The A Words Flashcards

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1
Q

Abase

A

V. Lower, humiliate

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2
Q

Abash

A

V. Embarrass

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3
Q

Abate

A

V. Subside, Decrease, lessen

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4
Q

Abbreviate

A

V. Shorten

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5
Q

Abdicate

A

V. Renounce, give up

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6
Q

Abet

A

V. Aid, usually in doing something wrong, encourage

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7
Q

Abhor

A

V. Detest, hate

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8
Q

Abject

A

Adj, wretched, lacking pride

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9
Q

Abjure

A

v. renounce upon oath

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10
Q

Abnegation

A

N. Repudiation, self-sacrifice

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11
Q

Abolish

A

V. Cancel, put an end to

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12
Q

Abominable

A

Adj. Detestable, extremely unpleasant, very bad

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13
Q

Aboriginal

A

Adj. N. Being the first of its kind in a region

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14
Q

Abortive

A

Adj, unsuccessful, fruitless

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15
Q

Abrade

A

V. wear away by friction, scrape, erode

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16
Q

Abrasive

A

Adj, rubbing away, tending to grind down

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17
Q

Abridge

A

V. Condense or shorten

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18
Q

Abscond

A

V. Depart secretly and hid

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19
Q

Absolute

A

Adj. complete, totally unlimited, certain

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20
Q

Absolve

A

V. Pardon (an offense)

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21
Q

Absorb

A

V. Assimilate or incorporate, suck or drink up, wholly engage

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22
Q

Abstain

A

V. Refrain, hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice

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23
Q

Abstemious

A

Adj. sparing in eating and drinking, temperate

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24
Q

Abstinence

A

N. Restraint from eating or drinking

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25
Q

Abstract

A

adj. theoretical, not concrete, nonrepresentational

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26
Q

Abstruse

A

Adj. obscure, profound, difficult to understand

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27
Q

Abut

A

V. Border upon, adjoin

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28
Q

Abysmal

A

Adj. bottomless

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29
Q

Abyss

A

N. enormous chasm

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30
Q

Accede

A

V. agree

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31
Q

Acclaim

A

V. applaud, announce with great approval

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32
Q

Acclimate

A

Adjust to climate

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33
Q

Acclivity

A

N. sharp upslope of a hill

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34
Q

Accolade

A

N. award of merit

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35
Q

Accost

A

V. Approach and speak first to a person

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36
Q

Accoutre

A

V. Equip

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37
Q

Acerbity

A

N.Bitterness of speech and temper

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38
Q

Acetic

A

Adj. Vinegary

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39
Q

Acidulous

A

Adj. Slightly sour, sharp, caustic

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40
Q

Acme

A

N. Top, pinnacle

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41
Q

Acoustics

A

N. Science of sound, quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in

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42
Q

Acquiesce

A

V. Assent, agree without protesting

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43
Q

Acquittal

A

N. Deliverance from a charge

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44
Q

Acrid

A

Adj. Sharp, bitterly pungent

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45
Q

Acrimonious

A

Adj. Bitter in words or manner

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46
Q

Acrophobia

A

N. Fear of heights

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47
Q

Actuarial

A

Adj. Calculating, pertaining to insurance statistics

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48
Q

Acuity

A

N. Sharpness

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49
Q

Acumen

A

N. Mental keenness

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50
Q

Acute

A

Adj. Quickly perceptive, keen, brief and severe

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51
Q

Adage

A

N. Wise saying, proverb

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52
Q

Adamant

A

Adj. Hard, inflexible

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53
Q

Adapt

A

V. Alter, modify

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54
Q

Addiction

A

N. compulsive, habitual need

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55
Q

Addle

A

V. Muddle, drive crazy, become rotten

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56
Q

Address

A

V. Direct a speech to, deal with or discuss

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57
Q

Adept

A

Adj. Expert at

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58
Q

Adhere

A

V. Stick fast

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59
Q

Adherent

A

N. Supporter, follower

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60
Q

Adjacent

A

ADJ. adjoining, neighboring, close by

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61
Q

Adjunct

A

N. Something added on or attached (generally nonessential or inferior)

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62
Q

Admonition

A

N. Warning

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63
Q

Adorn

A

V. Decorate

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64
Q

Adroit

A

Adj. Skillful

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65
Q

Adulation

A

N. Flattery, admiration

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66
Q

Adulterate

A

V. Make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances

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67
Q

Advent

A

N. Arrival

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68
Q

Adversary

A

N. Opponent

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69
Q

Adverse

A

ADJ Unfavorable, hostile

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70
Q

Adversity

A

N. Unfavorable fortune, hardship, a calamitous event

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71
Q

Advocacy

A

N. Support, active pleading on something’s behalf

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72
Q

Advocate

A

V. Urge, plead for

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73
Q

Aerie

A

N. Nest of a large bird of prey (eagle, hawk)

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74
Q

Aesthetic

A

Adj. artistic, dealing with or capable of the appreciation of the beautiful

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75
Q

Affable

A

Adj. easily approachable, warmly friendly

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76
Q

Affected

A

Adj. artificial, pretended, assumed in order to impress

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77
Q

Affidavit

A

N. Written statement made under oath

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78
Q

Affinity

A

N. Kinship

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79
Q

Affirmation

A

N. Positive assertion, confirmation, solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath

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80
Q

Affix

A

V. Fasten, attach, add on

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81
Q

Affliction

A

N. State of distress, cause of suffering

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82
Q

Affluence

A

N. Abundance, wealth

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83
Q

Affront

A

N. Insult, offense, intentional act of disrespect

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84
Q

Aftermath

A

N. Consequences, outcome, upshot

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85
Q

Agenda

A

N. Items of business at a meeting

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86
Q

Agent

A

N. Means or instrument, personal representative, person acting in an official capacity

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87
Q

Aggrandize

A

V. Increase or intensify

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88
Q

Aggregate

A

V. Gather, accumulate

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89
Q

Aggressor

A

N. Attacker

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90
Q

Aghast

A

Adj. Horrified

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91
Q

Agility

A

N. Nimbleness

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92
Q

Agitate

A

V. Stir up, disturb

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93
Q

Agnostic

A

N. one who is skeptical of the existence or know-ability of any god or any ultimate reality

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94
Q

Alacrity

A

N. Cheerful promptness

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95
Q

Alchemy

A

N. Medieval chemistry

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96
Q

Alcove

A

N. Nook, small recessed section of a room

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97
Q

Alias

A

N. an assumed name

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98
Q

Alienate

A

N. Make hostile, separate

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99
Q

Alimentary

A

Adj. supplying nourishment

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100
Q

Alimony

A

N. Payments made to an ex-spouse after divorce

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101
Q

Allay

A

V. Calm, pacify

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102
Q

Allege

A

V. state without proof

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103
Q

Allegiance

A

N. Loyalty

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104
Q

Allegory

A

N. Story in which characters are used as symbols

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105
Q

Alleviate

A

V. relieve

106
Q

Alliteration

A

N. repetition of a beginning sound in poetry

107
Q

Allocate

A

V. assign

108
Q

Alloy

A

N. mixture as of metals

109
Q

Alloy

A

V. Mix, make less pure, lessen or moderate

110
Q

Allude

A

V. Refer indirectly

111
Q

Allure

A

V. Entice, attract

112
Q

Allusion

A

N. Indirect reference

113
Q

Aloft

A

Adv. upward

114
Q

Aloof

A

Adj. apart, reserved

115
Q

Altercation

A

N. noisy quarrel, heated dispute

116
Q

Altruistic

A

Adj. unselfishly generous, concerned for others

117
Q

Amalgamate

A

V. combine, unite in one body

118
Q

Amass

A

V. collect

119
Q

Ambidextrous

A

Adj. capable of using either hand with equal ease

120
Q

Ambience

A

N. environment, atmosphere

121
Q

Ambiguous

A

Adj. Unclear or doubtful in meaning

122
Q

Ambivalence

A

N. the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes

123
Q

Amble

A

N. moving at an easy pace

124
Q

Ambulatory

A

Adj. able to walk, not bedridden

125
Q

Ameliorate

A

V. Improve

126
Q

Amenable

A

Adj. readily managed, willing to be led

127
Q

Amend

A

V. correct, change, generally for the better

128
Q

Amenities

A

N. Convenient features, courtesies

129
Q

Amiable

A

Adj. agreeable, lovable, warmly friendly

130
Q

Amicable

A

Adj. politely friendly

131
Q

Amiss

A

Adj. wrong, faulty

132
Q

Amity

A

N. Friendship

133
Q

Amnesia

A

N. loss of memory

134
Q

Amnesty

A

N. pardon

135
Q

Amoral

A

Adj. nonmoral

136
Q

Amorous

A

Adj. moved by love, loving

137
Q

Amorphous

A

Adj. formless, lacking shape or definition

138
Q

Amphibian

A

Adj. able to live on both land and in water

139
Q

Amphitheater

A

N. oval building with tiers of seats

140
Q

Ample

A

Adj. abundant

141
Q

Amplify

A

V. broaden or clarify by expanding, intensify, make stronger

142
Q

Amputate

A

V. cut off part of the body, prune

143
Q

Anachronistic

A

Adj. having an error involving time in a stroy

144
Q

Analogous

A

Adj. comparable

145
Q

Analogy

A

N. similarity, parallelism

146
Q

Anarchist

A

N. person who seeks to overturn the established government, advocate of abolishing authority

147
Q

Anathema

A

N. solemn curse, someone or something regarded as a curse

148
Q

Ancestry

A

N. family descent

149
Q

Anchor

A

V. secure or fasten firmly, be fixed in place

150
Q

Anecdote

A

N. short account of an amusing or interesting event

151
Q

Anemia

A

N. condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles

152
Q

Anesthetic

A

N. substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness

153
Q

Anguish

A

N. acute pain, extreme suffering

154
Q

Angular

A

Adj. sharp-cornered, stiff in manner

155
Q

Animated

A

Adj. lively, spirited

156
Q

Animosity

A

N. active enmity

157
Q

Animus

A

N. hostile feeling or intent

158
Q

Annals

A

N. records, history

159
Q

Annex

A

V. attach, take possession of

160
Q

Annhilate

A

V. destroy

161
Q

Annotate

A

V. comment, make explanatory notes

162
Q

Annul

A

V. make void

163
Q

Anoint

A

V. consecrate

164
Q

Anomalous

A

Adj. abnormal, irregular

165
Q

Anomaly

A

N. irregularity

166
Q

Antecede

A

V. precede

167
Q

Antecedents

A

N. preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later, ancestors or early background

168
Q

Antediluvian

A

Adj. antiquated, extremely ancient

169
Q

Anthem

A

N. song of praise or patriotism

170
Q

Anthology

A

N. book of literary selections by various authors

171
Q

Anthropocentric

A

Adj. regarding human beings as the center of the universe

172
Q

Anthropoid

A

Adj. manlike

173
Q

Anthropologist

A

N. a student of the history and science of mankind

174
Q

Anticlimax

A

N. letdown in thought or emotion

175
Q

Antidote

A

N. medicine to counteract a poison or disease

176
Q

Antipathy

A

N. aversion, dislike

177
Q

Antiquated

A

Adj. old-fashioned, obsolete

178
Q

Antiseptic

A

N. substance that prevents infection

179
Q

Antithesis

A

N. contrast, direct opposite of or to

180
Q

Apathy

A

N. lack of caring, indifference

181
Q

Ape

A

V. imitate or mimic

182
Q

Apex

A

N. tip, summit, climax

183
Q

Aphorism

A

N. pithy maxim

184
Q

Aplomb

A

N. poise, assurance

185
Q

Apocalyptic

A

Adj. prophetic, pertaining to revelations

186
Q

Apocryphal

A

Adj. untrue, made up

187
Q

Apolitical

A

Adj. having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs

188
Q

Apologist

A

N. one who writes in defense of a cause or institution

189
Q

Apostate

A

N. one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs

190
Q

Apotheosis

A

N. elevation to godhood, an ideal example of something

191
Q

Appellation

A

N. name, title

192
Q

Append

A

V. attach

193
Q

Application

A

N. diligent attention

194
Q

Apposite

A

Adj. appropriate, fitting

195
Q

Apprise

A

V. inform

196
Q

Approbation

A

N. approval

197
Q

Apropos

A

PREP. with reference to, regarding

198
Q

Aquiline

A

Adj, curved, hooke3d

199
Q

Arable

A

Adj. fit for growing crops

200
Q

Arbiter

A

N. a person with power to decide a dispute, judge

201
Q

Arbitrator

A

N. judge

202
Q

Arcade

A

N. covered passageway, usually lined with shops

203
Q

Arcane

A

Adj. secret, mysterious, known only to the initiated

204
Q

Archaic

A

Adj, antiquated

205
Q

Archetype

A

N. prototype, primitive pattern

206
Q

Ardent

A

Adj, intense, passionate, zealous

207
Q

Aria

A

N. operatic solo

208
Q

Arid

A

Adj. dry, barren

209
Q

Arraign

A

V. charge in court, indict

210
Q

Array

A

V. marshal, draw up in order

211
Q

Array

A

V. clothe, adorn

212
Q

Arrears

A

N. being in debt

213
Q

Arrest

A

V. stop or slow down, catch someone’s attention

214
Q

Artifice

A

N. deception, trickery

215
Q

Artless

A

Adj, without guile, open and honest

216
Q

Ascendancy

A

N. controlling influence, domination

217
Q

Ascetic

A

Adj. practicing self-denial, austere

218
Q

Ascribe

A

V. refer, attribute, assign

219
Q

Asinine

A

Adj. stupid

220
Q

Askance

A

Adj. with a sideways or indirect look

221
Q

Asperity

A

N. Sharpness (of temper)

222
Q

Aspersion

A

N. slander, slur, derogatory remark

223
Q

Aspirant

A

N. seeker after position or status

224
Q

Assail

A

V. assault

225
Q

Assay

A

V. analyze, evaluate

226
Q

Assent

A

V. agree, accept

227
Q

Assiduous

A

Adj. diligent

228
Q

Assimilate

A

V. absorb, cause to become homogeneous

229
Q

Assuage

A

V. ease or lessen (pain), satisfy (hunger), soothe (anger)

230
Q

Astral

A

Adj. relating to the stars

231
Q

Astringent

A

Adj, binding, causing contraction

232
Q

Astute

A

Adj, wise, shrewd, keen

233
Q

Asunder

A

Adv, into parts, apart

234
Q

Asylum

A

N. place of refuge or shelter, protection

235
Q

Atavism

A

N. reversion to an earlier type, throwback

236
Q

Athestic

A

Adj, denying the existence of God

237
Q

Atlas

A

N. a bound volume of maps, charts or tables

238
Q

Atone

A

V. make amends for, pay for

239
Q

Atrocity

A

N. brutal deed

240
Q

Attenuate

A

V. make thin, weaken

241
Q

Attest

A

V. testify, bear witness

242
Q

Attribute

A

N. essential quality

243
Q

Attribute

A

V. ascribe, explain

244
Q

Attrition

A

N. gradual decrease in numbers, reduction in the work force without firing employees, wearing away of the opposition by means of harrassment

245
Q

Audit

A

N. examination of accounts

246
Q

August

A

Adj. impressive, majestic

247
Q

Austere

A

Adj. forbiddingly stern, severely simple and unornamented

248
Q

Authoritarian

A

Adj. subordinating the individual to the state, completely dominating another’s will

249
Q

Authoritative

A

Adj, having the weight of authority, peremptory and dictatorial

250
Q

Automaton

A

N. robot, person performing a task mechanically

251
Q

Autocratic

A

Adj, having absolute, unchecked power, dictatorial

252
Q

Auxiliary

A

Adj, helper, additional or subsidiary

253
Q

Avarice

A

N, greediness for wealth

254
Q

Aver

A

AV. assert confidently, affirm

255
Q

Averse

A

Adj, reluctant, disinclined

256
Q

Avert

A

V. prevent, turn away

257
Q

Avid

A

Adj, greedy, eager for

258
Q

Avocation

A

N. secondary or minor occupation

259
Q

Avow

A

V. declare openly

260
Q

Awry

A

Adj, crooked, wrong, amiss

261
Q

Axiom

A

N. self-evident truth requiring no proof

262
Q

Azure

A

Adj. sky blue