SAT- A Flashcards
Abandon
Total lack of inhibition
Abase
To humble, to disgrace
Abate
To decrease, to reduce
Abbreviate
To make shorter
Abdicate
To give up a position, right or power
Aberrant
Deviating from what is normal or expected
Aberration
Something different from the usual
Abet
To aid, to act as an accomplice
Abeyance
Temporary suppression or suspension
Abhor
To loathe, detest
Abject
Miserable, pitiful
Abjure
To renounce under oath, to abandon forever, to abstain from
Abnegate
To give up, to deny to oneself
Abortive
Ending without results
Abrasive
Harsh and rough in manner
Abridge
To make shorter
Abrogate
To annul, to abolish by authoritative action
Abrupt
Sudden, curt
Abscond
To leave quickly in secret
Absolve
To forgive, free from blame
Absorb
To soak up, to occupy completely
Abstain
To choose not to do something
Abstemious
Done sparingly consuming moderation
Abstruse
Difficult to comprehend
Abyss
An extremely deep hole
Accede
To express approval, to agree to
Accelerate
To cause to develop or progress more quickly
Accentuate
To stress or emphasize, intensify
Accesible
Attainable, available
Acclivity
An incline or upward slope, the ascending side of a hill
Accomplice
An associate in wrongdoing
Accord
To bestow upon
Accretion
A growth in size, an increase in amount
Acerbic
Bitter, sharp in taste or temper
Acidulous
Sour in taste or manner
Acme
The highest level or degree attainable
Acquiesce
To agree, to comply quietly
Acquire
To gain possession of
Acrimony
Bitterness, animosity
Actuate
To put into motion, to activate, to motivate or influence to activity
Acuity
Sharp vision or perception characterized by the ability to resolve fine detail
Acumen
Sharpness of insight, mind, and understanding, shrewd judgment
Adamant
Stubbornly unyielding
Adept
Extremely skilled
Adjourn
To postpone
Adjudicate
To hear and settle a manner, to act as a judge
Adjunct
Something or someone associated with another but in a supplementary position
Adjure
To appeal to
Admonish
To caution or warn gently in order to correct something
Adorn
To enhance or decorate
Adroit
Skillful, accomplished, highly competent
Adulation
Excessive flattery or admiration
Adulterate
To corrupt or make impure
Adumbrate
To give a hint or indication of something to come
Advantageous
Favorable, useful
Adversary
Opponent, enemy
Adversity
A state of hardship or misfortune
Advocate
To speak in favor of
Aerate
Expose to air
Aerie
A nest built high in the air, an elevated, often secluded, dwelling
Aesthetic
Pertaining to beauty or art
Affable
Pleasantly easy to get along with, warm and friendly
Affectation
Pretension, false display
Affected
Phony, artificial
Affiliation
An association with a group or organization
Aggrandize
To make larger or greater in power
Aghast
Overcome by surprise, disgust, or amazement
Agile
Well-coordinated, nimble
Agitate
Upset, disturb
Alacrity
Cheerful willingness, eagerness, speed
Algorithm
An established procedure for solving a problem or question
Allay
To lessen, ease, reduce in intensity
Allegation
Claim without proof
Allegory
Symbolic representation
Alleviate
To relieve, improve partially
Amalgamate
To mix, combine
Amalgamation
Consolidation of smaller parts
Ambiguous
Uncertain, subject to multiple interpretations
Ambivalent
Uncertain, emotionally conflicted
Ameliorate
To make better, improve
Amiable
Friendly, pleasant, likable
Amicable
Friendly, agreeable
Amity
Friendship, good will
Amorphous
Having no definite form
Amortize
To diminish by installment payments
Amplify
Increase, intensify
Amulet
Ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
Anachronism
Something chronologically inappropriate
Anachronistic
Outdated
Analgesia
A lessening of pain without loss of consciousness
Analogous
Similar or alike in some way, equivalent to
Anathema
Ban, curse, something shunned or disliked
Ancillary
Accessory, subordinate, helping
Anecdote
Short, usually funny, account of an event
Animosity
A feeling of hostiility or antagonism
Animus
A feeling of animosity or ill will
Anodyne
A source of comfort, a medicine that relieves pain
Anomaly
A deviation from the common rule, something that is difficult to classify
Anonymous
Unknown
Antagonist
Foe, adversary, opponent
Antagonize
To annoy or provoke to anger
Anthology
Collection of literary works
Antediluvian
Prehistoric, ancient beyond measure
Anterior
Preceding, previous, before, prior (to)
Anthropocentrism
Interpreting reality entirely based on human values
Anthropomorphic
Suggesting human characteristics for animals and inanimate things
Antidote
A remedy, an agent used to counteract
Antipathy
Dislike, hostility, extreme opposition or aversion
Antiquated
Too old to be fashionable or useful
Apathetic
Indifferent, unconcerned
Apathy
Lack of interest or emotion
Aphorism
A short statement of a principle
Aplomb
Self-confident assurance, poise
Apocryphal
Not genuine, fictional
Anarchist
One who aims for the overthrow of government
Apostate
One who renounces a religious faith
Apotheosis
Glorification, glorified ideal
Apalling
Causing dismay, frightful
Apposite
Strikingly appropriate or well adapted
Appraise
Evaluate, estimate the value
Apprise
To give notice to, inform
Approbation
Praise, official approval
Appropriate
To assign to a particular purpose, allocate
Arable
Suitable for cultivation
Arbitrary
Determined by chance or impulse
Arbitrate
To judge a dispute between two opposing parties
Arbitration
Settlement of a dispute by an outside party
Arcane
Secret, obscure, known only to a few
Archaic
Antiquated, from an earlier time, outdated
Archetypal
An ideal example of a type
Archipelago
A large group of islands
Archive
To place into storage
Ardent
Passionate, enthusiastic, fervent
Ardor
Great emotion or passion
Arduous
Extremely difficult, laborious
Arid
Extremely dry or deathly boring
Arrears
Unpaid, overdue debts or bills, neglected obligations
Arrogate
Claim without justification, to claim for oneself without right
Articulate
Able to speak clearly and expressively
Ascertain
To find out something by examination
Ascetic
Self-denying, abstinent, austere
Askance
With disapproval, with a sketpical sideways glance
Aspersion
False rumor, damaging report, slander
Assail
To attack, assault
Assent
To agree, as to a proposal
Assertion
Declaration, usually without proof
Assess
To establish a value
Assiduous
Diligent, persistent, hard-working
Assuage
To make less sever, ease, relieve
Assurance
Guarantee, pledge
Astringent
Harsh, severe, stern
Astute
Have good judgement
Asylum
A place offering protection and safety
Atavistic
Characteristic of a former era, ancient
Atrocious
Monstrous, shockingly bad, wicked
Atrophy
To waste away, wither from disuse
Attain
To accomplish, gain
Attenuate
To make thin or slender, to weaken
Atypical
Unusual, irregular
Audacious
Bold, daring, fearless
Augment
Expand, extend
Augury
Prophecy, prediction of events
August
Dignified, awe-inspiring, venerable
Auspicious
Having favorable prospects, promising
Austere
Severe or stern in appearance, undecorated
Authoritarian
Demanding absolute obedience to authority
Autocrat
A dictator
Autonomous
Separate, independent
Avant-Garde
Radically new or original
Avarice
Greed
Aver
To declare to be true, to affirm
Avian
of,or relating to, birds
Avuncular
Like an Uncle in behavior, especially in kindness and warmth
Awe
Reverence, respect, wonder
Awry
Crooked, askew, amiss
Axiom
Premise, postulate, self-evident truth