vocab Flashcards
aberrant
markedly different from an accepted norm
abeyance
temporary cessation or suspension
abscond
run away, often taking something or somebody along
abstemious
marked by temperance in indulgence
abstruse
difficult to understand
absurd
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
abyss
a bottomless gulf or pit
adamant
a very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a gem
adept
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
admonish
scold or reprimand; take to task
adulate
flatter in an obsequious manner
adulation
exaggerated flattery or praise
adulterate
make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
adumbrate
describe roughly or give the main points or summary of
adverse
in an opposing direction
aesthete
one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art
affable
diffusing warmth and friendliness
affliction
a cause of great suffering and distress
affluent
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
aggrandize
embellish; increase the scope, power, or importance of
agitate
move or cause to move back and forth
agog
highly excited
alacrity
liveliness and eagerness
allegation
a formal accusation against somebody
acquiesce
agree or express agreement
allegiance
the act if binding yourself to a course of action
ally
a friendly nation
amalgamate
bring or combine together with something else
ambiguous
having more than one possible meaning
ambivalent
uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
ambrosial
worthy of the gods
ameliorate
make better
amenable
disposed or willing to comply
anachronism
locating something at a time when it couldn’t have existed
analgesic
capable of relieving pain
annex
attach to
annotate
add explanatory notes to or supply with critical comments
annul
cancel officially
anomalous
deviating from the general or common order or type
antediluvian
of or relating to the period before the biblical flood
antipathy
a feeling of intense dislike
antiseptic
thoroughly clean and free of disease-causing organisms
aphoristic
terse and witty and like a maxim
apocryphal
being of questionable authenticity
apparition
a ghostly appearing figure
appraise
consider in a comprehensive way
apprehension
fearful expectation or anticipation
apprise
inform somebody of something
approbation
official acceptance or agreement
aptitude
inherent ability
aqueous
similar to or containing or dissolved in water
arable
capable of being farmed productively
arbitrate
act between parties with a view to reconciling differences
arduous
characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
articulate
express or state clearly
ascetic
someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
ascribe
attribute or credit to
asperity
harshness of manner
aspersion
a disparaging remark
aspiration
a cherished desire
assess
estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
assuage
provide physical relief, as from pain
astringent
tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue
astute
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
atone
turn away from sin or do penitence
atrophy
a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse
attentive
taking heed
attenuate
become weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude
audacious
disposed to venture or take risks
augment
enlarge or increase
auspicious
indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
austere
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
avarice
reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth
aver
declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
averse
strongly opposed
avert
turn away or aside
avid
marked by active interest and enthusiasm
baleful
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
balk
refuse to proceed or comply
banal
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
baneful
evil or sinister
banter
light teasing repartee
barefaced
with no effort to conceal
bask
expose oneself to warmth and light, as for relaxation
belie
be in contradiction with
bellicose
having or showing a ready disposition to fight
benevolent
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
benign
kind in disposition or manner
bilk
cheat someone out of what is due, especially money
bizarre
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
blandishment
flattery intended to persuade
bleak
unpleasantly cold and damp
blithe
carefree and happy and lighthearted
blunder
an embarrassing mistake
board
a stout length of sawn timber
bog
wet spongy ground of decomposing vegetation
bogus
fraudulent; having a misleading appearance
bolster
support and strengthen
bombast
pompous or pretentious talk or writing
boor
a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking refinement
breach
an opening, especially a gap in a dike or fortification
brisk
quick and energetic
brittle
having little elasticity
brood
hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing
burgeon
grow and flourish
burlesque
a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor
buttress
a support usually of stone or brick
cadge
obtain or seek to obtain by wheedling
cajole
influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
calisthenics
light exercises designed to promote general fitness
cant
a slope in the turn of a road or track
caprice
a sudden desire
captor
a person who entraps and holds someone else
castigate
inflict severe punishment on
catalyst
substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction
caustic
capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
cavern
a large cave or a large chamber in a cave
censor
a person authorized to suppress unacceptable material
censure
harsh criticism or disapproval
cessation
a stopping