ESSENTIALS A-B Flashcards
1
Q
abate
A
to decrease or reduce; (of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread:
subside, lessen, ease, diminish, moderate, decline, fade, dwindle, slacken, recede, cool off, tail off, peter out, taper off, wane, ebb, relent, desist, weaken
2
Q
abdicate
A
to give up a position, right or power
3
Q
aberrant
A
deviating from what is normal
4
Q
abeyance
A
temporary suppression or suspension
5
Q
abject
A
miserable; pitiful
6
Q
abjure
A
to reject; abandon formally
7
Q
abscission
A
the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant
8
Q
abscond
A
to depart secretly
9
Q
abstemious
A
moderate in appetite
10
Q
abstinence
A
the giving up of certain pleasures
11
Q
abysmal
A
very bad
12
Q
accretion
A
growth in size or increase in amount
13
Q
accrue
A
to accumulate; grow by additions
14
Q
adamant
A
unyielding; uncompromising
15
Q
adjunct
A
something added, attached, or joined
16
Q
admonish
A
to caution or reprimand
17
Q
adulterate
A
to corrupt or make impure
18
Q
aesthetic
A
relating to beauty or art
19
Q
affected
A
pretentious, phony
20
Q
affinity
A
fondness; liking; similarity
21
Q
aggrandize
A
to increase the power, status, or wealth of.
22
Q
aggregate
A
adj. amounting to a whole; total v. collect into a mass
23
Q
alacrity
A
cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed
24
Q
allay
A
to lessen; ease; soothe
25
alleviate
to relieve; improve partially; make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.
26
allure
the power to entice by charm
27
amalgamate
to combine into a unified whole
28
ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning
29
ambivalence
the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes
30
ambrosia
something delicious; the food of gods
31
ameliorate
to improve
32
amenable
agreeable; cooperative; suited
33
amenity
something that increases comfort
34
amulet
ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
35
anachronism
something out of the proper time
36
analgesic
medication that reduces or eliminates pain
37
analogous
comparable
38
anarchy
absence of goverment
39
anodyne
something that calms or soothes pain
40
anomalous
irregular; deviating from the norm
41
antecedent
something that comes before
42
antediluvian
prehistoric
43
antipathy
dislike; hostility
44
apathy
indifference
45
apex
the highest point; peak, summit, pinnacle
46
apogee
the highest point in the development of something; a climax or culmination
47
apothegm
a terse, witty saying
48
appease
to calm; pacify; placate
49
appellation
name or title
50
apposite
strikingly appropriate and relevant
51
apprise
to inform
52
approbation
praise or approval
53
appropriate
to take possession for one's own use; confiscate
54
apropos
prep. (of) with reference to, with regard to, with respect to
adj. very appropriate to a particular situation
55
ardor
great enthusiasm or passion
56
arduous
extremely difficult; laborious; involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring
57
argot
a specialized vocabulary used by a group
58
arrest
to stop; to seize
59
artifact
item made by human craft
60
ascetic
one who practices self-denial
61
asperity
severity; harshness; irritability; harshness of tone or manner
62
aspersion
slander; false rumor
63
assuage
1. make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense 2. satisfy (an appetite or desire).
64
astringent
sharp or severe in manner or style; harsh
65
attenuate
to weaken (mitigate, abate, mollify, relieve, mollify, assuage)
66
audacious
bold; daring
67
austere
stern; unadorned
68
autonomous
self-governing; independent
69
avarice
greed
70
aver
to affirm; declare to be true
71
avocation
a hobby or minor occupation
72
avuncular
like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
73
axiomatic
taken for granted; self-evident or unquestionable
74
abolish
formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution). (exterminate, eliminate, terminate, eradicate)
75
abhor
regard with disgust and hatred
76
abnegate
renounce or reject (something desired or valuable)
77
abduct
take (someone) away illegally by force or deception; kidnap
78
abominable
very bad; terrible
79
abominate
detest; loathe
80
abortive
1. failing to produce the intended result (failed, unsuccessful)
2. (of a virus infection) failing to produce symptoms
81
abrasive
1. (of a substance or material) capable of polishing or cleaning a hard surface by rubbing or grinding
2. showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh
82
abridge
shorten (a book, film, speech, etc.) without losing the sense
83
absolve
declare (someone) free from guilt, obligation, or punishment (exonerate, discharge, acquit, exculpate, vindicate)
84
acquit
free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty
85
acquiesce
accept something reluctantly but without protest
86
aggravate
make (a problem, injury, or offense) worse or more serious
87
allegiance
loyalty or commitment to a superior or to a group or cause
88
aloof
not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant
89
annul
declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result)
90
abase
lower; degrade; humiliate
91
abash
embarrass
92
abolish
cancel; put an end to
93
abrogate
abolish
94
abstruse
obscure; profound; difficult to understand
95
abyss
enormous chasm; vast, bottomless
96
acclaim
applaud; announce with great approval
97
acclimate
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
98
acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill
99
accomplice
partner in crime
100
accost
approach and speak first to a person
101
acidulous
slightly sour; sharp; caustic
102
acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point
103
acquittal
deliverance from a discharge
104
acrimonious
bitter in words and manner
105
acuity
sharpness
106
acumen
mental keenness
107
addendum
addition; appendix to a book
108
adept
expert at
109
adhere
stick fast
110
adherent
supporter, follower
111
adulation
flattery; admiration
112
banal
commonplace; trite
113
bawdy
obscene
114
beatify
to sanctify; to bless
115
bedizen
to dress in a vulgar, showy manner
116
behemoth
huge creature, anything very large and powerful
117
belie
contradict; misrepresent; give a false impression
118
beneficent
kindly, doing good
119
bifurcate
to divide into two parts
120
blandishment
flattery
121
bolster
to support, give a boost to
122
bombastic
pompous; using inflated language
123
boorish
rude; insensitive
124
brazen
bold; shameless
125
broach
to mention for the first time
126
bucolic
characteristics of the countryside; rustic, pastoral
127
burgeon
flourish
128
burnish
polish
129
buttress
to reinforce; support
