As Flashcards
abase
to humiliate, degrade
abate
to reduce, lessen
abdicate
to give up a position, usually one of leadership
abduct
to kidnap, take by force
aberration
something that differs from the norm
abet
to aid, help, encourage
abhor
to hate, detest
abide
to put up with
abort
to give up on a half-finished project or effort
abridge
to cut down, shorten
abrogate
to abolish, usually by authority
absolution
freedom from blame, guilt, sin
abstain
to freely choose not to commit an action
abstruse
hard to comprehend
accede
to agree
accentuate
to stress, highlight
acclaim
high praise
accolade
high praise, special distinction
accost
to confront verbally
accretion
slow growth in size or amount
acerbic
biting, bitter in tone or taste
abjure
to reject, renounce
acrimony
bitterness, discord
acumen
keen insight
acute
sharp, severe
abnegation
denial of comfort to oneself
abject
wretched, pitiful
adamant
impervious, immovable, unyielding
adhere
to stick to something
admonish
to caution, criticize, reprove
adorn
to decorate
adulation
extreme praise
adumbrate
to sketch out in a vague way
adverse
antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous
aerial
somehow related to the air
affluent
rich, wealthy
affront
an insult
aggrandize
to increase or make greater
aggregate
a whole or total
aggrieved
distressed, wronged, injured
agile
quick, nimble
agnostic
believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven
alacrity
eagerness, speed
alias
a false name or identity
allay
to soothe, ease
allege
to assert, usually without proof
alleviate
to relieve, make more bearable
allocate
to distribute, set aside
aloof
reserved, distant
altercation
a dispute; fight
amalgamate
to bring together, unite
ameliorate
to improve
amenable
willing, compliant
amenity
an item that increases comfort
amiable
disposed to please
amicable
friendly
amorous
showing love, particularly sexual
amorphous
without definite shape or type
anachronistic
belonging to a time other than the one being represented
analgesic
something that reduces pain
analogous
similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn
anathema
a cursed, detested person
anesthesia
loss of sensation
anguish
extreme sadness, torment; be extremely distressed
severe mental or physical pain or suffering:
animated
lively
annex
to incorporate territory or space
annul
to make void or invalid
anomaly
something that does not fit into the normal order
antediluvian
ancient
anthology
a selected collection of writings, songs, etc
antipathy
a strong dislike, repugnance
antiseptic
clean, sterile
antithesis
the absolute oposite
apocryphal
fictitious, false, wrong
appraise
to assess the worth or value of
apprehend
to seize, arrest
approbation
praise
appropriate
to take, make use of
arable
suitable for growing crops
arbiter
one who can resolve a dispute, make a decision
arbitrary
based on factors that appear random
arbitration
the process or act of resolving a dispute
arcane
obscure, secret, known only by a few
archetypal
the most representative or typical example of something
ardor
extreme vigor, energy, enthusiasm
arrogate
to take without justification
ascertain
to perceive, learn
ascetic
practicing restraint, as a means of self-discipline, usually religious
ascribe
to assign, credit, attribute to
aspersion
a curse, expression of ill-will
assail
to attack
assiduous
hard-working, diligent
assuage
to ease, pacify
atone
to repent, make amends
atrophy
to wither away, decay
audacious
excessively bold
augment
to add to, expand
auspicious
favorable, indicative of good things
austere
very bare, bleak
avarice
excessive greed
aversion
a particular dislike for something
balk
to stop, block abruptly
hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking
abominable
exceptionally bad or displeasing
abound
be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities
abrade
wear away
