English 11 Vocabulary -Keefe
Terms
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- abate
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to lessen in force or intensity
Ex.: The hurricane began to abate when it came on land. - abet
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aid or approve in doing something wrong
Ex.: She tried to abet the bank robbery by giving a false description of the robber. - abeyance
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temporary inactivity
Ex.: His account was put into abeyance while he was hospitalized. - aberration
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deviation from the right path, or from normal.
Ex.: Conjoined twins are an abberation. - abstemious
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showing restraint in eating or drinking
Ex.: The abstemious gentleman refused his supper. - abstruse
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hard to understand
Ex.: The science text seemed abstruse to the student. - acrimonious
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bitter and irritating in disposition
Ex.: The jilted lover was most acrimonious towards her cheating boyfriend. - acumen
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sharpness, quickness in understanding
Ex.: The speaker demonstrated his acumen about world events in his talk. - adamant
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not giving in readily
Ex.: I am adamant that you will not be out past 11 PM on Friday! - aesthetic
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based on beauty rather than practical use
Ex.: The aesthetic layout of the room pleased her. - affable
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friendly and approachable
Ex.: He was an affable gentlemen, friend to all. - agnostic
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person who does not know if God exists
Ex.: Mary was not a church-goer; she was an agnostic. - alacrity
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brisk action
Ex.: The firemen responded to the call with alacrity. - allegory
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story with an underlying meaning different from surface meaning
Ex.: Henry Miller's play is an allegory for the McCarthy Senate hearings. - alleviate
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to make easier to endure
Ex.: The cold compress helped to alleviate the pain. - altercation
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an angry dispute
Ex.: The two men had a brief altercation over a parking spot. - altruistic
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thoughtful of the welfare of others
Ex.: Bill was extremely altruistic, and therefore, well-liked. - amity
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peace and friendship
Ex.: The amity between Canada and the U.S. continues today. - anachronism
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something out of place in time
Ex.: Horse-drawn buggies are an anachronism in today's world.