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Sungwoo's GRE Vocabulary (Barron's): A

Flashcard's for the wonderful GRE vocabulary set provided by Sungwoo Park at http://www.postech.ac.kr/~gla/gre/
I'll be adding more words as i find them mixed in the other letters! stay tuned...

Terms

undefined, object
copy deck
amnesty
pardon
abyss
enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
alias
an assumed name esp. by a criminal ; ADV. alias
ambrosia
food of the gods
alchemy
medieval chemistry
anchor
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable
arch-
chief; first; Ex. archbishop
antipathy
aversion; dislike or opposition
atrocity
brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
acerbity
bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid
alleviate
relieve
accessory
additional object; useful but not essential thing
appurtenances
subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
autopsy
examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
amiable
agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
acrid
bitter ; sharp; bitterly pungent
abjure
renounce upon oath
arbiter
person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position to make influential judgments; Ex. supreme ~ of fashion in beachware
agglomeration
collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. agglomerate: jumbled mass; heap
attenuate
make thin; weaken
affable
easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
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
abhor
detest; hate
asinine
stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
adherent
supporter; follower
actuarial
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
annul
make void
amity
friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
addle
make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten
adversary
opponent; enemy
apex
tip; summit; climax; highest point
aberration
deviation from the normal; mental disorder
arroyo
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
arbitrary
unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
arcane
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
auxiliary
offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
apprehend
arrest ; dread; perceive; N. apprehension
astigmatism
eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
admonish
warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
assert
state strongly or positively; demand recognition of ; make a claim to ; Ex. assert one's independence
altercation
noisy quarrel
allay
calm; pacify
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
apothecary
druggist; pharmacist
apiary
a place where bees are kept
analogy
similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
arboretum
place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
abeyance
suspended action
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
aggrandize
make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement
aberrant
abnormal or deviant
accommodate
oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
avid
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind down
acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point
arduous
hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
application
diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
anarchist
person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
aviary
enclosure for birds; large cage
antediluvian
antiquated; extremely ancient
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
artifice
deception; trickery
appreciate
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
annihilate
destroy
anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristics
actuate
motivate; activate; cause to act
amble
walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
artisan
a manually skilled worker
abridge
condense or shorten
arraign
charge in court; indict
analogous
comparable; similar
agrarian
pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform
aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illness
advocate
speak in favor of; support ; urge; plead for
annex
attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate into a larger existing political unit ; N: building added to a large one
argot
slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
augment
increase; add to
abut
border upon; adjoin
ambience
environment; atmosphere; Ex. restaurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
affront
insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
assiduous
diligent
aspirant
seeker after position or status
arrears
being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
acquiesce
assent; agree passively; comply without protest
alcove
nook; recess
array
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
aria
operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
antecede
precede
antagonism
hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in opposition to the protagonist
augury
omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of
acuity
sharpness
arcade
a covered passageway usually lined with shops
aromatic
fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
ample
enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ~ opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
august
impressive; majestic
anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
advert
refer
absolve
pardon
adulation
flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
abominate
loathe; hate
allude
refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
adjacent
adjoining; neighboring; close by
archaeology
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
academic
related to a school; not practical or directly useful
amalgamate
combine; unite in one body
asteroid
small planet
astral
relating to the stars
antecedents
preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
adhere
stick fast; be a devoted follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyalty
assent
agree; accept; N. assessment
abash
embarrass
amnesia
loss of memory
agitate
stir up; disturb
adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
agenda
items of business at a meeting
arable
fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
aperture
opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
apolitical
having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
advocacy
support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something
altruistic
unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
avuncular
of or like an uncle
anodyne
drug that relieves pain or trouble; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
aplomb
poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
ascetic
practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ~ life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
amok
in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
aptitude
fitness; talent
apropos
with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
anvil
iron block used in hammering out metals
avalanche
great mass of falling snow and ice
anthropologist
student of the history and science of humankind
acute
sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. ~ sense of smell/analysis/pain
ascertain
find out for certain; make certain
amulet
charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck
amenities
convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
audacious
daring; bold; N. audacity
aegis
shield; protection; defense
aghast
filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
allegiance
loyalty
acrophobia
fear of heights
archives
public records; place where public records are kept
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
aspire
seek to attain ; long for; Ex. ~ to become president; Ex. ~ to/after the leadership
adverse
going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
acoustics
science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
accoutre
equip; N. accoutrement
accord
agreement
affliction
state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
apocalyptic
prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
apathy
lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
aquiline
curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
asymmetric
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
astringent
binding; causing contraction ; harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. ~ criticism
apposite
appropriate; fitting
anthem
song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
adorn
decorate
audit
examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
apogee
highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
accolade
award of merit; strong praise and approval
apprise
inform
animadversion
critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
astute
wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
affirmation
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
acquittal
deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct in a specified manner
alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
amorphous
formless; lacking shape or definition
apoplexy
stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
affluence
abundance; wealth
awe
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
ambidextrous
capable of using either hand with equal ease
acknowledge
recognize; admit
azure
sky blue
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.
apparition
ghost; phantom
archaic
antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
autocratic
having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
abdicate
to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, claim, responsibility, or the like, esp. in a formal manner: The aging founder of the firm decided to ~.
anomalous
abnormal; irregular
asunder
into parts; apart; V. sunder
apotheosis
elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
arbitrate
act as judge
abate
subside or moderate
ardor
heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
accomplice
partner in crime
anticlimax
letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting
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
accelerate
move faster
adage
wise saying; proverb
apocryphal
widely believed but untrue
atypical
not normal; not typical
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
appease
pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
abnegation
1 : deny, renounce <~ed their God> 2 : surrender, relinquish <~ed her powers>
assay
analyze ; evaluate
addiction
compulsive habitual need
auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
auspicious
favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
avenge
take vengeance 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.
amplify
increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph
abstemious
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
appellation
name; title
authoritative
having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
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
abscission
cutting off; separation
ameliorate
improve
arsenal
storage place for military equipment
alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
affected
artificial; pretended
anthropoid
manlike; resembling a human being; N.
allure
entice; attract; tempt
acclimate
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
amend
correct; change ; generally for the better
averse
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. ~ to cats/doing the house work
anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling
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 ways of behaving or thinking)
affidavit
written statement made under oath
astronomical
enormously large or extensive
atone
make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
abject
wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
avocation
secondary or minor occupation esp. for pleasure; hobby
authoritarian
subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another"s will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
angular
sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded ; bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
acclaim
applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drug has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise
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 ~
abominable
detestable; extremely unpleasant
assail
assault
adulterate
make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted substances
avert
prevent; avoid; turn away ; Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
affiliation
joining; associating with
annals
records arranged in yearly parts; history
agape
open mouthed
append
attach
anecdote
short story of an amusing or interesting event
abet
assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
amphitheater
oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
abolish
cancel; put an end to
adroit
skillful
avow
declare openly; N. avowal
absolute
complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism
animus
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
anthology
book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
artifacts
object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
abortive
unsuccessful; fruitless
aboriginal
being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine
ablution
washing
aerie
nest of a large bird of prey
anachronism
an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
artless
without guile; open and honest
arrhythmic
lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
apologist
one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
alimony
payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
affinity
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
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
adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior position
actuary
someone who advises insurance companies
ancestry
family descent; ADJ. ancestral
appall
dismay; shock deeply
autonomous
self-governing; N. autonomy
acetic
vinegary
amass
collect
antidote
remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
amazon
female warrior
adept
expert at; very skilled
adversity
great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
acidulous
slightly sour ; sharp; caustic
atheistic
denying the existence of God; N. atheism
amoral
nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
allege
state without proof
amiss
wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
alimentary
supplying nourishment
abysmal
bottomless
armada
fleet of warships
aureole
sun"s corona; halo; bright circle of light
adamant
hard; inflexible
abase
lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make lose self-respect
analgesic
causing insensitivity to pain; N.
aphorism
pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
attest
testify; bear witness
anarchy
absence of governing body; state of disorder
aggregate
sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
acrimonious
stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
approbation
approval
awl
pointed tool used for piercing
ambulatory
able to walk
aesthetic
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful ; CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
amicable
peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. ~ settlement
abstract
theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
aver
state confidently; declare as true
accede
agree
antiseptic
substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
arrogance
pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important
atrophy
wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle
acumen
mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
ashen
ash-colored; deadly pale
alacrity
cheerful promptness without reluctance
awry
distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
asperity
sharpness; roughness; severity ; Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
aloof
apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
abstruse
obscure; profound; difficult to understand
agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
abstain
refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote;
arid
dry; barren; unproductive
authenticate
prove genuine
aversion
firm dislike
anathema
solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
annotate
comment; make explanatory notes
archetype
prototype; primitive pattern
acclivity
sharp up slope of a hill; OP. declivity
ancillary
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
appraise
estimate value of; N. appraisal
ascribe
refer; attribute; assign
advent
arrival
askance
with a sideways or indirect look ; Ex. look askance at
anesthetic
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
amalgam
combination of different things; mixture of metals used for filling holes in teeth
allegory
story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable
assumption
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
accost
approach and speak first to a person
adventitious
accidental; casual; happening by chance
aseptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
abscond
depart secretly and hide
abusive
coarsely insulting; physically harmful
ascendancy
controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
animated
lively; spirited
agog
highly excited; intensely curious
abrogate
abolish
assuage
make less severe; ease or lessen (pain) ; satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
aspersion
slanderous remark; Ex. cast ~s on
abbreviate
shorten
alienate
make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
aloft
upward; high up in the air
apothegm
pithy, compact saying
attribute
essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
addendum
addition; appendix to book; something that is added
allocate
assign; set apart for a particular purpose
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 metals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
ape
imitate or mimic
abstinence
restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
amphibian
able to live both on land and in water; N.
amputate
cut off part of body; prune
amorous
moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
asylum
place of refuge or shelter; protection
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 front of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make certain to happen; make feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one's own ability; showing certainty
agility
nimbleness; ability to move quickly
anomaly
irregularity
anemia
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
annuity
yearly allowance
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
avarice
greediness for wealth
antiquated
obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
adjuration
solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
anguish
acute pain; extreme suffering
askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
apprehensive
fearful; discerning
anoint
consecrate; put oil on
animosity
active enmity; a feeling of strong dislike, ill will, or enmity that tends to display itself in action: a deep-seated ~ between two sisters; ~ against one's neighbor
archipelago
group of closely located islands
appropriate
acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. mis~
ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions

Deck Info

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