A words Flashcards
aa
basaltic lava forming very rough jagged masses with a light frothy texture
abalone
an edible mollusk of warm seas that has a shallow ear-shaped shell lined with mother-of-pearl and pierced with respiratory holes
abate
become less intense or widespread
abattoir
a slaughterhouse
abecedarian
arranged alphabetically; or referring to a person or thing that is rudimentary
aberration
abnormality
abet
to encourage, urge on, instigate
abject
extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading
abjure
solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).
abridge
to shorten, condense
abrogate
repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement)
abscond
leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection of or arrest for an unlawful action such as theft.
absquatulate
leave abruptly
abstain
to quit; to refrain from something
abstemious
not self-indulgent, especially when eating and drinking
abstract
theoretical; difficult to understand
abstruse
difficult to understand, obscure, esoteric, abstract, enigmatic, cryptic, inscrutable
abulia
an absence of willpower or an inability to act decisively, as a symptom of mental illness
accede
to assent; or to agree to a demand, request, or treaty
accessible
easy to reach or understand
accolade
praise; a statement of approval; commendation
accord
to be harmonious or consistent with (of a fact) or to give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition)
accrete
grow by accumulation or coalescence
accrue
(of sums of money or benefits) be received by someone in regular or increasing amounts over time.
accuracy
the quality or state of being correct or precise
ace
a playing card with a single spot on it, ranked as the highest card in its suit in most card games; or a person who excels at a particular activity
acquiesce
accept something reluctantly but without protest
acrimony
bitterness
actuate
to cause (a machine or device) to operate; or to motivate (someone) to act in a particular way
additive
a substance added to something in small quantities, typically to improve or preserve it.
adulation
excessive praise
adulterate
to add impurities to
adumbrate
report or represent in outline.
adventitious
happening or carried on according to chance rather than design or inherent nature
advocate
to support, to speak in favor of, endorse
aesthetic
having to do with the sense of beauty
affable
friendly, pleasant
affected
pretended or taken on to impress others
affront
offend the modesty or values of.
aggregate
to collect; to bring together, coalesce, amass
agley
askew; awry
ai
A type of three-toed sloth
ailurophilia
A fondness or love for cats or other felines
ajar
(of a door or other opening) slightly open.
akimbo
with hands on the hips and elbows turned outward
al
The Indian mulberry
alabaster
like alabaster in whiteness and smoothness
alacrity
brisk and cheerful readiness
albumen
egg white, or the protein contained in it.
aleatory
depending on the throw of a die or on chance; random
algedonic
Pertaining to both pleasure and pain
altercation
an argument or quarrel
alto
a voice, instrument, or part below the highest range and above tenor, in particular.
altruistic
concerned for the welfare of others
altruistic
showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish
amass
to pile up, collect, coalesce, aggregate
ambiguous
having more than one meaning
ambivalent
uncertain; having conflicting feelings
ambulatory
capable of walking
ameliorate
to make better, to improve
amicable
friendly
amity
peaceful relations, friendship
amorist
a person who is in love or who writes about love
amorphous
formless, shapeless
anachronism
a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, esp. a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned
anarchy
disorder, absence of government and control
anglophone
an English-speaking person
anima
The feminine part of a man’s personality
animism
The attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena
anon
Soon; shortly
antagonistic
hostile, conflicting, cantankerous, pugnacious
anyplace
informal term for anywhere.
apathy
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
aplomb
Self-confidence or assurance
appeal
attraction
appease
to calm, pacify
arable
fit to grow plants on, fertile
archaic
ancient; out-of-date
arid
dry
arriviste
an ambitious or ruthlessly self-seeking person, esp. one who has recently acquired wealth or social status.
articulate
able to speak clearly and effectively
ascend
to go up
ascetic
rejecting physical comforts
assess
to evaluate, estimate
assiduous
working devotedly and carefully, meticulous, diligent, painstaking
assuage
make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.
atrophy
gradually decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect.
audacity
boldness
audible
capable of being heard
augment
to add to, increase
august
respected and impressive.
auspicious
favorable; promising success
austere
strict; severely simple
aversion
dislike
awry
away from the appropriate, planned, or expected course; amiss.
