Part 1 Flashcards
Abate (v.)
To subside, to reduce
Abash (v.)
To make ashamed, to embarass
Abdicate (v.)
To step down from a position of power or responsibility
Aberration (n.)
Something not typical, a deviation from the standard
Abhor (n.)
To detest
Abject (a.)
Hopeless
Abnegate (v.)
To reject, to renounce
Abortive (a.)
Unsuccessful
Abridge (v.)
To shorten, to condense
Absolute (a.)
Total, unlimited, perfect
Absolve (v.)
To forgive or to free from blame, to free from an obligation
Abstinent (a.)
Abstaining, voluntarily not doing something, especially something pleasant that is bad for you or has a bad reputation
Abstract (a.)
Theoretical, impersonal
Abstruse (a.)
Hard to understand
Abysmal (a.)
Extremely hopeless or wretched, bottomless
Accolade (n.)
An award, an honor
Accost (v.)
To approach and speak to someone
Acerbic (a.)
Bitter, sour, severe
Acquisce (v.)
To comply passively, to accept, to assent, to agree
Acrid (a.)
Harsh ; like acid
Acrimonious (a.)
Full of spite, bitter, nasty
Acumen (n.)
Keenness of judgment, mental sharpness
Acute (a.)
Sharp, shrewd
Adamant (a.)
Unyielding, completely inflexible
Address (v.)
To speak to, to direct one’s attention to
Adherent (n.)
Follower, supporter, believer
Admonish (v.)
To scold gently, to warn
Adroit (a.)
Skillfull, dexterous
Adulation (n.)
Wild or excessive admiration, flattery
Adulterate (v.)
To contaminate, to make impure
Adverse (a.)
Unfavorable, antagonistic
Aesthetic (a.)
Artistic
Affable (a.)
Easy to talk to, friendly
Affectation (n.)
Unnatural or artificial behavior
Affinity (n.)
Sympathy, attraction, kinship, similarity
Agenda (n.)
Program, the things to be done
Aggregate (n.)
Sum total
Agnostic (n.)
One who believes that the existence of a god can be neither proven nor disproved
Agrarian (a.)
Relating to the management or farming of land
Alacrity (n.)
Cheerful eagerness or readiness
Allege (v.)
To assert without proof
Alleviate (v.)
To relieve, usually temporarily or incompletely
Allocate (v.)
To distribute, to assign, to allot
Ally (n.)
A combination of two or more things, usually metal
Allusion (n.)
An indirect reference
Aloof (a.)
Uninvolved, standing off
Altruism (n.)
Selflessness, generosity
Ambience (n.)
Atmosphere, mood, feeling
Ambiguous (a.)
Unclear in meaning, confusing
Ambivalent (a.)
Undecided, neutral, wishy-washy
Ameliorate (v.)
To make better or more tolerable
Amenable (a.)
Obedient, agreeable
Amenity (n.)
Pleasantness, attractive or comfortable feature
Amiable (a.)
Friendly, agreeable
Amnesty (n.)
An official pardon for a group of people who have violated a law or policy
Amoral (a.)
Lacking a sense of right and wrong
Amorous (a.)
Feeling loving, especially in a sexual sense
Amorphous (a.)
Shapeless
Anachronism (n.)
Something out of place in time or history, an incongruity
Analogy (n.)
Similarity
Anarchy (n.)
Lawlessness, disorder
Anecdote (n.)
A short account of a humurous or revealing incident
Anguish (n.)
Agonizing physical or mental pain
Animosity (n.)
Resentment, hostility, ill will
Anomaly (n.)
An aberration, an irregularity, a deviation
Antecedent (n.)
Someone or something that went before
Antipathy (n.)
Firm dislike
Antithesis (n.)
The direct opposite
Apartheid (n.)
The abhorrent policy of racial segregation and oppression in the Republic of South Africa
Apathy (n.)
Lack or interest or feeling
Aphorism (n.)
A brief, often witty saying
Apocalypse (n.)
A prophetic revelation, especially one concerning the end of the world
Apocryphal (a.)
Of dubious authenticity
Apotheosis (n.)
Elevation to divine status, the perfect example of something
Appease (v.)
To soothe, to pacify by giving in to
Appreciate (v.)
To increase in value
Apprehensive (a.)
Worried, anxious
Approbation (n.)
Approval, praise
Appropriate (v.)
To take without permission
Aptitude (n.)
Capacity for learning, natural ability
Arbiter (n.)
A judge, one who decides
Arbitrary (a.)
Random, capricious
Arcane (a.)
Mysterious, know only to a select few
Archaic (a.)
Extremely old, ancient
Archetype (n.)
An original model or pattern
Ardent (a.)
Fervent
Arduous (a.)
Hard, difficult
Aristocratic (a.)
Noble birth
Artful
Crafty, wily, sly
Artifice (n.)
A clever trick, cunning
Ascendancy (n.)
Supremacy, domination
Ascetic (a.)
Hermitlike, practicing self-denial