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GRE WORDS > ESSENTIALS A-B > Flashcards

ESSENTIALS A-B Flashcards

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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

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2
Q

abdicate

A

to give up a position, right or power

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3
Q

aberrant

A

deviating from what is normal

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4
Q

abeyance

A

temporary suppression or suspension

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5
Q

abject

A

miserable; pitiful

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6
Q

abjure

A

to reject; abandon formally

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7
Q

abscission

A

the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant

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8
Q

abscond

A

to depart secretly

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9
Q

abstemious

A

moderate in appetite

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10
Q

abstinence

A

the giving up of certain pleasures

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11
Q

abysmal

A

very bad

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12
Q

accretion

A

growth in size or increase in amount

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13
Q

accrue

A

to accumulate; grow by additions

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14
Q

adamant

A

unyielding; uncompromising

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15
Q

adjunct

A

something added, attached, or joined

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16
Q

admonish

A

to caution or reprimand

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17
Q

adulterate

A

to corrupt or make impure

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18
Q

aesthetic

A

relating to beauty or art

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19
Q

affected

A

pretentious, phony

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20
Q

affinity

A

fondness; liking; similarity

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21
Q

aggrandize

A

to increase the power, status, or wealth of.

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22
Q

aggregate

A

adj. amounting to a whole; total v. collect into a mass

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23
Q

alacrity

A

cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed

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24
Q

allay

A

to lessen; ease; soothe

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25
Q

alleviate

A

to relieve; improve partially; make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.

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26
Q

allure

A

the power to entice by charm

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27
Q

amalgamate

A

to combine into a unified whole

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28
Q

ambiguous

A

unclear or doubtful in meaning

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29
Q

ambivalence

A

the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes

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30
Q

ambrosia

A

something delicious; the food of gods

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31
Q

ameliorate

A

to improve

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32
Q

amenable

A

agreeable; cooperative; suited

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33
Q

amenity

A

something that increases comfort

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34
Q

amulet

A

ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits

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35
Q

anachronism

A

something out of the proper time

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36
Q

analgesic

A

medication that reduces or eliminates pain

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37
Q

analogous

A

comparable

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38
Q

anarchy

A

absence of goverment

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39
Q

anodyne

A

something that calms or soothes pain

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40
Q

anomalous

A

irregular; deviating from the norm

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41
Q

antecedent

A

something that comes before

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42
Q

antediluvian

A

prehistoric

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43
Q

antipathy

A

dislike; hostility

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44
Q

apathy

A

indifference

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45
Q

apex

A

the highest point; peak, summit, pinnacle

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46
Q

apogee

A

the highest point in the development of something; a climax or culmination

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47
Q

apothegm

A

a terse, witty saying

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48
Q

appease

A

to calm; pacify; placate

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49
Q

appellation

A

name or title

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50
Q

apposite

A

strikingly appropriate and relevant

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51
Q

apprise

A

to inform

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52
Q

approbation

A

praise or approval

53
Q

appropriate

A

to take possession for one’s own use; confiscate

54
Q

apropos

A

prep. (of) with reference to, with regard to, with respect to
adj. very appropriate to a particular situation

55
Q

ardor

A

great enthusiasm or passion

56
Q

arduous

A

extremely difficult; laborious; involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring

57
Q

argot

A

a specialized vocabulary used by a group

58
Q

arrest

A

to stop; to seize

59
Q

artifact

A

item made by human craft

60
Q

ascetic

A

one who practices self-denial

61
Q

asperity

A

severity; harshness; irritability; harshness of tone or manner

62
Q

aspersion

A

slander; false rumor

63
Q

assuage

A
  1. make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense 2. satisfy (an appetite or desire).
64
Q

astringent

A

sharp or severe in manner or style; harsh

65
Q

attenuate

A

to weaken (mitigate, abate, mollify, relieve, mollify, assuage)

66
Q

audacious

A

bold; daring

67
Q

austere

A

stern; unadorned

68
Q

autonomous

A

self-governing; independent

69
Q

avarice

A

greed

70
Q

aver

A

to affirm; declare to be true

71
Q

avocation

A

a hobby or minor occupation

72
Q

avuncular

A

like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant

73
Q

axiomatic

A

taken for granted; self-evident or unquestionable

74
Q

abolish

A

formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution). (exterminate, eliminate, terminate, eradicate)

75
Q

abhor

A

regard with disgust and hatred

76
Q

abnegate

A

renounce or reject (something desired or valuable)

77
Q

abduct

A

take (someone) away illegally by force or deception; kidnap

78
Q

abominable

A

very bad; terrible

79
Q

abominate

A

detest; loathe

80
Q

abortive

A
  1. failing to produce the intended result (failed, unsuccessful)
  2. (of a virus infection) failing to produce symptoms
81
Q

abrasive

A
  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
Q

abridge

A

shorten (a book, film, speech, etc.) without losing the sense

83
Q

absolve

A

declare (someone) free from guilt, obligation, or punishment (exonerate, discharge, acquit, exculpate, vindicate)

84
Q

acquit

A

free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty

85
Q

acquiesce

A

accept something reluctantly but without protest

86
Q

aggravate

A

make (a problem, injury, or offense) worse or more serious

87
Q

allegiance

A

loyalty or commitment to a superior or to a group or cause

88
Q

aloof

A

not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant

89
Q

annul

A

declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result)

90
Q

abase

A

lower; degrade; humiliate

91
Q

abash

A

embarrass

92
Q

abolish

A

cancel; put an end to

93
Q

abrogate

A

abolish

94
Q

abstruse

A

obscure; profound; difficult to understand

95
Q

abyss

A

enormous chasm; vast, bottomless

96
Q

acclaim

A

applaud; announce with great approval

97
Q

acclimate

A

adjust to climate or environment; adapt

98
Q

acclivity

A

sharp upslope of a hill

99
Q

accomplice

A

partner in crime

100
Q

accost

A

approach and speak first to a person

101
Q

acidulous

A

slightly sour; sharp; caustic

102
Q

acme

A

peak; pinnacle; highest point

103
Q

acquittal

A

deliverance from a discharge

104
Q

acrimonious

A

bitter in words and manner

105
Q

acuity

A

sharpness

106
Q

acumen

A

mental keenness

107
Q

addendum

A

addition; appendix to a book

108
Q

adept

A

expert at

109
Q

adhere

A

stick fast

110
Q

adherent

A

supporter, follower

111
Q

adulation

A

flattery; admiration

112
Q

banal

A

commonplace; trite

113
Q

bawdy

A

obscene

114
Q

beatify

A

to sanctify; to bless

115
Q

bedizen

A

to dress in a vulgar, showy manner

116
Q

behemoth

A

huge creature, anything very large and powerful

117
Q

belie

A

contradict; misrepresent; give a false impression

118
Q

beneficent

A

kindly, doing good

119
Q

bifurcate

A

to divide into two parts

120
Q

blandishment

A

flattery

121
Q

bolster

A

to support, give a boost to

122
Q

bombastic

A

pompous; using inflated language

123
Q

boorish

A

rude; insensitive

124
Q

brazen

A

bold; shameless

125
Q

broach

A

to mention for the first time

126
Q

bucolic

A

characteristics of the countryside; rustic, pastoral

127
Q

burgeon

A

flourish

128
Q

burnish

A

polish

129
Q

buttress

A

to reinforce; support

GRE WORDS (4 decks)

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