The A Words Flashcards
Abase
V. Lower, humiliate
Abash
V. Embarrass
Abate
V. Subside, Decrease, lessen
Abbreviate
V. Shorten
Abdicate
V. Renounce, give up
Abet
V. Aid, usually in doing something wrong, encourage
Abhor
V. Detest, hate
Abject
Adj, wretched, lacking pride
Abjure
v. renounce upon oath
Abnegation
N. Repudiation, self-sacrifice
Abolish
V. Cancel, put an end to
Abominable
Adj. Detestable, extremely unpleasant, very bad
Aboriginal
Adj. N. Being the first of its kind in a region
Abortive
Adj, unsuccessful, fruitless
Abrade
V. wear away by friction, scrape, erode
Abrasive
Adj, rubbing away, tending to grind down
Abridge
V. Condense or shorten
Abscond
V. Depart secretly and hid
Absolute
Adj. complete, totally unlimited, certain
Absolve
V. Pardon (an offense)
Absorb
V. Assimilate or incorporate, suck or drink up, wholly engage
Abstain
V. Refrain, hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice
Abstemious
Adj. sparing in eating and drinking, temperate
Abstinence
N. Restraint from eating or drinking
Abstract
adj. theoretical, not concrete, nonrepresentational
Abstruse
Adj. obscure, profound, difficult to understand
Abut
V. Border upon, adjoin
Abysmal
Adj. bottomless
Abyss
N. enormous chasm
Accede
V. agree
Acclaim
V. applaud, announce with great approval
Acclimate
Adjust to climate
Acclivity
N. sharp upslope of a hill
Accolade
N. award of merit
Accost
V. Approach and speak first to a person
Accoutre
V. Equip
Acerbity
N.Bitterness of speech and temper
Acetic
Adj. Vinegary
Acidulous
Adj. Slightly sour, sharp, caustic
Acme
N. Top, pinnacle
Acoustics
N. Science of sound, quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
Acquiesce
V. Assent, agree without protesting
Acquittal
N. Deliverance from a charge
Acrid
Adj. Sharp, bitterly pungent
Acrimonious
Adj. Bitter in words or manner
Acrophobia
N. Fear of heights
Actuarial
Adj. Calculating, pertaining to insurance statistics
Acuity
N. Sharpness
Acumen
N. Mental keenness
Acute
Adj. Quickly perceptive, keen, brief and severe
Adage
N. Wise saying, proverb
Adamant
Adj. Hard, inflexible
Adapt
V. Alter, modify
Addiction
N. compulsive, habitual need
Addle
V. Muddle, drive crazy, become rotten
Address
V. Direct a speech to, deal with or discuss
Adept
Adj. Expert at
Adhere
V. Stick fast
Adherent
N. Supporter, follower
Adjacent
ADJ. adjoining, neighboring, close by
Adjunct
N. Something added on or attached (generally nonessential or inferior)
Admonition
N. Warning
Adorn
V. Decorate
Adroit
Adj. Skillful
Adulation
N. Flattery, admiration
Adulterate
V. Make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances
Advent
N. Arrival
Adversary
N. Opponent
Adverse
ADJ Unfavorable, hostile
Adversity
N. Unfavorable fortune, hardship, a calamitous event
Advocacy
N. Support, active pleading on something’s behalf
Advocate
V. Urge, plead for
Aerie
N. Nest of a large bird of prey (eagle, hawk)
Aesthetic
Adj. artistic, dealing with or capable of the appreciation of the beautiful
Affable
Adj. easily approachable, warmly friendly
Affected
Adj. artificial, pretended, assumed in order to impress
Affidavit
N. Written statement made under oath
Affinity
N. Kinship
Affirmation
N. Positive assertion, confirmation, solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath
Affix
V. Fasten, attach, add on
Affliction
N. State of distress, cause of suffering
Affluence
N. Abundance, wealth
Affront
N. Insult, offense, intentional act of disrespect
Aftermath
N. Consequences, outcome, upshot
Agenda
N. Items of business at a meeting
Agent
N. Means or instrument, personal representative, person acting in an official capacity
Aggrandize
V. Increase or intensify
Aggregate
V. Gather, accumulate
Aggressor
N. Attacker
Aghast
Adj. Horrified
Agility
N. Nimbleness
Agitate
V. Stir up, disturb
Agnostic
N. one who is skeptical of the existence or know-ability of any god or any ultimate reality
Alacrity
N. Cheerful promptness
Alchemy
N. Medieval chemistry
Alcove
N. Nook, small recessed section of a room
Alias
N. an assumed name
Alienate
N. Make hostile, separate
Alimentary
Adj. supplying nourishment
Alimony
N. Payments made to an ex-spouse after divorce
Allay
V. Calm, pacify
Allege
V. state without proof
Allegiance
N. Loyalty
Allegory
N. Story in which characters are used as symbols