GRE A Words Flashcards
Articulate
abase
cause to feel shame
abash
cause to be embarrassed
abate
become less in amount or intensity
abbreviate
shorten
aberrant
markedly different from an accepted norm
aberration
a state or condition markedly different from the norm
abet
assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
abeyance
temporary cessation or suspension
abhor
feel hatred or disgust toward
abide
dwell
abject
of the most contemptible kind
abjure
formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
ablution
the act of washing oneself, as for ritual purposes
abnegate
deny or renounce
abnegation
the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief
abode
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
abolish
do away with
abominable
unequivocally detestable
abominate
find repugnant
aboriginal
having existed from the beginning
abortive
failing to accomplish an intended result
abrade
rub hard or scrub
abridge
lessen, diminish, or curtail
abrogate
revoke formally
abscission
the act of cutting something off
abscond
run away, often taking something or somebody along
absolute
perfect or complete or pure
absolve
grant remission of a sin to
abstain
refrain from doing, consuming, or partaking in something
abstemious
marked by temperance in indulgence
abstinence
the trait of refraining from something, especially alcohol
abstract
existing only in the mind
abstruse
difficult to understand
abusive
characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment
abut
lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
abysmal
exceptionally bad or displeasing
abyss
a bottomless gulf or pit
academic
associated with an educational institution
accede
yield to another’s wish or opinion
accelerate
move faster
accessible
capable of being reached
accessory
a supplementary component that improves capability
acclaim
enthusiastic approval
acclimate
get used to a certain environment
acclivity
an upward slope or grade, as in a road
accolade
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
accommodate
have room for; hold without crowding
accomplice
a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan
accord
concurrence of opinion
accost
approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently
accoutre
provide with military equipment
accretion
an increase by natural growth or addition
accrue
grow by addition
acephalous
lacking a head or a clearly defined head
acerbic
sour or bitter in taste
acerbity
a sharp bitterness
acetic
relating to a clear organic acid with a pungent odor
acidulous
being sour to the taste
acknowledge
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality of
acme
the highest point of something
acne
an inflammatory disease involving the sebaceous glands
acoustics
the study of the physical properties of sound
acquiesce
agree or express agreement
acquiescence
agreement with a statement or proposal to do something
acquiescent
willing to carry out the orders or wishes of another
acquittal
a judgment of not guilty
acrid
strong and sharp, as a taste or smell
acrimonious
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
acrophobia
a morbid fear of great heights
actuarial
relating to statistics to calculate insurance premiums
actuary
someone versed in the interpretation of numerical data
actuate
put in motion
acuity
sharpness of vision
acumen
shrewdness shown by keen insight
acute
ending in a sharp point
adage
a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact
adamant
very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a gem
adapt
make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
addendum
textual matter that is appended to the end of a publication
addiction
being dependent on something habit-forming
addle
mix up or confuse
address
the place where a person or organization can be found
adduce
advance evidence for
adept
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
adhere
stick to firmly
adherent
someone who believes and helps to spread a doctrine
adipose
composed of animal fat
adjacent
having a common boundary or edge
adjoin
lie next to another or share a boundary
adjourn
close at the end of a session
adjunct
something added to another thing but not essential to it
adjuration
a solemn and earnest appeal to someone to do something
adjure
command solemnly
adjutant
an officer who acts as an assistant to a more senior officer
admonish
scold or reprimand; take to task
admonition
a firm rebuke
adore
love intensely
adorn
make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color
adroit
quick or skillful or adept in action or thought
adulation
exaggerated flattery or praise
adulterate
make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
adulterated
mixed with impurities
adumbration
the act of providing vague advance indications
advent
arrival that has been awaited
adventitious
associated by chance and not an integral part
adversary
someone who offers opposition
adverse
in an opposing direction
adversity
a state of misfortune or affliction
advert
a public promotion of some product or service
advocacy
active support of an idea or cause
advocate
a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea
aegis
armor plate that protects the chest
aeon
the longest division of geological time
aerie
the lofty nest of a bird of prey, such as a hawk or eagle
aery
characterized by lightness and insubstantiality
aesthetic
characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
affable
diffusing warmth and friendliness
affected
influenced
afferent
of nerves and nerve impulses
affidavit
written declaration made under oath
affiliation
the act of becoming formally connected or joined
affinity
a natural attraction or feeling of kinship
affirmation
the act of asserting or stating something
afflatus
a strong creative impulse; divine inspiration
affliction
a cause of great suffering and distress
affluence
abundant wealth
affray
a noisy fight
affront
a deliberately offensive act
afterlife
life after death
agape
with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
agenda
a list of matters to be taken up, as at a meeting
agglomeration
the act of collecting in a mass
aggrandize
embellish; increase the scope, power, or importance of
aggregate
a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together
aghast
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
agility
the gracefulness of a quick and nimble person or animal
agitate
move or cause to move back and forth
agitation
a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
agnostic
a person who claims the existence of God is unknowable
agog
highly excited
agrarian
relating to rural matters
agronomist
an expert in soil management and field-crop production
airy
open to or abounding in fresh atmosphere
alacrity
liveliness and eagerness
albite
a widely distributed feldspar that forms rocks
alchemy
a pseudoscientific forerunner of chemistry in medieval times
alcove
a small recess opening off a large room or garden
alias
a name that has been assumed temporarily
alienate
arouse hostility or indifference in
alimentary
of or providing nourishment
alimony
support paid by one spouse to another after separation
allay
lessen the intensity of or calm
allege
report or maintain
allegiance
the act of binding yourself to a course of action
allegory
a short moral story
alleviate
provide physical relief, as from pain
alliteration
use of the same consonant at the beginning of each word
allocate
distribute according to a plan or set apart for a purpose
alloy
a mixture containing two or more metallic elements
allude
make an indirect reference to
allure
the power to entice or attract
allusion
passing reference or indirect mention
alluvial
relating to deposits carried by rushing streams
alms
money or goods contributed to the poor
aloft
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
aloof
distant, cold, or detached in manner
altercation
a noisy quarrel
altruism
the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
altruistic
showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
amalgam
a combination or blend of diverse things
amalgamate
bring or combine together or with something else