GRE4000 Flashcards
a cappella
without accompaniment
a la carte
priced separately
a priori
reasoning based on general principles
aback
unexpected, surprised
abacus
counting device
abandon
desert, forsake
abase
degrade
abash
humiliate, embarrass
abate
lessen, subside
abatement
alleviation
abbey
monastery
abbreviate
shorten
abdicate
relinquish power or position
abdomen
belly
abduct
kidnap
aberrant
abnormal
abet
aid, encourage (typically of crime)
abeyance
postponement
abhor
detest
abide
submit, endure
abject
wretched
abjure
renounce
ablate
cut away
ablution
cleansing
abode
home
abolish
annul, eliminate
abominable
detestable
aboriginal
indigenous, native
abortive
unsuccessful
abound
be plentiful
abreast
side-by-side
abridge
shorten
abroad
overseas
abrogate
cancel
abrupt
ending suddenly
abscess
infected and inflamed tissue
abscond
to run away (secretly)
absolve
acquit, free from blame
abstain
refrain
abstract
theoretical, intangible
abstruse
difficult to understand
abut
touch, border on
abysmal
deficient, sub par
abyss
chasm
academy
school
accede
yield, agree
accentuate
emphasize
accession
attainment of rank
accessory
attachment, accomplice
acclaim
recognition, fame
acclimate
accustom oneself to a climate, adjust
acclivity
ascent, incline
accolade
applause, tribute
accommodate
adapt, assist, house
accomplice
one who aids a lawbreaker
accord
agreement
accost
to approach and speak to someone aggressively
accouter
equip, clothe
accrete
grow larger
accrue
accumulate
accumulate
amass
acerbic
caustic, bitter (of speech)
acme
summit, zenith
acolyte
assistant (usually to clergy)
acoustic
pertaining to sound
acquaint
familiarize
acquiesce
agree passively
acquit
free from blame
acrid
pungent, caustic, choking
acrimonious
caustic, bitter, resentful
acrophobia
fear of heights
actuate
induce, start
acumen
insight
acute
sharp, intense
ad nauseam
to a ridiculous degree
ad-lib
improvise
adage
proverb
adamant
insistent
adapt
adjust to changing conditions
adaptable
pliable
addendum
appendix, supplement
adduce
offer as example
adept
skillful
adhere
stick to
adherent
supporter
adieu
farewell
adipose
fatty
adjacent
next to
adjourn
suspend, discontinue
adjudicate
judge
adjunct
addition
administer
manage
admissible
allowable
admonish
warn gently
ado
fuss, commotion
adonis
a beautiful man
adroit
skillful
adulation
applause, worship
adulterate
contaminate, corrupt
adumbration
overshadow
advent
arrival of something important
adventitious
accidental, extrinsic
adversary
opponent
adverse
unfavorable, opposing
adversity
hardship
advise
give counsel
advocate
urge, support
aegis
that which protects, sponsorship
aerial
pertaining to the air
aerobics
exercise
alacrity
swiftness
albatross
large sea bird
albino
lacking pigmentation
alcove
recess, niche
alias
assumed name
alibi
excuse
alienate
estrange, antagonize
alight
land, descend, to happen to find a place to rest
allay
to reassure
allege
assert without proof
allegiance
loyalty
allegory
fable
allegro
fast
alleviate
lessen, assuage
alliteration
repetition of the same sound
allocate
distribute
allot
allocate, ration
allude
refer to indirectly
ally
unite for a purpose
almanac
calendar with additional information
alms
charity
aloof
arrogant, detached
altercation
argument
altitude
height
alto
low female voice
altruism
benevolence, generosity
amalgamation
mixture
amass
collect
ambient
surrounding, environment
ambiguous
unclear
ambivalence
conflicting emotions
ambulatory
able to walk
ameliorate
improve
amenable
agreeable
amend
correct
amenities
courtesies, comforts
amenity
pleasantness
amiable
friendly
amid
among
amiss
wrong, out of place
amity
friendship, good will
amnesty
pardon
amoral
without morals
amorous
loving, sexual
amorphous
shapeless
amortize
pay by installments
amphibious
able to operate in water and land
amphitheater
oval-shaped theater
amuck
murderous frenzy
amulet
charm, talisman
amuse
entertain
anachronistic
without oxygen
anagram
a word formed by rearranging the letters of another word
analgesic
pain-soother