List 5 Flashcards
Astral
Adj. relating to the stars
Astringent
Adj. binding, causing contraction
Astronomical
Adj. enormously large or extensive
Astute
Adj. wise, shrewd, keen
Asunder
Adj. into parts, apart
Asylum
N. place of refuge or shelter, protection
Asymmetric
Adj. not identical on both sides of dividing central line
Atavism
N. reversion to an earlier type, throwback
Atheistic
Adj. denying the existence of God
Atlas
N. bound volume of maps, charts, or tables
Atone
V. Make amends for, pay for
Atrocity
N. brutal deed
Atrophy
V. Decrease in size or waste away of a body part or tissue
Attain
V. Achieve or accomplish , gain
Attentive
Adj. alert and watchful, considerate, thoughtful
Attenuate
V. Make thin, weaken
Attest
V. Testify, bear witness
Attribute
N. essential quality
Attribute
V. Ascribe, explain
Attrition
N. gradual decrease in numbers, reduction in the work force without firing employees, wearing away of opposition by means of harassment
Atypical
Adj. not normal
Audacious
Adj. daring, bold
Audit
N. examination of accounts
Auditory
Adj. pertaining to the sense of hearing
Augury
N. omen, prophey
August
Adj. impressive, majestic
Auroral
Adj. pertaining to the aurora borealis
Austere
Adj. forbiddingly stern, severely simple and unornamented
Authenticate
V. Confirm as genuine
Authoritarian
Adj. subordinating the individual to the state, completely dominating another’s will
Authoritative
Adj. having the weight of authority, peremptory and dictatorial
Autocratic
Adj. having absolute, unchecked power, dictatorial
Automaton
N. robot, person performing a task mechanically
Autonomous
Adj. self-governing
Autopsy
N. examination of a dead body, post-mortem
Auxiliary
Adj. helper, additional or subsidiary
Avarice
N. greediness for wealth
Avenge
V. Take revenge for something (or on behalf of someone)
Aver
V. Assert confidently, affirm
Averse
Adj. reluctant , disinclined
Aversion
N. firm dislike
Avert
V. Prevent, turn away
Aviary
N. enclosure for birds
Avid
Adj. greedy, eager for
Avocation
N. secondary or minor occupation
Avow
V. Declare openly
Avuncular
Adj. like an uncle
Awe
N. solemn wonder
Awry
Adv. crooked, wrong, amiss
Axiom
N. self-evident truth requiring no proof
Azure
Adj. sky blue
Babble
V. Chatter idly
Bacchanalian
Adj. drunken
Badger
V. To harass or annoy persistently
Badinage
N. teasing conversation
Baffle
V. Frustrate, perplex
Bait
V. Harass, tease
Baleful
Adj. deadly, having a malign influence , ominous
Balk
V. Foil or thwart, stop short, refuse to go on
Ballast
N. heavy substance used to add stability or weight
Balm
N. something that relieves pain
Balmy
Adj. mild, fragrant
Banal
Adj. hackneyed , commonplace , trite, lacking originality
Bandy
V. Discuss lightly or glibly, exchange (words) heatedly
Bane
N. cause of ruin, curse
Bantering
Adj. good-natured joke
Barb
N. sharp projection from fishhook , etc., openly cutting remark