vocabulary a-c Flashcards
abandon
total lack of inhibition
abase
to humble, disgrace
abatement
decrease, reduction
abdicate
to give up a positon, right, or power
aberration
something different from the usual or normal
abet
to aid, act as accomplice
abeyance
temporary suppression or suspension
abhor
to loathe, detest
abject
miserable, pitiful
abjure
to reject, abandon formally
ablution
act of cleansing
abnegate
to deny, renounce
abolitionist
one who opposes the practice of slavery
abortive
interrupted while incomplete
abridge
to condense, shorten
abrogate
to abolish or invalidate by authority
abscond
to depart secretly
absolve
to forgive, free from blame
abstemious
moderate in appetite
abstract
theoretical; complex, difficult
abstruse
difficult to comprehend
accede
to express approval; agree to
accessible
attainable, available; approachable
accessory
attachment, ornament; accomplice, partner
accolade
praise, distinction
accost
to approach and speak to someone
accretion
growth in size or increase in amount
accrue
to accumulate, grow by additions
acerbic
bitter, sharp in taste or temper
acme
highest point; summit
acquiesce
to agree, comply quietly
acquittal
release from blame
acrid
harsh, bitter
acrimony
bitterness, animosity
acuity
sharpness
acumen
sharpness of insight
acute
sharp, pointed
adage
old saying or proverb
adament
uncompromising, unyielding
adapt
to accommodate, adjust
adhere
to cling or follow without deviation
adjacent
next to
adjunct
something added, attached, or joined
admonish
to caution or reprimand
adroit
skillful, accomplished, highly competent
adulation
high praise
adulterate
to corrupt or make impure
adumbrate
to sketch, outline in a shadowy way
advantageous
favorable, useful
adversarial
antagonistic, competitive
adverse
unfavorable, unlucky, harmful
aerial
having to do with the air
aerie
nook or nest built high in the air
aerodynamic
relating to objects moving through the air
aesthetic
pertaining to beauty or art
affable
friendly, easy to approach
affected (adj)
pretentious, phony
affinity
fondness, liking; similarity
affluent
rich, abundant
affront (n)
personal offense, insult
agenda
plan, schedule
aggrandize
to make larger or greater in power
aggregate (n)
collective mass or sum; total
aggrieve
to afflict, distress
agile
well- coordinated, nimble
agitation
commotion, excitement; uneasiness
agnostic
one doubting that people can know God
agrarian
relating to farming or rural matters
alacrity
cheerful willingness, eagerness; speed
alchemy
medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold
algorithm
mechanical problem solving procedure
alias
assumed name
alienated
distanced, estranged
aligned
precisely adjusted; commited to one side or party
allay
to lessen, ease, or soothe
allegory
symbolic representation
alleviate
to relieve, improve partially
alliteration
repetition of the beginning sounds of words
allocation
allowance, portion, share
allure (v)
to entice by charm; attract
allusion
indirect reference
allusiveness
quality of making many indirect references
aloof
detached, indifferent
altercation
noisy dispute
altruism
unselfish concern for other’s welfare
amalgam
mixture, combination, alloy
ambidextrous
able to use both hands equally well
ambiguous
uncertain; subject to multiple interpretations
ambivalence
attitude of uncertainty; conflicting emotions
ameliorate
to make better, improve
amenable
agreeable, cooperative
amend
to improve or correct flaws in
amenity
pleasantness; something increasing comfort
amiable
friendly, agreeable
amity
friendship
amoral
unprincipled, unethical
amorous
strongly attrached to love; showing love
amorphous
having no definite form
amortize
to diminish by installment payments
amphibian (n)
creature equally at home on land or in water
amphitheater
arena theater with rising tiers around a central open space
ample
abundant, plentiful
amplify
to increase, intensify
amulet
ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
anachronism
something chronologically inappropriate
anachronistic
outdated
analogous
comparable, parallel
anarchy
absence of government or law; chaos
anathema
ban, curse; something shunned or disliked
ancillary
accessory, subordinate, helping
anecdote
short, usually funny account of an event
angular
characterized by sharp angles; lean and gaunt
animation
enthusiasm, excitement
animosity
hatred, hostility
annul
to cancel, nullify, declare void, or make legally invalid
anodyne
something that calms or soothes pain
anoint
to apply oil to, esp. as a sacred rite
anomaly
irregularity or deviation from the norm
anonymity
condition of having no name or an unknown name
antagonist
foe, opponent, adversary
antecedent (adj)
coming before in place or time
antediluvian
prehistoric, ancient beyond measure
antepenultimate
third from last
anterior
preceding, previous, before, prior (to)
anthology
collection of literary works
anthropomorphic
attributing human qualities to non-humans
antipathy
dislike, hostility; extreme opposition or adversion
antiquity
ancient times; the qualit of being old or ancient
antithesis
exact opposite or direct contrast
apathetic
indifferent, unconcerned
apathy
lack of feeling or emotion
aphasia
inability to speak or use words
aphelion
point in a planet’s orbit that is farthest from the sun
aphorism
old saying or short pithy statement
apocryphal
not genuine; fictional
apostate (n)
one who renounces a religious faith
apostrophe
speech to the reader or someone not present
apotheosis
glorification; glorified ideal
appease
to satisfy, placate, calm, pacify
approbation
praise; official approval
appropriate (v)
to take possession of
aquatic
belonging or living in water
arable
suitable for cultivation
arbitrary
depending soley on individual will; inconsistent
arbitrator
mediator, negotiator
arboreal
relating to trees; living in trees
arboretum
place where trees are displayed and studied
arcane
secret, obscure, known only to a few
archaic
antiquated, from an earlier time; outdated
archipelago
large group of islands
ardent
passionate, enthusiastic, fervent
ardor
great emotion or passion
arduous
extremely difficult, laborious
arid
extremely dry or deathly boring
arraign
to call to court to answer a charge
arrogate
to demand, claim arrogantly
arsenal
ammunition storehouse
articulate (adj)
well-spoken, expressing oneself clearly
artifact
historical relic, item made by human craft
artisan
craftsperson; expert
ascend
to rise or climb
ascendancy
state of rising, ascending; power or control
ascertain
to determine, discover, make certain of
ascetic (adj)
self-denying, abstinent, austere
ascribe
to attribute to, assign
ashen
resembling ashes; deathly pale
askew
crooked, tilted
aspersion
false rumor, damaging report, slander
aspire
to have great hopes; to aim at a goal
assail
to attack, assault
assent (v)
to express argument
assert
to affirm, attest
assiduous
diligent, persistent, hard-working
assignation
appointment for lovers’ meeting; assignment
assimilation
act of blending in, becoming similar
assonance
resemblance in sound, especially in vowel sounds; partially rhyme
assuage
to make less severe, ease, relieve
astringent
harsh, severe, stern
astute
having good judgment
asunder (adv)
into different parts
asymmetrical
not corresponding in size, shape, position, etc.
atone
to make amends for a wrong
atrocious
monstrous, shockingly bad, wicked
atrophy (v)
to waste away, wither from disuse
attain
to accomplish, gain
attenuate
to make thin or slender; weaken
attest
to testify, stand as proof of, bear witness
audacious
bold, daring, fearless
audible
capable of being heard
audit (n)
formal examination of financial records
auditory
having to do with hearing
augment
to expand, extend
augury (adj)
prophecy, prediction of events
august
dignified, awe-inspiring, venerable
auspicious
having favorable prospects, promising
austere
stern, strict, unadorned
authoritarian
extremely strict, bossy
autocrat
dictator
autonomous
separate, independent
auxiliary
supplementary, reserve
avarice
greed
avenge
to retaliate, take revenge for an injury or crime
aver
to declare to be true, affirm
aversion
intense dislike
avert
to turn (something) away; prevent
aviary
large enclosure housing birds
avow
to state openly or declare
awry
crooked, askew, amiss
axiom
premise, postulate, self- evident truth
baleful
harmful, with evil intentions
balk (v)
to refuse, shirk; prevent
ballad
folk song, narrative poem
balm
soothing, healing influence
ban (v)
to forbid, outlaw
banal
trite and overly common
bane
something causing ruin, death, or destruction
banter
playful conversation
bastion
fortification, stronghold
bay (v)
to bark, especially in a deep, prolonged way
becalm
to make calm or still; keep motionless by lack of wind
becloud
to confuse; darken with clouds
beguile
to decieve, mislead; charm
behemoth
huge creature
belabor
to insist repeatedly or harp on
belated
late
beleaguer
to harass, plague
belfry
bell tower room in which a bell is hung
belie
to misrepresent; expose as false
belittle
to represent as unimportant, make light of
bellicose
warlike, aggressive
belligerent
hostile, tending to fight
bellow
to roar, shout
bemuse
to confuse, stupefy; plunge deep into thought
benchmark
standard of measure
benefactor
someone giving aid or money
beneficent
kindly, charitable; doing good deeds; producing good effects
benighted
unenlightened
benign
kindly, gentle or harmless
bequeath
to give or leave through a will; to hand down
berate
to scold harshly
beseech
to beg, plead, implore
bestial
beastly, animal-like
bestow
to give as a gift
betoken
to indicate, signify, give evidence of
bevy
group
bias
prejudice, slant
bibliography
list of books
bibliophile
book lover
bilateral
two-sided
bilk
to cheat, defraud
billet
board and lodging for troops
biped
two- footed animals
bisect
to cut into two (unequally equal) parts
blanch
to pale; take the color out of
blandish
to coax with flattery
blasphemous
cursing, profane, irreverent
blatant
glaring, obvious, showy
blight (v)
to afflict, destroy
blithe
joyful, cheerful, or without appropriate thought
bludgeon
to hit as with a short heavy club
boisterous
rowdy, loud, unrestrained
bombastic
using high-sounding but meaningless language
bonanza
extremely large amount; something profitable
bonhomie
good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer
boon
blessing, something to be thankful for
boor
crude person, one lacking manners or taste
botanist
scientist who studies plants
bountiful
plentiful
bourgeois
middle-class
bovine
cow-like; related to cows
brazen
bold, shameless, impudent; of or like brass
breach
act of breaking, violation
brigand
bandit, outlaw
broach
to mention or suggest for the first time
brusque
rough and abrupt in manner
buffet (v)
to strike, hit
buffoon
clown or fool
bulwark
defense wall; anything serving as defense
burgeon
to sprout or flourish
burly
brawny, husky
burnish
to polish, make smooth and bright
bursar
treasurer
bustle
commotion, energetic activity
butt
person or thing that is object of ridicule
buttress (v)
to reinforce or support
byway
back road
cacophonous
jarring, unpleastanly noisy
cadence
rhythmic flow of poetry; marching beat
cajole
to flatter, coax, persuade
calamitous
disastrous, catastrophic
callous
thick-skinned, insensitive
callow
immature, lacking sophistication
calumny
false and malicious accusation, misrepresentation, slander
candor
honesty of expression
canny
smart; founded on common sense
canonize
to declare a person a saint; raise to highest honors
canvass
to examine thoroughly; conduct a poll
capacious
large, roomy; extensive
capitulate
to submit completely, surrender
capricious
impulsive, whimsical, without much thought
cardiologist
physician specializing in diseases of the heart
caricature
exaggerated portrait, cartoon
carnal
of the flesh
carnivorous
meat-eating
carp (v)
to find fault, complain constantly
cartography
science or art of making maps
cast (n)
copy, replica
cast (v)
to fling, to throw
castigate
to punish, chastise, criticize severely
catalyst
something causing change without being changed
categorical
absolute, without exception
catharsis
purification, cleansing
catholic
universal; broad and comprehensive
caucus
smaller group within an organization; a meeting of such a group
caulk
to make watertight
causality
cause and effect relationship
caustic
biting, sarcastic; able to burn
cavalier (adj)
carefree, happy; with lordly disdain
cavort
to frolic, frisk
cede
to surrender possession of something
celebrity
fame, widespread acclaim
censorious
severely critical
centripetal
directed or moving toward the ceneter
certitude
assurance, certainty
cessation
temporary or complete halt
cession
act of surrendering something
chagrin
shame, embarrassment, humiliation
chalice
goblet, cup
champion (v)
to defend or support
chaotic
extremely disorderly
charlatan
quack, fake
chary
watchful, cautious, extremely shy
chastise
to punish, discipline, scold
cherubic
sweet, innocent, resembling a cherub angel
chicanery
trickery, fraud, deception
chide
to scold, express disapproval
chimerical
fanciful, imaginary, visionary, impossible
choleric
easily angered, short- tempered
choice (adj)
specially selected, preferred
chortle
to chuckle
chromatic
relating to color
chronicler
one who keeps records of historical events
circuitous
roundabout
circumference
boundary or distance around a circle or sphere
circumlocution
roundabout, lengthy way of saying something
circumnavigate
to sail completely around
circumscribe
to encircle; set limits on, confine
circumspect
cautious, wary
circumvent
to go around; avoid
cistern
tank for rainwater
citadel
fortress or stronghold
civil
polite; relating to citizens
civility
courtesy, politeness
clairvoyant (adj)
having ESP, psychic
clamor (v)
to make a noisy outcry
clamor (n)
noisy outcry
clandestine
secretive, concealed for a darker purpose
clarity
clearness; clear understanding
claustrophobia
fear of small, confined places
cleave
to split or separate OR to stick, cling, adhere
clemency
merciful leniency
cloister (v)
to confine, seclude
coagulate
to clot or change from a liquid to a solid
coalesce
to grow together or cause to unite as one
coddle
to baby, treat indulgently
coerce
to compel by force or intimidation
coffer
strongbox, large chest for money
cogent
logically forceful, compelling, convincing
cognate
related, similar, akin
cognition
mental process by which knowledge is acquired
cognomen
family name; any name, especially a nickname
cohabit
to live together
coherent
intelligible, lucid, understandable
collateral
accompanying
colloquial
characteristic of informal speech
colloquy
dialogue or conversation, conference
collusion
collaboration, complicity, conspiracy
comeliness
physical grace and beauty
commend
to compliment, praise
commensurate
proportional
commission
fee payable to an agent; authorization
commodious
roomy, spacious
commonplace
ordinary, found every day
communicable
transmittable
commute
to change a penalty to a less severe one
compatriot
fellow countryman
compelling (adj)
having a powerful and irresistible effect
compensate
to repay or reimburse
complacent
self-satisfied, smug, affable
complement
to complete, perfect
compliant
submissive and yielding
complicity
knowing partnership in wrongdoing
compound (adj)
complex; composed of several parts
compound (v)
to combine, add to
compress (v)
to reduce, squeeze
compulsive
obsessive, fanatic
compunction
feeling of uneasiness caused by guilt or regret
concave
curving inward
concede
to yield, admit
conceptualize
to envision, imagine
concerto
musical composition for orchestra and soloist(s)
conciliatory
overcoming distrust or hostility
concord
agreement
concur
to agree
condone
to pardon or forgive; overlook, justify, or excuse a fault
conduit
tube, pipe, or small passage
confection
something sweet to eat
confiscate
to appropriate, seize
conflagration
big, destructive fire
confluence
meeting place; meeting of two streams
confound
to baffle, perplex
congeal
to become thick or solid, as a liquid freezing
congenial
similar in tastes and habits
congenital
existing since birth
conglomerate
collected group of varied things
congress
formal meeting or assembly
congruity
correspondence, harmony, agreement
conjecture
speculation, prediction
conjugal
pertaining to marriage
conjure
to evoke a spirit, cast a spell
connive
to conspire, scheme
consanguineous
of the same origin; related by blood
conscientious
governed by conscience; careful and thorough
consecrate
to declare sacred; dedicate to a goal
consensus
unanimity, agreement of opinion or attitude
consign
to commit, entrust
consolation
something providing comfort or solace for a loss or hardship
consolidate
to combine, incorporate
consonant (adj)
consistent with, in agreement with
constituent
component, part; citizen, voter
constrained
forced, compelled; confined, restrained
constraint
something that forces or compels; something which restrains or confines
construe
to explain or interpret
consummate (adj)
accomplished, complete, perfect
consummate (v)
to complete, fulfill
contend
to battle, clash; compete
contentious
quarrelsome, disagreeable, belligerent
continence
self control, self restraint
contravene
to contradict, deny, act contrary to
contrite
deeply sorrowful and repentant for a wrong
contusion
bruise
conundrum
riddle, puzzle or problem with no solution
convalescence
gradual recovery after an illness
convene
to meet, come together, assemble
conventional
typical, customary, commonplace
convex
curved outward
convivial
sociable; fond of eating, drinking, and people
convoke
to call together, summon
convoluted
twisted, complicated, involved
copious
abundant, plentiful
coquette
woman who flirts
corporeal
having to do with the body; tangible, material
corpulence
obesity. fatness, bulkiness
correlation
association, mutual relation of two or more things
corroborate
to confirm, verify
corrugate
to mold in a shape with parallel grooves and ridges
cosmetic (adj)
relating to beauty; affecting the surface of something
cosmography
science that deals with the nature of the universe
cosmopolitan
sophisticated, free from local prejudices
cosset
to pamper, treat with great care
coterie
small group of persons with a similar purpose
countenance (n)
facial expression; look of approval or support
countenance (v)
to favor, support
countermand
to annul, cancel, make a contrary order
countervail
to counteract, to exert force against
coven
group of witches
covert
hidden; secret
covet
to desire strongly something possessed by another
crass
crude, unrefined
craven
cowardly
credence
acceptance of something as true or real
credible
plausible, believable
credulous
gullible, trusting
creed
statement of belief or principle
crescendo
gradual increase in volume of sound
criterion
standard for judging, rule for testing
cryptic
puzzling
cuisine
characteristic style of cooking
culmination
climax, final stage
culpable
guilty, responsible for wrong
culprit
guilty person
cumulative
resulting from gradual increase
cupidity
greed
curator
caretaker and overseer of an exhibition, esp. in a museum
curmudgeon
cranky person
cursory
hastily done, superficial
curt
abrupt, blunt
curtail
to shorten
cutlery
cutting instruments; tableware
cygnet
young swan
cynic
person who distrusts the motives of others
