Book2 Flashcards
annul
make void
elope
run away secretly with the intention of getting married
anodyne
drug that relieves pain or trouble; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
anoint
consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
anomalous
abnormal; irregular
anomaly
irregularity
anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
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
antecede
precede
antecedents
preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
antediluvian
antiquated; extremely ancient
anthem
song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
anthology
book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
anthropoid
manlike; resembling a human being; N.
anthropologist
student of the history and science of humankind
anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristics
anticlimax
letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting
antidote
remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
antipathy
aversion; dislike or opposition
antiquated
obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
antiseptic
substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
anvil
iron block used in hammering out metals
apathy
lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
ape
imitate or mimic (a person’s behavior or manner)
aperture
opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
apex
tip; summit; climax; highest point
aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illness
aphorism
pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
apiary
a place where bees are kept
hive
box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive
apiculture
bee-keeping
apiarist
person who keeps bees
aplomb
poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
poise
good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position
apocalyptic
prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
apocryphal
(of a story) widely believed but untrue
apogee
highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
apolitical
having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
apologist
one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
apoplexy
stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
apothecary
druggist; pharmacist
apothegm(apophthegm)
pithy, compact saying
apotheosis
elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
appall
dismay; shock deeply
apparition
ghost; phantom
appease
pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
appellation
name; title
append
attach
application
diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
apposite
appropriate; fitting
appraise
estimate value of; N. appraisal
appreciate
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
apprehend
arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
apprehensive
fearful; discerning
apprise
inform
approbation
approval
appropriate
acquire; take possession of for one’s own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
appurtenances
subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
apropos
with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
aptitude
fitness; talent
aquiline
curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
arable
fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
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
arbitrary
unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
arbitrate
act as judge (at the request of both sides)
arboretum
place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
arboreal
of or living in trees
arcade
a covered passageway usually lined with shops
arcane
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
archaeology
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
archaic
antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
archetype
prototype; primitive pattern
arch-
chief; first; Ex. archbishop
archipelago
group of closely located islands
archives
public records; place where public records are kept
ardor
heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
arduous
hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
argot
slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
aria
operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
arid
(of land) dry; barren; unproductive
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
armada
fleet of warships
aromatic
fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
arraign
charge in court; indict
array
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
arrears
being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
arrhythmic
lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
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)
arroyo
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
artery
blood-vessel; CF. vein
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
arsenal
storage place for military equipment
artifacts
object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
artifice
deception; trickery
artisan
a manually skilled worker
artless
without guile; open and honest
ascendancy
controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
ascertain
find out for certain; make certain
ascetic
practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
ascribe
refer; attribute; assign
aseptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
ashen
ash-colored; deadly pale
asinine
stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
askance
with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
asperity
sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
aspersion
slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
aspirant
seeker after position or status
aspire
seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
assail
assault
assay
analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
assent
agree; accept; N. assessment
assert
state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one’s independence
assiduous
diligent
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)
assuage
mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
assumption
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
regent
a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent
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
asteroid
small planet
astigmatism
eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
astral
relating to the stars
astringent
binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
astronomical
enormously large or extensive
astute
wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one’s advantage
asunder
into parts; apart; V. sunder
asylum
place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
asymmetric
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
atheistic
denying the existence of God; N. atheism
atone
make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
atrocity
brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
atrophy
wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
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
attenuate
make thin; weaken
attest
testify; bear witness
attribute
essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
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
atypical
not normal; not typical
audacious
daring; bold; N. audacity
audit
examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
augment
increase; add to
augury
omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
august
impressive; majestic
aureole
sun’s corona; halo; bright circle of light
auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
auspicious
favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
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
authenticate
prove genuine
authoritarian
subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another’s will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
authoritative
having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
autocratic
having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
autonomous
self-governing; N. autonomy
autopsy
examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
auxiliary
offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
avalanche
great mass of falling snow and ice
avarice
greediness for wealth
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.
aver
state confidently; declare as true
averse
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
aversion
firm dislike
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.
aviary
enclosure for birds; large cage
avid
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
avocation
secondary or minor occupation
avow
declare openly; N. avowal
avuncular
of or like an uncle
awe
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
awful
terrible; very bad
awl
pointed tool used for piercing
awry
distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
azure
sky blue
babble
chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.
bacchanalian
drunken
bacchanal
noisy party with a lot of drinking
Bacchanalia
the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus
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
badinage
teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
baffle
frustrate; perplex
bait
harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
baleful
evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look
balk
stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate
ballast
heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
balm
something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees
pang
sudden sharp feeling of pain
balmy
soft and mild (of air); fragrant
banal
hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich'ed
bandy
discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with
bane
posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous
bantering
joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter
barb
sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark
bard
poet
barefaced
shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie
unregenerate
making no attempt to change one’s bad practices
baroque
highly ornate
barrage
barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism
