A-B
Terms
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- abase v
- To lower in position, estimation, or the like; degrade
- abbess n
- The lady superior of a nunnery
- abbey n
- The group of buildings which collectively form the dwelling-place of a society of monks or nuns
- abbot n
- The superior of a community of monks
- abdicate v
- To give up (royal power or the like)
- abdomen n
- In mammals, the visceral cavity between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor; the belly
- abdominal n
- Of, pertaining to, or situated on the abdomen
- abduction n
- A carrying away of a person against his will, or illegally
- abed adv
- In bed; on a bed
- aberration n
- Deviation from a right, customary, or prescribed course
- abet v
- To aid, promote, or encourage the commission of (an offense)
- abeyance n
- A state of suspension or temporary inaction
- abhorrence n
- The act of detesting extremely
- abhorrent adj
- Very repugnant; hateful
- abidance n
- An abiding
- abject adj
- Sunk to a low condition
- abjure v
- To recant, renounce, repudiate under oath
- able-bodied adj
- Competent for physical service
- ablution n
- A washing or cleansing, especially of the body
- abnegate v
- To renounce (a right or privilege)
- abnormal adj
- Not conformed to the ordinary rule or standard
- abominable adj
- Very hateful
- abominate v
- To hate violently
- abomination n
- A very detestable act or practice
- aboriginal adj
- Primitive; unsophisticated
- aborigines n
- The original of earliest known inhabitants of a country
- aboveboard adv
- & adj Without concealment, fraud, or trickery
- abrade v
- To wear away the surface or some part of by friction
- abrasion n
- That which is rubbed off
- abridge v
- To make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor particles
- abridgment n
- A condensed form as of a book or play
- abrogate v
- To abolish, repeal
- abrupt adj
- Beginning, ending, or changing suddenly or with a break
- abscess n
- A Collection of pus in a cavity formed within some tissue of the body
- abscission n
- The act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation
- abscond v
- To depart suddenly and secretly, as for the purpose of escaping arrest
- absence n
- The fact of not being present or available
- absent-minded adj
- Lacking in attention to immediate surroundings or business
- absolution n
- Forgiveness, or passing over of offenses
- absolve v
- To free from sin or its penalties
- absorb v
- To drink in or suck up, as a sponge absorbs water
- absorption n
- The act or process of absorbing
- abstain v
- To keep oneself back (from doing or using something)
- abstemious adj
- Characterized by self denial or abstinence, as in the use of drink, food
- abstinence n
- Self denial
- abstruse adj
- Dealing with matters difficult to be understood
- absurd adj
- Inconsistent with reason or common sense
- abundant adj
- Plentiful
- abusive adj
- Employing harsh words or ill treatment
- abut v
- To touch at the end or boundary line
- abyss n
- Bottomless gulf
- academic adj
- Of or pertaining to an academy, college, or university
- academician n
- A member of an academy of literature, art, or science
- academy n
- Any institution where the higher branches of learning are taught
- accede v
- To agree
- accelerate v
- To move faster
- accept v
- To take when offered
- access n
- A way of approach or entrance; passage
- accessible adj
- Approachable
- accession n
- Induction or elevation, as to dignity, office, or government
- accessory n
- A person or thing that aids the principal agent
- acclaim v
- To utter with a shout
- accommodate v
- To furnish something as a kindness or favor
- accompaniment n
- A subordinate part or parts, enriching or supporting the leading part
- accompanist n
- One who or that which accompanies
- accompany v
- To go with, or be associated with, as a companion
- accomplice n
- An associate in wrong-doing
- accomplish v
- To bring to pass
- accordion n
- A portable free-reed musical instrument
- accost v
- To speak to
- account n
- A record or statement of receipts and expenditures, or of business transactions
- accouter v
- To dress
- accredit v
- To give credit or authority to
- accumulate v
- To become greater in quantity or number
- accuracy n
- Exactness
- accurate adj
- Conforming exactly to truth or to a standard
- accursed adj
- Doomed to evil, misery, or misfortune
- accusation n
- A charge of crime, misdemeanor, or error
- accusatory adj
- Of, pertaining to, or involving an accusation
- accuse v
- To charge with wrong doing, misconduct, or error
- accustom v
- To make familiar by use
- acerbity n
- Sourness, with bitterness and astringency
- acetate n
- A salt of acetic acid
- acetic adj
- Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of vinegar
- ache v
- To be in pain or distress
- Achillean adj
- Invulnerable
- achromatic adj
- Colorless,
- acid n
- A sour substance
- acidify v
- To change into acid
- acknowledge v
- To recognize; to admit the genuineness or validity of
- acknowledgment n
- Recognition
- acme n
- The highest point, or summit
- acoustic adj
- Pertaining to the act or sense of hearing
- acquaint v
- To make familiar or conversant
- acquiesce v
- To comply; submit
- acquiescence n
- Passive consent
- acquire v
- To get as one's own
- acquisition n
- Anything gained, or made one's own, usually by effort or labor
- acquit v
- To free or clear, as from accusation
- acquittal n
- A discharge from accusation by judicial action
- acquaintance n
- Release or discharge from indebtedness, obligation, or responsibility
- acreage n
- Quantity or extent of land, especially of cultivated land
- acrid adj
- Harshly pungent or bitter
- acrimonious adj
- Full of bitterness
- acrimony n
- Sharpness or bitterness of speech or temper
- actionable adj
- Affording cause for instituting an action, as trespass, slanderous words
- actuality n
- Any reality
- actuary n
- An officer, as of an insurance company, who calculates and states the risks and premiums
- actuate v
- To move or incite to action
- acumen n
- Quickness of intellectual insight, or discernment; keenness of discrimination
- acute adj
- Having fine and penetrating discernment
- adamant n
- Any substance of exceeding hardness or impenetrability
- addendum n
- Something added, or to be added
- addle v
- To make inefficient or worthless; muddle
- adduce v
- To bring forward or name for consideration
- adhere v
- To stick fast or together
- adherence n
- Attachment
- adherent adj
- Clinging or sticking fast
- adhesion n
- The state of being attached or joined
- adieu inter
- Good-by; farewell
- adjacency n
- The state of being adjacent
- adjacent n
- That which is near or bordering upon
- adjudge v
- To award or bestow by formal decision
- adjunct n
- Something joined to or connected with another thing, but holding a subordinate place
- adjuration n
- A vehement appeal
- adjutant adj
- Auxiliary
- administrator n
- One who manages affairs of any kind
- admissible adj
- Having the right or privilege of entry
- admittance n
- Entrance, or the right or permission to enter
- admonish v
- To warn of a fault
- admonition n
- Gentle reproof
- ado n
- unnecessary activity or ceremony
- adoration n
- Profound devotion
- adroit adj
- Having skill in the use of the bodily or mental powers
- adulterant n
- An adulterating substance
- adulterate v
- To make impure by the admixture of other or baser ingredients
- adumbrate v
- To represent beforehand in outline or by emblem
- advent n
- The coming or arrival, as of any important change, event, state, or personage
- adverse adj
- Opposing or opposed
- adversity n
- Misfortune
- advert v
- To refer incidentally
- advertiser n
- One who advertises, especially in newspapers
- advisory adj
- Not mandatory
- advocacy n
- The act of pleading a cause
- advocate n
- One who pleads the cause of another, as in a legal or ecclesiastical court
- aerial adj
- Of, pertaining to, or like the air
- aeronaut n
- One who navigates the air, a balloonist
- aeronautics n
- the art or practice of flying aircraft
- aerostat n
- A balloon or other apparatus floating in or sustained by the air
- aerostatics n
- The branch of pneumatics that treats of the equilibrium, pressure, and mechanical properties
- affable adj
- Easy to approach
- affect v
- To act upon
- affectation n
- A studied or ostentatious pretense or attempt
- affiliate n
- Some auxiliary person or thing
- affirmative adj
- Answering yes; to a question at issue
- affix v
- To fasten
- affluence n
- A profuse or abundant supply of riches
- affront n
- An open insult or indignity
- afire adv
- & adj On fire, literally or figuratively
- afoot adv
- In progress
- aforesaid adj
- Said in a preceding part or before
- afresh adv
- Once more, after rest or interval
- afterthought n
- A thought that comes later than its appropriate or expected time
- agglomerate v
- To pile or heap together
- aggrandize v
- To cause to appear greatly
- aggravate v
- To make heavier, worse, or more burdensome
- aggravation n
- The fact of being made heavier or more heinous, as a crime , offense, misfortune, etc
- aggregate n
- The entire number, sum, mass, or quantity of something
- aggress v
- To make the first attack
- aggression n
- An unprovoked attack
- aggrieve v
- To give grief or sorrow to
- aghast adj
- Struck with terror and amazement
- agile adj
- Able to move or act quickly, physically, or mentally
- agitate v
- To move or excite (the feelings or thoughts)
- agrarian adj
- Pertaining to land, especially agricultural land
- aide-de-camp n
- An officer who receives and transmits the orders of the general
- ailment n
- Slight sickness
- airy adj
- Delicate, ethereal
- akin adj
- Of similar nature or qualities
- alabaster n
- A white or delicately tinted fine-grained gypsum
- alacrity n
- Cheerful willingness
- albeit conj
- Even though
- albino n
- A person with milky white skin and hair, and eyes with bright red pupil and usually pink iris
- album n
- A book whose leaves are so made to form paper frames for holding photographs or the like
- alchemy n
- Chemistry of the middle ages, characterized by the pursuit of changing base metals to gold
- alcohol n
- A volatile, inflammable, colorless liquid of a penetrating odor and burning taste
- alcoholism n
- A condition resulting from the inordinate or persistent use of alcoholic beverages
- alcove n
- A covered recess connected with or at the side of a larger room
- alder n
- Any shrub or small tree of the genus Alumnus, of the oak family
- alderman n
- A member of a municipal legislative body, who usually exercises also certain judicial functions
- aldermanship n
- The dignity, condition, office, or term of office of an alderman
- alias n
- An assumed name
- alien n
- One who owes allegiance to a foreign government
- alienable adj
- Capable of being aliened or alienated, as lands
- alienate v
- To cause to turn away
- alienation n
- Estrangement
- aliment n
- That which nourishes
- alkali n
- Anything that will neutralize an acid, as lime, magnesia, etc
- allay v
- To calm the violence or reduce the intensity of; mitigate
- allege v
- To assert to be true, especially in a formal manner, as in court
- allegory n
- The setting forth of a subject under the guise of another subject of aptly suggestive likeness
- alleviate v
- To make less burdensome or less hard to bear
- alley n
- A narrow street, garden path, walk, or the like
- alliance n
- Any combination or union for some common purpose
- allot v
- To assign a definite thing or part to a certain person
- allotment n
- Portion
- allude v
- To refer incidentally, or by suggestion
- allusion n
- An indirect and incidental reference to something without definite mention of it
- alluvion n
- Flood
- ally n
- A person or thing connected with another, usually in some relation of helpfulness
- almanac n
- A series of tables giving the days of the week together with certain astronomical information
- aloof adv
- Not in sympathy with or desiring to associate with others
- altar n
- Any raised place or structure on which sacrifices may be offered or incense burned
- alter v
- To make change in
- alteration n
- Change or modification
- altercate v
- To contend angrily or zealously in words
- alternate n
- One chosen to act in place of another, in case of the absence or incapacity of that other
- alternative n
- Something that may or must exist, be taken or chosen, or done instead of something else
- altitude n
- Vertical distance or elevation above any point or base-level, as the sea
- alto n
- The lowest or deepest female voice or part
- altruism n
- Benevolence to others on subordination to self-interest
- altruist n
- One who advocates or practices altruism
- amalgam n
- An alloy or union of mercury with another metal
- amalgamate v
- To mix or blend together in a homogeneous body
- amateur adj
- Practicing an art or occupation for the love of it, but not as a profession
- amatory adj
- Designed to excite love
- ambidextrous adj
- Having the ability of using both hands with equal skill or ease
- ambiguous adj
- Having a double meaning
- ambitious adj
- Eagerly desirous and aspiring
- ambrosial adj
- Divinely sweet, fragrant, or delicious
- ambulance n
- A vehicle fitted for conveying the sick and wounded
- ambulate v
- To walk about
- ambush n
- The act or state of lying concealed for the purpose of surprising or attacking the enemy
- ameliorate v
- To relieve, as from pain or hardship
- amenable adj
- Willing and ready to submit
- Americanism n
- A peculiar sense in which an English word or phrase is used in the United States
- amicable adj
- Done in a friendly spirit
- amity n
- Friendship
- amorous adj
- Having a propensity for falling in love
- amorphous adj
- Without determinate shape
- amour n
- A love-affair, especially one of an illicit nature
- ampere n
- The practical unit of electric-current strength
- ampersand n
- The character &; and
- amphibious adj
- Living both on land and in water
- amphitheater n
- An edifice of elliptical shape, constructed about a central open space or arena
- amplitude n
- Largeness
- amply adv
- Sufficiently
- amputate v
- To remove by cutting, as a limb or some portion of the body
- amusement n
- Diversion
- anachronism n
- Anything occurring or existing out of its proper time