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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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Deck Info

Number of cards 376