Letter A Flashcards
aback
surprised, startled
abase
to humiliate; to humble; to lower
abash
ashamed, embarrassed
abate
to lessen; to decrease
abet
to aid, to encourage
Abeyance
A temporary postponement
Abhor
To hate; to detest
Abide
To remain/ to put up with
Abject
Miserable; wretched
Abjure
To give up (rights)
Ablution
A washing; cleansing
Abnegate
To deny; to reject
Abolition
Doing away with; putting an end to
Abominate
To detest; to dislike strongly
Aborigine
Original inhabitant
Abortive
Unsuccessful
Abound
To be large in number
Aboveboard
Honest, frank, open
Abrade
To wear away
Abridge
To shorten
Abrogate
To abolish; to repeal
Abscond
To leave secretly, to flee
Absolve
To free from responsibility
Abstemious
Moderate or sparing in eating or drinking
Abstinence
Self denial; resisting tempting foods
Abstract
A summary; to remove
Abstruse
Hard to understand
Abut
To touch; to rest on or against
Abysmal
Wretched; extremely bad
Academic
Pertaining to school; theoretical or unrealistic
Accede
To agree to
Acclaim
To greet with approval
Acclimate
To adapt; to get used to
Acclivity
Upward slope
Accolade
Honor; award; approval
Accommodate
To make fit; to help
Accomplice
A partner in crime
Accord
Agreement
Accost
To approach and speak to
Accoutrement
Equipment; outfit
Accredit
To approve; to certify
Accretion
An increase; an addition
Accrue
To gather; to accumulate
Acerbic
Sharp or bitter in smell or taste
Acne
Highest point; peak
Acoustics
Branch of physics dealing with sound
Acquiesce
To agree; to consent
Acquit
To free of guilt; to clear
Acrid
Bitter to the taste or smell; sarcastic
Acrimonious
Harsh in speech or behaviour
Acronym
Word formed from initials
Acrophobia
Fear of heights
Actuate
To put into motion or action
Acumen
Mental keenness; shrewdness
Ad infinitum
Endlessly; forever
Ad lib
To act or speak without preparation
Adage
A familiar saying
Adamant
Stubborn; unyielding
Adapt
To adjust; to change
Addendum
Something added as a supplement
Addled
Confused
Adduce
To give an example in proving something
Adept
Highly skilled
Adherent
Sticking fast; follower or a supporter
Adipose
Fatty
Adjudicate
To judge
Admonish
To warn
Ado
Fuss, trouble
Adonis
A very handsome man
Adorn
To dress up; to decorate
Adroit
Skillful; clever
Adulation
Excessive praise or flattery
Adulterated
To make impure
advent
An arrival; a coming
Adventitious
Accidental; nonessential
Adversary
Enemy, opponent
Adversity
A misfortune; distress
Advocate
To recommend; to defend
Aegis
A shield; protection; sponsorship
Aesthetic
Pertaining to beauty
Affable
Friendly; agreeable
Affectation
A phone attitude; insincerity
Affiliate
To associate or to unite with
Affinity
Attraction to
Affirmation
A statement that something is true
Affix
To attach
Affliction
Great suffering; hardship
Affront
An insult
Agape
Open-mouthed; surprised
Aggrandize
To enlarge or to expand
Aggravate
To worsen an already bad situation; to intensify
Aggregate
To collect; to gather together
Aghast
Shocked; terrified
Agile
Able to move quickly
Agnostic
One who doubts the evidence of god
Agoraphobia
Fear of open space
Agrarian
Pertaining to farmers and agriculture
Ague
A fever; plague
Alacrity
Liveliness; willingness
Albatross
A seabird/ a constant burden
Albeit
Although
Alchemy
Chemistry of the Middle Ages
Alimentary
Furnishing food or nourishment
Allay
To relieve or calm
Alleged
So-called; supposed
Allegory
A symbolic work of literature
Allegro
Rapid; quick
Alleviate
To lessen; to relieve
Allocate
To set aside for a specific purpose
Alluring
Tempting; fascinating; charming
Alluvial
Pertaining to a deposit of sand formed by flowing water
Aloft
Up in the air; high
Aloof
Reserved; cool; indifferent
Altercation
An argument; a disagreement
altruism
Unselfishness; concern for others
Amalgamate
To combine; to unite; to blend
Amass
To accumulate; to collect
Amazon
A big, strong, masculine woman
Ambidextrous
Equally skillful with either hand
Ambient
Surrounding; on all sides
Ambivalence
Conflicting feelings toward something or someone
Ambrosial
Pleasing to the taste or smell
Ambulatory
Moving about; capable of walking
Ambuscade
Hidden or secret attack
Ameliorate
To improve; to make better
Amenable
Agreeable; responsive
Amend
To change; to alter
Amenities
Courtesies; social graces; pleasantries
Amicable
Friendly; agreeable
Amiss
Wrong; faulty; improper
Amity
Friendship
Amnesty
Official pardon for an offence
Amoral
Lacking a sense of right and wrong
Amorous
Loving
Amorphous
Shapeless
Amphibious
Able to live on both land and water
Ample
Roomy; abundant
Anachronism
Something out of place or time
Analgesic
Drug that relieves pain
Analogy
Similarity or comparison
Anarchy
Absence of government
Anathema
A curse; a person or thing to be avoided
Ancillary
Helping; subordinate
Anecdote
A short, entertaining story
Anent
Regarding; concerning
Anguish
Great suffering or grief
Anhydrous
Without water
Animadversion
Criticism; comment that opposes
Animosity
Hatred; hostility
Animus
Hostile feeling
Annals
Historical records
Anneal
To heat and then cool; to toughen
Annuity
Specified income payable at stated intervals
Annul
To cancel; to do away with
Anomalous
Abnormal; inconsistent
Anon
Soon
Anoxia
Lack of oxygen
Antecedent
That which goes before something else
Antediluvian
Very old fashioned; primitive
Anterior
Located in front or forward
Anteroom
A lobby or waiting room
Anthology
Collection of literary works
Anthropoid
Resembling man
Anthropomorphic
Attributing human form to objects, gods, etc
Antic
Playful or silly act, prank
Anticlimax
Something unimportant coming after something important
Antipathy
Intense dislike
Antipodes
Opposite sides ( of the earth)
Antithesis
An exact opposite
Apathy
Indifference; lack of feeling
Aperture
An opening; a gap
Aphasia
Loss of the ability to speak
Aphorism
Brief saying; proverb
Apiary
Where bees are kept
Aplomb
Self confidence; poise
Apocryphal
Doubtful; not authentic
Apogee
Farthest point away from the earth
Apoplexy
Sudden loss of consciousness; paralysis
Apostate
One who gives up his beliefs
Apothecary
Druggist
Apothegm
Brief instructive saying
Apotheosis
Glorification of a person to the rank of god
Appall
To frighten; to cause loss of courage
Apparel
Clothing, attire
Apparition
A ghost
Appease
To sooth, to satisfy
Appellation
A name
Append
To attach; to add
Apposite
Appropriate
Apprehend
To seize; to understand
Apprehensive
Fearful; anxious
Apprise
To inform
Approbation
Approval
Appropriate
To take possession of/ suitable
Appurtenances
Something added to another more important thing
Apropos
Relevant; appropriate, fitting
Aquiline
Like an eagle; curved or hooked
Arbitrary
Partial; biased
Arbor
A shaded area
Arcane
Mysterious
Archetype
Original; first or its kind
Archipelago
Group of islands
Ardent
Intensely enthusiastic
Arduous
Difficult; strenuous
Arid
Dry
Aromatic
Pleasant smelling
Arraign
To accuse
Arrant
Notorious; downright
Array
An orderly arrangement
Arrears
(In) in debt
Arroyo
A deep ditch caused by running water
Arson
Illegal burning of property
Artful
Cunning; tricky; crafty
Articulate
To speak clearly
Artifice
Trick; deception
Artisan
One skilled in arts and crafts
Ascendant
Rising
Ascertain
To find out; to determine
Ascetic
One who denies his body pleasure and comfort
Ascribe
To attribute; to credit as to a cause or source
Aseptic
Without bacteria
Asinine
Stupid, silly
Askance
(preceded by to look) sidewise, suspiciously
Askew
crooked; out of position
Asperity
harshness; roughness
Aspersion
a damaging remark
Aspire
To desire; to have an ambition
Assail
To attack; to assult
Assay
To test; to try
Assent
To agree, to accept
Assiduity
Diligence, care
Assimilate
To absorb
Assuage
To calm, to make less severe
Asteroid
A very small planet
Astray
In the wrong direction
Astringent
Substance that contracts blood vessels or shrinks tissues
Astute
Shrewd; very smart
Asunder
Into separate parts
Atavistic
Going back to behaviour found in a remote ancestor
Atheist
One who denies God’s existence
Atone
To make up for; to repent
Atrocious
cruel; brutal
Atrophy
To waste away, to become useless
Attenuate
decreased; weakened
Attest
To confirm; to declare to be correct
Attribute
To credit or assign to/ a characteristic or trait
Attrition
A wearing down or away; a decline
Atypical
Abnormal; not usual
Au courant
up-to-date; fully informed
Audacity
Boldness; daring
Audit
To examine accounts
Augment
To increase; to make greater
Augur
To predict
August
majestic; worthy of respect; impressive
Aural
Pertaining to the sense of hearing
Auroral
Rosy; pertaining to the dawn
Auspices
Approval; support
Auspicious
Farorable
Austere
Severe; stern; self-disciplined
Authenticate
To confirm; to make acceptable
Authoritative
Dictatorial; having power
Autocratic
Despotic; unlimited in authority
Autumnal
mature; declining
Auxiliary
Giving assistant; subordinate
Avarice
Greed
Aver
to declare; to state firmly
Averse
Reluctant; not willing
Aversion
Intense dislike
Aviary
place where birds are kept
Avid
Enthusiastic
Avocation
A hobby; not one’s regular work
Avoirdupois
Heaviness; weight
Avow
To declare openly
Avuncular
Like an uncle
Awe
great admiration for or fear of
Awry
Twisted to one side; in the wrong direction
Axiom
True statement; established principle
Azure
blue
