Key Words Flashcards
Abate
Cause to become smaller or less intense.
To abide by a rule
Accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation): “I would abide by their decision”.
Abolish
Formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution).
Abyss
A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm. A wide or profound difference between people.
Accentuate
Make more noticeable or prominent.
Acclaim
verb: Praise enthusiastically and publicly. noun: Enthusiastic and public praise.
Acquiesce
Accept something reluctantly but without protest.
Admonish
Warn or reprimand someone firmly.
Affluent
Having a great deal of money; wealthy.
Albeit
conjugation: “he was making progress, albeit rather slowly”. Although.
Allege
Claim or assert that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically without proof that this is the case.
Ample
Enough or more than enough; plentiful.
Animosity
Strong hostility.
Arduous
Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.
Ascertain
Find (something) out for certain; make sure of: “ascertain the cause of the accident”.
Astute
Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage: “an astute businessman”.
On the brink
An extreme edge of land before a steep or vertical slope. On the brink of war.
Cede
Give up (power or territory): “they ceded control of the schools to the government”.
Coarse
Rough or loose in texture or grain.
Collateral
Something pledged as security for repayment of a loan.
Commence
Begin; start.
Comprise
Consist of; be made up of: “the country comprises twenty states”.
Conceive
Form or devise (a plan or idea) in the mind.
Concoct
Make (a dish or meal) by combining various ingredients.
Conducive
Making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible.
Congenial
Pleasant because of a personality, qualities, or interests that are similar to one’s own or meet one’s tastes.
Conform
Comply with rules, standards, or laws.
Consortium
An association, typically of business companies.
Construe
Interpret (a word or action) in a particular way.
Contemplate
Look at thoughtfully. Think about.
Contingent
adjective: Subject to chance. noun: A group of people united by some common feature, forming part of a larger group.
Convey
Make (an idea, impression, or feeling) known or understandable to someone. Transport or carry to a place.
Criterion
singular of criteria
Curb
noun: A stone or concrete edging to a street or path. verb: Restrain or keep in check.
Damp
Slightly wet: “her hair was still damp from the shower”.
Deluge
A severe flood. Inundate with a great quantity of something.
Depreciate
Diminish in value over a period of time.
Deprive
Deny (a person or place) the possession or use of something.
Dichotomy
A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
Diligent
Having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties.
Discernible
Able to be perceived.
Discourse
Written or spoken communication or debate.
Dissuade
Persuade (someone) not to take a particular course of action: “his friends tried to dissuade him from flying”.
Droop
Bend or hang downward limply: “a long black cloak drooped from his shoulders”.
Dweller
Inhabitant: a person who inhabits a particular place.
Dwindle
Diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength: “dwindling resources”.
Efface
Erase (a mark) from a surface: “words effaced by frost and rain”; “his anger was effaced when he stepped into the open air”.
Elicit
Evoke or draw out (a response or fact) from someone by actions or questions: “their moves elicit exclamations of approval”. Draw forth (something that is latent or potential) into existence: “war elicits all that is bad in us”.
Elucidate
Make (something) clear; explain: “work that will help to elucidate this matter”; “they would not elucidate further”.
Elude
Evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way: “he managed to elude his pursuer”.
Encompass
Surround and have or hold within: “a vast halo encompassing the galaxy”.
Ensue
Happen or occur afterward or as a result.
Extol
Praise enthusiastically.
Extradite
Hand over (a person accused or convicted of a crime) to the jurisdiction of the foreign state in which the crime was committed.
