent verbal form
Please articulate your position so that we can understand it clearly.
artifact
n. item made by human craft
Archeologists have found artifacts on the site, proving human settlement prior to 1200 BCE.
artifice
n. stratagem; trickery; ingenious or artful device
James used clever artifice to defeat his opponent in the chess game.
artisan
n. a skilled manual worker; a craftsperson
The artisans formed a co-operative to sell their work.
artless
adj. guileless; natural
The salesperson’s boss was amazed by the success of her artless employee.
ascend
n. to rise or climb
Hugh ascended to the position of mayor.
ascendancy
n. state of rising; power
The ascendancy of China is worrying many leaders in Japan.
ascendant
adj. rising; moving upward
The Eagles are an ascendant football team this year.
ascertain
v. to determine; make certain
Engineers are studying the site of the building collapse to ascertain its cause.
ascertainment
n. the act of determining or making certain
The The ascertainment of truth is the goal of science.
ascetic
adj. self-denying, austere
Ralph enjoys a yearly retreat during which he lives the ascetic life of a monk.
asceticism
n. self-denial; austerity
The nun practices asceticism.
ascribable
adj. attributable to
His illness is ascribable to overwork.
ascribe
v. to attribute to
The motives a person ascribes to others often tell a lot about his or her own motives.
askew
adj. crooked; tilted
We realized that a break-in had occurred when we noticed several things askew.
asperity
n. severity; irritability; harshness of manner
The accused person asked the witness with some asperity why she was lying.
aspersion
n. slander; false rumor
Negative political campaigns cast aspersions on opponents, hoping that voters find them believable.
aspirant
n. person who aspires to honors high position, etc.
“There is no road to wealth so easy and respectable as that of matrimony; that is, of course, provided that the aspirant declines the slow course of honest work.” (Anthony Trollope)
aspiration
n. desire to achieve
The student’s aspiration is to be a teacher.
aspire
v. to have great hopes, to aim at a goal
The author aspires to be one of America’s great writers.
assail
v. to attack
The liberal politician assailed his opponent’s voting record as too conservative.
assay
v. to subject a substance to chemical analysis to determine the strength and quality of its components; to examine by trial or experiment
The ore was sent to the lab to be assayed.
assent
v. to express agreement
I assented to my wife’s plan to enlarge the guest room.
assert
v. to declare to be true; maintain
If you assert an opinion, you should be prepared to back it up with a logical argument.
assertion
n. act of declaring to be true
The debater cleverly refuted the assertion put forward by the opposition.
assess
v. to estimate; evaluate
Stan’s house was assessed to be worth $260,000.
assessment
n. estimation; evaluation
The congressional committee’s assessment is that there is too much wastage in the program
assiduous
adj. diligent, hard-working
The novelist did assiduous research before writing his book.
assignation
n. appointment for lovers’ meeting
The couple chose Lover’s Lane for their assignation.
assimilate
v. to blend in
The new immigrants were assimilated into society.
assimilation
n. blending in
In sociology, assimilation refers to the process by which a minority group adopts the lifestyles and attitudes of the majority.
assonance
n. resemblance in sound
Here’s an example of assonance from a poem by W.B. Yeats: “that dolphin-torn, that gong-tormented sea.”
assuage
v. to make less severe
AW piece of fruit should assuage my hunger until dinner.
astringent
adj. harsh, severe
The teacher was well-known for his astringent remarks about students who handed homework in late.
astronomical
adj. immense
The number of cells in the human body is astronomical.
astute
adj. shrewd; wise
Psychologists say that females tend to be more astute judges of other peoples’ motives than males.
asylum
n. place of refuge of shelter
Before World War II many Europeans found asylum in America.
asymmetrical
adj. not corresponding in size, shape, etc.
The sides of the human face are not perfectly asymmetrical.
asymmetry
n. lack of balance or symmetry
There is asymmetry between the two sides of the human brain.
atavism
n. in biology, the reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence; individual or part that exhibits the reappearance of a characteristic after a period of absence; return of a trait after a period of absence
An example of an atavism in humans is the appearance of a vestigial tail on a baby.
atheist
n. person who does not believe in the existence of God
Some atheists object to he words “in God we trust” on coins.
atone
v. to make amends for a wrong
To atone for drawing graffiti on the wall, Tom spent an hour every day this week cleaning up the school grounds.
atrocious
adj. shockingly bad
The student’s writing is so atrocious I wonder how he made it to high school.
atrocity
n. appalling or atrocious condition, quality, or behavior
The atrocity was committed by armed troops against unarmed civilians.
atrophy
v. to waste away
Astronauts on long space voyages do special exercises to prevent their muscles from atrophying.
attenuate
v. to weaken
Advanced technology in modern radios is able to amplify even signals that have been greatly attenuated.
attest
v. to testify, bear witness
As her tutor, I ca attest to the hard work Julie did to improve her GRE score.
attribute (n.)
n. essential quality
Charles has all the attributes needed for success except one - a willingness to work hard.
attribute (v.)
v. ascribe; explain
Max attributes his success to his acting ability, but many people believe it has more to do with his good looks.
au courant
adj. up-to-date; informed on current affairs
Debra reads a weekly news magazine to stay au courant.
audacious
adj. bold, daring
The senator proposed an audacious plan to give every American adequate health care.
audible
adj. capable of being heard
Sounds below a frequency of 20 hertz are not audible to the human ear.
augment
v. to make greater
The buildup of naval forces in the Mediterranean was augmented by the arrival of more aircraft carriers.
augur
v. to predict, especially from omens
The rise in the stock market augurs well for the economy,
augury
n. prophecy, prediction of events
The famous economists gave their augury of economic conditions in the coming year.
august
adj. dignified, awe-inspiring
The inauguration of a president is an august affair, with pomp and ceremony.
auspices
n. protection; support; patronage
The class is conducted under the auspices of the university.
auspicious
adj. promising
Hindus believe that certain times of the day are more auspicious than others.
austere
adj. stern; unadorned
The writer concentrates best in austere surroundings.
asterity
n. sternness; condition of having no adornment
The president asked the nation to endure a period of economic austerity.
authoritarian
adj. favoring or exercising total control
Her father is authoritarian in his approach to raising children.
autism
n. a psychiatric disorder characterized by serious impairments in a communication and social interaction
Recent research on the brain has helped scientists to understand the causes of autism.
autocracy
n. government by a single person who has unlimited power
The rebels formed a committee to challenge the autocracy.
autocratic
adj. dictatorial
It is difficult to establish democratic government in countries that have known only generations of autocratic rule.
autonomous
adj. self-governing; independent
Australians voted to not become an autonomous nation but rather remain to some degree under British rule.
autonomy
n. self-government, independence
The British colony gained autonomy in 1965.
autopsy
n. examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death
The law normally requires an autopsy if there is a suspicion of foul play in someone’s death.
auxiliary
adj. supplementary
We were glad our boat was equipped with an auxiliary engine after the main engine broke down.
avant-garde (adj.)
adj. relating to a group active in the invention of new techniques
I enjoy watching avant-garde performances because they stimulate me to think in new ways.
avant-garde (n.)
a group active in the invention of new techniques
The avant-garde in our town organized a display of their art that many people found difficult to appreciate.
avarice
n. greed
Traditionally, doctors are supposed to practice medicine to ease human suffering, not out of avarice.
avatar
n. the decent to earth of a Hindu deity in human or animal form
Hindus believe that Krishna was an avatar.
avenge
v. to take revenge
Adam vowed to avenge the death of his wife at the hands of terrorists.
aver
n. to affirm; declare to be true
The accuracy of the testimony was averred by several witnesses.
aversion
n. intense dislike
An aversion to snakes is universal in human beings.
avert
v. to turn away; prevent
To avert a head-on collision, the driver swerved off the road.
aviary
n. enclosure for birds
Several of the neighborhood cats have begun to hang around my backyard aviary.
avid
adj. having keen interest
Bill is an avid stamp collector.
avocation
n. secondary occupation
Sometimes an avocation can be turned into a person’s main source of income.
avow
v. to state openly
The position he now avows contradicts his earlier statements on the issue.
avuncular
adj. like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
The first graders all love the avuncular principal.
awry
adj. crooked; askew
Jill knew something was awry when she walked into the office int he morning and found that her desk had been removed.
axiom
n., premise; postulate; widely accepted principle
An axiom cited by many writers is that you should write what you know about.
axiomatic
adj. taken for granted
The principle that every person has rights is regarded as axiomatic by most people.
