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A

Terms

undefined, object
copy deck
actuarial
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
abstruse
obscure; profound; difficult to understand
adverse
going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
n acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
n abut
border upon; adjoin
append
attach
antipathy
aversion; dislike or opposition
agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
analogous
comparable; similar
n auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
address
direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
actuary
someone who advises insurance companies
averse
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
abject
(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
awe
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
amity
friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
advent
arrival
s proverb
adage; someone or something well known for notoriety; ADJ. proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ADV. proverbially
asymmetric
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
alienate
make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
n askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
n alcove
nook; recess
n anvil
iron block used in hammering out metals
amorphous
formless; lacking shape or definition
amble
walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
assent
agree; accept; N. assessment
adversity
great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
anemia
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
abhor
detest; hate
ascertain
find out for certain; make certain
adapt
make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
adjacent
adjoining; neighboring; close by
alias
an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
aversion
firm dislike
august
impressive; majestic
abominate
loathe; hate
allegiance
loyalty
n amok(amuck)
in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
n augury
omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
agility
nimbleness; ability to move quickly
amenable
obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests
appease
pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
amoral
nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
n arrhythmic
lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
s apiculture
bee-keeping
aberrant
abnormal or deviant
ascribe
refer; attribute; assign
n abeyance
suspended action
arbiter
person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware
atheistic
denying the existence of God; N. atheism
assiduous
diligent
assurance
firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in fron of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make (something) certain to heappen; make (someone) feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one's own ability; showing certainty
accommodate
oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
abstinence
restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
n adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
anomaly
irregularity
appall
dismay; shock deeply
n apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
n anodyne
drug that relieves pain or trouble; ÁøÅëÁ¦; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
abscond
depart secretly and hide
attrition
rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
n acerbity
bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)
academic
related to a school; not practical or directly useful
n ashen
ash-colored; deadly pale
n acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point
ascendancy
controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
n apprehensive
fearful; discerning
abstract
theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
amphibian
able to live both on land and in water; N.
amplify
increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph
n apologist
one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
n aloft
upward; high up in the air
adulterate
make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
s hive
box for bees; V: cause to go in a hive
n archives
public records; place where public records are kept
anchor
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
apparition
ghost; phantom
allure
entice; attract; tempt
archaeology
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
abjure
renounce upon oath
acquittal
deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
alimentary
supplying nourishment
apprise
inform
avuncular
of or like an uncle
adroit
skillful (in using mind or hand)
n acidulous
slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
avenge
take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.
austere
forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
aboriginal
being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine
avert
prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
aspirant
seeker after position or status
analogy
similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
n analgesic
causing insensitivity to pain; N.
n adage
wise saying; proverb
n abate
subside or moderate
s analgesia
condition of being unable to feel pain
n assay
analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
n array
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
n agape
openmouthed
anarchist
person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
approbation
approval
n amiss
wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
asperity
sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
alleviate
relieve (pain)
audit
examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
appraise
estimate value of; N. appraisal
abyss
enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
acumen
mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
articulate
effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
accretion
growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
n alimony
payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
n astral
relating to the stars
antecedents
preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
n advert
refer
n ambrosia
food of the gods
abrogate
abolish
admonish
warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
n aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)
nest of a large bird of prey
abdicate
renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)
n ample
enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
n argot
slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
abase
lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect
apposite
appropriate; fitting
abridge
condense or shorten
s regent
a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent
n atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristics
avow
declare openly; N. avowal
s arboreal
of or living in trees
anthropologist
student of the history and science of humankind
ambulatory
able to walk
anecdote
short story of an amusing or interesting event
n anathema
solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
alacrity
cheerful promptness without reluctance
arch-
chief; first; Ex. archbishop
n amputate
cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
artisan
a manually skilled worker
advocacy
support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something
assail
assault
n awl
pointed tool used for piercing
n astigmatism
eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
ancestry
family descent; ADJ. ancestral
n apex
tip; summit; climax; highest point
adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior position
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
n awry
distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
animosity
active enmity
agrarian
pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform
aphorism
pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
n amalgam
combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth
adversary
opponent; enemy
astronomical
enormously large or extensive
acute
(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
annihilate
destroy
abstemious
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
n accoutre
equip; N. accoutrement
attentive
alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration
abusive
coarsely insulting; physically harmful
ascetic
practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
abbreviate
shorten
astute
wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
arbitrate
act as judge (at the request of both sides)
n atypical
not normal; not typical
authoritarian
subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
n avid
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
abstain
refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote; ±â±ÇÇÏ´Ù
adamant
hard; inflexible
ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
n arboretum
place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
antecede
precede
anesthetic
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
n arroyo
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
accede
agree
accolade
award of merit; strong praise and approval
authenticate
prove genuine
n anthem
song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
anachronism
an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
ameliorate
improve
amphitheater
oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
angular
sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
s artery
blood-vessel; CF. vein
n assert
state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence
aptitude
fitness; talent
accost
approach and speak first to a person
anoint
consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
autopsy
examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
abominable
detestable; extremely unpleasant
abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
acuity
sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
adulation
flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
affected
artificial; pretended
n agenda
items of business at a meeting
arsenal
storage place for military equipment
n archaic
antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
avalanche
great mass of falling snow and ice
aspire
seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
attribute
essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
acknowledge
recognize; admit
acquiesce
assent; agree passively; comply without protest
n addle
make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
allocate
assign; set apart for a particular purpose
n aperture
opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
apocalyptic
prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
adhere
stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
apogee
highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
n acrid
bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
altercation
noisy quarrel
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable
auspicious
favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
affable
easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
aviary
enclosure for birds; large cage
s awful
terrible; very bad
annul
make void
n arid
(of land) dry; barren; unproductive
affinity
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
n antiquated
obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
n askance
with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
s apiarist
person who keeps bees
n animus
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
astringent
binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
aberration
deviation from the normal; mental disorder
assimilate
absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)
affidavit
written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
acrophobia
fear of heights
n acetic
vinegary
allege
state without proof
anomalous
abnormal; irregular
n ape
imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)
avocation
secondary or minor occupation
n anthology
book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
apprehend
arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
accrue
come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
n artifice
deception; trickery
n aquiline
curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
acclimate
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
affliction
state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
atrophy
wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
n agglomeration
collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
abortive
unsuccessful; fruitless
aria
operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
arbitrary
unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
alloy
mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
n allegory
story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable
n apropos
with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
animated
lively; spirited
n asinine
stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
ardor
heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
animadversion
critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
authoritative
having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
assuage
mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
amiable
agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
allay
calm; pacify
n abscission
cutting off; separation
atone
make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
n aplomb
poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
aseptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
adventitious
accidental; casual; happening by chance
affluence
abundance; wealth
arrogance
pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
anthropoid
manlike; resembling a human being; N.
ambience
environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
aesthetic
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
armada
fleet of warships
amnesty
pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
aver
state confidently; declare as true
n actuate
motivate; activate; cause to act
s poise
good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position
n artless
without guile; open and honest
n appurtenances
subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
n arduous
hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
altruistic
unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
arcade
a covered passageway usually lined with shops
acclaim
applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise
accelerate
move faster
n amulet
charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck
aghast
filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
n apolitical
having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
s elope
run away secretly with the intention of getting married
annex
attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one
n abet
assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
s nectar
drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
advocate
speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
appropriate
acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
aggregate
sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
n apothegm(apophthegm)
pithy, compact saying
adherent
supporter; follower
adept
expert at; very skilled
amazon
female warrior
apathy
lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
arraign
charge in court; indict
amend
correct; change ; generally for the better
anarchy
absence of governing body; state of disorder
amnesia
loss of memory
affirmation
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
attest
testify; bear witness
asteroid
small planet
n acrimonious
stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
ancillary
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
n archipelago
group of closely located islands
abysmal
bottomless
artifacts
object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
annuity
yearly allowance
amicable
peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
adorn
decorate
alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
auxiliary
offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
amenities
convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
attenuate
make thin; weaken
absolve
pardon (an offense)
antediluvian
antiquated; extremely ancient
n archetype
prototype; primitive pattern
absolute
complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism
n aloof
apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
antiseptic
substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
n aegis
shield; protection; defense
appreciate
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
amorous
moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
anticlimax
letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting
ablution
washing
abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind down
n apocryphal
(of a story) widely believed but untrue
annals
records arranged in yearly parts; history
annotate
comment; make explanatory notes
aspersion
slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
n asunder
into parts; apart; V. sunder
aromatic
fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
antidote
remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illness
affiliation
joining; associating with
ambidextrous
capable of using either hand with equal ease
anguish
acute pain; extreme suffering
n arable
fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
s siren
apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
n agog
highly excited; intensely curious
accomplice
partner in crime
arrears
being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
adjuration
solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
n application
diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
accessory
additional object; useful but not essential thing
autonomous
self-governing; N. autonomy
asylum
place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
assumption
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
aggrandize
make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement
allude
refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
n apiary
a place where bees are kept
acoustics
science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
abolish
cancel; put an end to
audacious
daring; bold; N. audacity
n apotheosis
elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
n abash
embarrass
n addendum
addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)
augment
increase; add to
avarice
greediness for wealth
ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
addiction
compulsive habitual need
atrocity
brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
arcane
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
n azure
sky blue
n aureole
sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
agitate
stir up; disturb
n amass
collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
accord
agreement
alchemy
medieval chemistry
n apothecary
druggist; pharmacist
n amalgamate
(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
autocratic
having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
n apoplexy
stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
affront
insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
antagonism
hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist
n appellation
name; title

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