Words from T to Z Flashcards
abandon (n)
noun the trait of lacking restraint or control; reckless freedom from inhibition or worry
abandon (v)
verb to leave or give up
abasement
noun a low or downcast state; depriving one of self esteem
abate
verb become less in amount or intensity; make less active or intense
aberrant
adj. markedly different from an accepted norm
abeyance
noun temporary cessation or suspension
ability
noun the quality of being able to perform; possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done
abrasive
adj. sharply disagreeable
abridged
adj. shortened by condensing or rewriting
absence
noun failure to be present
absolutist
adj. pertaining to the principle of totalitarianism; someone who believes in absolute principles or politics, religions, society, etc.
absolved
adj. freed from any question of guilt
abstemious
adj. sparing in consumption of especially food and drink; marked by temperance in indulgence
abstinence
noun act or practice of refraining from an indulgence
abstruse
adj. difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
absurd
adj. inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense; inviting ridicule
academic
adj. hypothetical or theoretical and not expected to produce an immediate or practical result; marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
accentuate
verb to give emphasis or prominence to.
accept
verb tolerate or accommodate oneself to; consider or hold as true
accessible
adj. capable of being reached; easy to get along with or talk to; friendly
accident
noun anything that happens by chance without an apparent cause; a mishap
acclamation
noun enthusiastic approval
accommodate
verb make compatible with; provide with something desired or needed
accomplished
adj. successfully completed or brought to an end; highly trained or skilled
accomplishment
noun an ability or achievement that has been acquired by training
accost
verb approach aggressively or boldly
accountant
noun someone who maintains and audits business accounts
accuracy
noun the quality of being near to the true value
accustomed
adj. (often followed by `to’) in the habit of or adapted to; commonly used or practiced; usual
acerbic
adj. harsh or corrosive in tone; sour or bitter in taste
achievement
noun the action of accomplishing something
acknowledge
verb accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
acquiesce
verb to reluctantly agree; to give in to another’s argument or will without rebuttal
acrid
adj. harsh or corrosive in tone; strong and sharp
acrimonious
adj. marked by strong resentment or cynicism
acronym
noun a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name
active
adj. characterized by energetic activity
actual
adj. presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
acute
adj. having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course; of critical importance and consequence
adamant
adj. impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
adhere
verb follow through or carry out a plan without deviation; stick to firmly
ad-lib
noun remark made spontaneously without prior preparation; verb perform without preparation
administrator
noun someone who manages a government agency or department
admirable
adj. deserving of the highest esteem or admiration
admonish
verb take to task; counsel in terms of someone’s negative behavior
adroit
adj. quick or skillful or adept in action or thought; skillful (or showing skill) in adapting means to ends
adulation
noun servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise
advanced
adj. (of societies) highly developed especially in technology or industry; far along in time
adversary
noun someone who offers opposition
adversity
noun a stroke of ill fortune; a calamitous event
advertise
verb call attention to; make publicity for; try to sell (a product)
adviser
noun an expert who gives advice
advocate
noun a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
aesthetical
adj. concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
affable
adj. diffusing warmth and friendliness
affected
adj. acted upon; influenced
affluence
noun abundant wealth
affordable
adj. that you have the financial means for
affront
noun a deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect; verb treat, mention, or speak to rudely
aggregation
noun the act of gathering something together; several things grouped together or considered as a whole
aggressive
adj. having or showing determination and energetic pursuit of your ends; characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
agreement
noun compatibility of observations; the thing arranged or agreed to
alacrity
noun liveliness and eagerness
alchemy
noun a pseudoscience in which one metal (usually a cheap one) was to be changed into another one (usually gold)
alert
adj. very attentive or observant; mentally perceptive
alienate
verb make withdrawn or isolated or emotionally dissociated; arouse hostility or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness
allege
verb report or maintain
alleviate
verb provide physical relief, as from pain; make easier
alliance
noun an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty
allied
adj. joined by treaty or agreemen
aloof
adj. remote in manner; cool and distant
alter
verb to make slight changes
altruistic
adj. showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
amass
verb collect or gather; get or gather together
amateur
adj. lacking professional skill or expertise
amazing
adj. inspiring awe or admiration or wonder; surprising greatly
ambiguous
adj. having more than one possible meaning; vague
ambition
noun a strong drive for success; a cherished desire
ambivalent
adj. uhaving mixed emotions or feelings
ameliorate
verb get better; to make better
amend
verb to make better or right; to make slight changes with the intention of improving
amiable
adj. disposed to please; diffusing warmth and friendliness
amicability
noun having a disposition characterized by warmth and friendliness
amorphous
adj. lacking a definite shape
amused
adj. pleasantly entertained
anachronistic
adj. chronologically misplaced; somewthing out of its time period
analogous
adj. similar or equivalent in some respects though otherwise dissimilar
analyze
verb break down into components or essential features
anatomy
noun a detailed analysis
anecdotal
adj. similar to a personal story; an account based on experience, not facts
anger
noun a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
animosity
noun a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
anomaly
noun something which is not normal or regular
anonymous
adj. having no known name or identity or known source
antagonize
verb provoke the hostility of; act in opposition to
antecedent
adj. preceding in time or order
anthropology
noun the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings
anticipate
verb be a forerunner of or occur earlier than; realize beforehand
antipathy
noun the object of a feeling of intense aversion; a feeling of intense dislike
antipodes
noun two direct opposites
antiquated
adj. so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
apathy
noun an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
aphorism
noun a short pithy instructive saying
aplomb
noun great coolness and composure under strain
apologetic
adj. offering or expressing sorrow or apology
appalling
adj. causing consternation; noun an experience that disgusts one
apparition
noun an act of appearing or becoming visible unexpectedly; something existing in perception only
appease
verb make peace with; overcome or allay
applaud
verb express approval of; clap one’s hands or shout after performances to indicate approval
applicant
noun a person who requests or seeks something such as assistance or employment or admission
appointment
noun the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
apportionment
noun distribution according to a plan
appraisal
noun the classification of someone or something with respect to its worth
appreciative
adj. having or showing appreciation or a favorable critical judgment or opinion; feeling or expressive of gratitude
apprehend
verb anticipate with dread or anxiety
apprise
verb increase the value of
approachable
adj. easily approached; friendly
appropriate
adj. suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc.
approved
adj. generally or especially officially judged acceptable or satisfactory
approximate
adj. located close together; not quite exact or correct
arbitrary
adj. based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice
archaeologist
noun an anthropologist who studies prehistoric people and their culture
archaic
adj. so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period; ancient
archipelago
noun a group of many islands in a large body of water
ardor
noun feelings of great warmth and intensity; intense feeling of love
arduous
adj. difficult to accomplish; demanding considerable mental effort and skill
argue
verb present reasons and arguments; give evidence of
aromatic
adj. having a strong pleasant odor
arrest
noun the state of inactivity following an interruption; the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
arrogance
noun overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
articulate
adj. expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language
artifice
noun a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)
artistic
adj. satisfying aesthetic standards and sensibilities; relating to or characteristic of art or artists
ascertained
adj. discovered or determined by scientific observation
ascetic
adj. practicing great self-denial
aspersion
noun an abusive attack on a person’s character or good name
assail
verb attack someone physically or emotionally; attack in speech or writing
assert
verb state categorically; insist on having one’s opinions and rights recognized
assimilate
verb become similar to one’s environment; make similar
assuage
verb to soothe or lessen in intensity
assume
verb accept without verification or proof
assured
adj. exhibiting confidence; characterized by certainty or security
astounded
adj. filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
astronomer
noun a physicist who studies astronomy
astronomical
adj. inconceivably large
astute
adj. shrewd; having an ability to accurately assess a situation or person
attentive
adj. (often followed by `to’) giving care or attention
attract
verb exert a force on (a body) causing it to approach or prevent it from moving away
atypical
adj. deviating from normal expectations; somewhat odd, strange, or abnormal
audacious
adj. disposed to venture or take risks; unrestrained by convention or propriety
augment
verb enlarge or increase; grow or intensify
auspicious
adj. prone to favorable circumstances and good luck
austere
adj. of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; severely simple
authentication
noun a mark to indicate origin and authenticity
authoritarian
adj. characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty; noun a person who behaves in an tyrannical manner
authority
noun the power or right to give orders or make decisions; a person or group with some form of power or knowledge on an issue
autocratic
adj. characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty
autonomy
noun political or personal independence
avant-garde
adj. radically new or original; noun any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
averse
adj. (usually followed by `to’) strongly opposed
avert
verb turn away or aside; prevent from happening