Barrons Set 1 Flashcards
1
Q
abase
A
lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect
2
Q
abash
A
embarrass
3
Q
abate
A
subside or moderate
4
Q
abbreviate
A
shorten
5
Q
abdicate
A
renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)
6
Q
aberrant
A
abnormal or deviant
7
Q
aberration
A
deviation from the normal; mental disorder
8
Q
abet
A
assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
9
Q
abeyance
A
suspended action
10
Q
abhor
A
detest; hate
11
Q
abject
A
(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
12
Q
abjure
A
renounce upon oath
13
Q
ablution
A
washing
14
Q
abnegation
A
renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
15
Q
abolish
A
cancel; put an end to
16
Q
abominate
A
loathe; hate
17
Q
abominable
A
detestable; extremely unpleasant
18
Q
aboriginal
A
being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine
19
Q
abortive
A
unsuccessful; fruitless
20
Q
abrasive
A
rubbing away; tending to grind down
21
Q
abridge
A
condense or shorten
22
Q
abrogate
A
abolish
23
Q
abscission
A
cutting off; separation
24
Q
abscond
A
depart secretly and hide
25
absolute
complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism
26
absolve
pardon (an offense)
27
abstain
refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote
28
abstemious
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
29
abstinence
restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
30
abstract
theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
31
abstruse
obscure; profound; difficult to understand
32
abusive
coarsely insulting; physically harmful
33
abut
border upon; adjoin
34
abysmal
bottomless
35
abyss
enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
36
academic
related to a school; not practical or directly useful
37
accede
agree
38
accelerate
move faster
39
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable
40
accessory
additional object; useful but not essential thing
41
acclaim
applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise
42
acclimate
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
43
acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
44
accolade
award of merit; strong praise and approval
45
accommodate
oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
46
accomplice
partner in crime
47
accord
agreement
48
accost
approach and speak first to a person
49
accoutre
equip; N. accoutrement
50
accretion
growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
51
accrue
come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
52
acerbity
bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)
53
acetic
vinegary
54
acidulous
slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
55
acknowledge
recognize; admit
56
acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point
57
acoustics
science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
58
acquiesce
assent; agree passively; comply without protest
59
acquittal
deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
60
acrid
bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
61
acrimonious
stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
62
acrophobia
fear of heights
63
actuarial
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
64
actuary
someone who advises insurance companies
65
actuate
motivate; activate; cause to act
66
acuity
sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
67
acumen
mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
68
acute
(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
69
adage
wise saying; proverb
70
proverb
adage; someone or something well known for notoriety; ADJ. proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ADV. proverbially
71
adamant
hard; inflexible
72
adapt
make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
73
addendum
addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)
74
addiction
compulsive habitual need
75
addle
make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
76
address
direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
77
adept
expert at; very skilled
78
adhere
stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
79
adherent
supporter; follower
80
adjacent
adjoining; neighboring; close by
81
adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior position
82
adjuration
solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
83
adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
84
admonish
warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
85
adorn
decorate
86
adroit
skillful (in using mind or hand)
87
adulation
flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
88
adulterate
make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
89
advent
arrival
90
adventitious
accidental; casual; happening by chance
91
adversary
opponent; enemy
92
adverse
going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
93
adversity
great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
94
advert
refer
95
advocacy
support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something
96
advocate
speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
97
aegis
shield; protection; defense
98
aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)
nest of a large bird of prey
99
aesthetic
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
100
affable
easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
101
affected
artificial; pretended
102
affidavit
written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
103
affiliation
joining; associating with
104
affinity
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
105
affirmation
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
106
affliction
state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
107
affluence
abundance; wealth
108
affront
insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
109
agape
openmouthed
110
agenda
items of business at a meeting
111
agglomeration
collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
112
aggrandize
make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement
113
aggregate
sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
114
aghast
filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
115
agility
nimbleness; ability to move quickly
116
agitate
stir up; disturb
117
agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
118
agog
highly excited; intensely curious
119
agrarian
pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform
120
alacrity
cheerful promptness without reluctance
121
alchemy
medieval chemistry
122
alcove
nook; recess
123
alias
an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias
124
alienate
make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
125
alimentary
supplying nourishment
126
alimony
payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
127
allay
calm; pacify
128
allege
state without proof
129
allegiance
loyalty
130
allegory
story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable
131
alleviate
relieve (pain)
132
alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
133
allocate
assign; set apart for a particular purpose
134
alloy
mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
135
allude
refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
136
allure
entice; attract; tempt
137
siren
apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
138
alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
139
aloof
apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
140
aloft
upward; high up in the air
141
altercation
noisy quarrel
142
altruistic
unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
143
amalgamate
(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
144
amalgam
combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth
145
amass
collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
146
amazon
female warrior
147
ambidextrous
capable of using either hand with equal ease
148
ambience
environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
149
ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
150
ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
151
amble
walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
152
ambrosia
food of the gods
153
nectar
drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
154
ambulatory
able to walk
155
ameliorate
improve
156
amenable
obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests
157
amend
correct; change ; generally for the better
158
amenities
convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
159
amiable
agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
160
amicable
peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
161
amiss
wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
162
amity
friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
163
amnesia
loss of memory
164
amnesty
pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
165
amoral
nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
166
amorous
moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
167
amorphous
formless; lacking shape or definition
168
amphibian
able to live both on land and in water; N.
169
amphitheater
oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
170
ample
enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
171
amplify
increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph
172
amputate
cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
173
amok(amuck)
in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
174
amulet
charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck
175
anachronism
an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
176
analgesic
causing insensitivity to pain; N.
177
analgesia
condition of being unable to feel pain
178
analogous
comparable; similar
179
analogy
similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
180
anarchist
person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
181
anarchy
absence of governing body; state of disorder
182
anathema
solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
183
ancestry
family descent; ADJ. ancestral
184
anchor
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
185
ancillary
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
186
anecdote
short story of an amusing or interesting event
187
anemia
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
188
anesthetic
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
189
anguish
acute pain; extreme suffering
190
angular
sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
191
animadversion
critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
192
animated
lively; spirited
193
animosity
active enmity
194
animus
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
195
annals
records arranged in yearly parts; history
196
anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
197
annex
attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one
198
annihilate
destroy
199
annotate
comment; make explanatory notes
200
annuity
yearly allowance
201
annul
make void
202
elope
run away secretly with the intention of getting married
203
anodyne
drug that relieves pain or trouble; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
204
anoint
consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
205
anomalous
abnormal; irregular
206
anomaly
irregularity
207
anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
208
antagonism
hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist
209
antecede
precede
210
antecedents
preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
211
antediluvian
antiquated; extremely ancient
212
anthem
song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
213
anthology
book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
214
anthropoid
manlike; resembling a human being; N.
215
anthropologist
student of the history and science of humankind
216
anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristics
217
anticlimax
letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting
218
antidote
remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
219
antipathy
aversion; dislike or opposition
220
antiquated
obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
221
antiseptic
substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
222
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
223
anvil
iron block used in hammering out metals
224
apathy
lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
225
ape
imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)
226
aperture
opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
227
apex
tip; summit; climax; highest point
228
aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illness
229
aphorism
pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
230
apiary
a place where bees are kept
231
hive
box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive
232
apiculture
bee-keeping
233
apiarist
person who keeps bees
234
aplomb
poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
235
poise
good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position
236
apocalyptic
prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
237
apocryphal
(of a story) widely believed but untrue
238
apogee
highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
239
apolitical
having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
240
apologist
one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
241
apoplexy
stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
242
apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
243
apothecary
druggist; pharmacist
244
apothegm(apophthegm)
pithy, compact saying
245
apotheosis
elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
246
appall
dismay; shock deeply
247
apparition
ghost; phantom
248
appease
pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
249
appellation
name; title
250
append
attach
251
application
diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
252
apposite
appropriate; fitting
253
appraise
estimate value of; N. appraisal
254
appreciate
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
255
apprehend
arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
256
apprehensive
fearful; discerning
257
apprise
inform
258
approbation
approval
259
appropriate
acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
260
appurtenances
subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
261
apropos
with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
262
aptitude
fitness; talent
263
aquiline
curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
264
arable
fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
265
arbiter
person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware
266
arbitrary
unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
267
arbitrate
act as judge (at the request of both sides)
268
arboretum
place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
269
arboreal
of or living in trees
270
arcade
a covered passageway usually lined with shops
271
arcane
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
272
archaeology
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
273
archaic
antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
274
archetype
prototype; primitive pattern
275
arch-
chief; first; Ex. archbishop
276
archipelago
group of closely located islands
277
archives
public records; place where public records are kept
278
ardor
heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
279
arduous
hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
280
argot
slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
281
aria
operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
282
arid
(of land) dry; barren; unproductive
283
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
284
armada
fleet of warships
285
aromatic
fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
286
arraign
charge in court; indict
287
array
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
288
arrears
being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
289
arrhythmic
lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
290
arrogance
pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
291
arroyo
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
292
artery
blood-vessel; CF. vein
293
articulate
effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
294
arsenal
storage place for military equipment
295
artifacts
object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
296
artifice
deception; trickery
297
artisan
a manually skilled worker
298
artless
without guile; open and honest
299
ascendancy
controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
300
ascertain
find out for certain; make certain
301
ascetic
practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
302
ascribe
refer; attribute; assign
303
aseptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
304
ashen
ash-colored; deadly pale
305
asinine
stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
306
askance
with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
307
askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
308
asperity
sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
309
aspersion
slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
310
aspirant
seeker after position or status
311
aspire
seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
312
assail
assault
313
assay
analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
314
assent
agree; accept; N. assessment
315
assert
state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence
316
assiduous
diligent
317
assimilate
absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)
318
assuage
mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
319
assumption
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
320
regent
a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent
321
assurance
firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in fron of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make (something) certain to heappen; make (someone) feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one's own ability; showing certainty
322
asteroid
small planet
323
astigmatism
eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
324
astral
relating to the stars
325
astringent
binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
326
astronomical
enormously large or extensive
327
astute
wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
328
asunder
into parts; apart; V. sunder
329
asylum
place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
330
asymmetric
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
331
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
332
atheistic
denying the existence of God; N. atheism
333
atone
make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
334
atrocity
brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
335
atrophy
wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
336
attentive
alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration
337
attenuate
make thin; weaken
338
attest
testify; bear witness
339
attribute
essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
340
attrition
rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
341
atypical
not normal; not typical
342
audacious
daring; bold; N. audacity
343
audit
examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
344
augment
increase; add to
345
augury
omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
346
august
impressive; majestic
347
aureole
sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
348
auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
349
auspicious
favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
350
austere
forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
351
authenticate
prove genuine
352
authoritarian
subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
353
authoritative
having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
354
autocratic
having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
355
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
356
autonomous
self-governing; N. autonomy
357
autopsy
examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
358
auxiliary
offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
359
avalanche
great mass of falling snow and ice
360
avarice
greediness for wealth
361
avenge
take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.
362
aver
state confidently; declare as true
363
averse
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
364
aversion
firm dislike
365
avert
prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
366
aviary
enclosure for birds; large cage
367
avid
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
368
avocation
secondary or minor occupation
369
avow
declare openly; N. avowal
370
avuncular
of or like an uncle
371
awe
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
372
awful
terrible; very bad
373
awl
pointed tool used for piercing
374
awry
distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
375
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
376
azure
sky blue
377
babble
chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.
378
bacchanalian
drunken
379
bacchanal
noisy party with a lot of drinking
380
Bacchanalia
the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus
381
badger
pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal
382
badinage
teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
383
baffle
frustrate; perplex
384
bait
harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
385
baleful
evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look
386
balk
stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate
387
ballast
heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
388
balm
something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees
389
pang
sudden sharp feeling of pain
390
balmy
soft and mild (of air); fragrant
391
banal
hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed
392
bandy
discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with
393
bane
posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous
394
bantering
joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter
395
barb
sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark
396
bard
poet
397
barefaced
shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie
398
unregenerate
making no attempt to change one's bad practices
399
baroque
highly ornate
400
barrage
barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism
401
barrister
counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar
402
solicitor
lawyer in the lower court of law
403
barterer
trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money
404
bask
luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
405
luxuriate
take pleasure in great comfort
406
bastion
stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism
407
bate
let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate
408
bauble
trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
409
bawdy
indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd
410
beatific
giving or showing bliss; blissful
411
bliss
complete happiness; ADJ. blissful
412
beatitude
blessedness; state of great happiness
413
mystic
of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism
414
bedizen
dress with vulgar finery
415
finery
beautiful clothes for a special occasion
416
bedraggle
wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled
417
beeline
direct quick route
418
befuddle
confuse thoroughly
419
fuddle
make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused
420
beget
father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
421
begrudge
envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.
422
grudge
deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V.
423
beguile
deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile
424
behemoth
huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
425
beholden
obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude
426
behoove(behove)
be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do.
427
belabor
harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically
428
belated
delayed
429
beleaguer
besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset
430
belie
contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.
431
belittle
disparage; depreciate
432
bellicose
warlike
433
belligerent
quarrelsome
434
bemoan
lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of
435
bemused
confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
436
benediction
blessing
437
benefactor
gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose
438
beneficent
kindly; doing good
439
beneficial
helpful; useful; advantageous
440
beneficiary
person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will
441
benefit
advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits
442
benevolent
generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
443
benign
kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor
444
benison
blessing
445
bent
determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination
446
bequeath
leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest
447
berate
scold strongly
448
bereavement
state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft
449
bereaved
deprived of (someone beloved through death)
450
bereft
deprived of (something valuable); lacking
451
berserk
mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited
452
beseech
beg; plead with
453
beset
harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
454
hem
surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex. hem in; N.
455
besiege
surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually
456
besmirch
soil; defile; make dirty
457
bestial
beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel
458
bestow
confer
459
betoken
signify; indicate; be a sign of
460
token
outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude
461
betray
be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.
462
betroth
become engaged to marry
463
bevy
large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets
464
bicameral
two-chambered as a legislative body
465
bicker
quarrel
466
biennial
every two years
467
bifurcated
divided into two branches; forked
468
bigotry
stubborn intolerance
469
bigot
one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)
470
intolerant
not willing to accept ways of thinking different from one's own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate
471
bilious
suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated
472
bilk
swindle; cheat
473
billowing
swelling out in waves; surging
474
billow
large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows
475
swell
long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.
476
surge
powerful movement of or like a wave; V.
477
bivouac
temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.
478
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
479
blanch
bleach; whiten; make white or pale
480
bland
soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence
481
blandishment
flattery
482
blare
loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light
483
screech
unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V.
484
dazzle
make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder
485
blasé
bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored
486
blasphemy
irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
487
blatant
extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
488
bleak
cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing
489
blighted
suffering from a disease; destroyed
490
blight
plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy
491
blithe(blithesome)
gay; joyous
492
bloated
(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air
493
blowhard
talkative boaster; braggart
494
bludgeon
club; heavy-headed weapon; V.
495
bluff
pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured
496
blunder
error; stupid mistake
497
blurt
utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement
498
bluster
blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale
499
bully
one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V.
500
bode
foreshadow; portend
