Vocab 1 - 20

Question 0

Abreaction

Answer 0

—noun

1) release of emotional tension achieved through recalling a repressed traumatic experience.

—Related forms

ab·re·ac·tive [ab-ree-ak-tiv] , adjective

Question 1

Ablution

Answer 1

— noun

1) a cleansing with water or other liquid.
2) the liquid thus used.

— Related forms

ab·lu·tion·ar·y, adjective

Question 2

Abstruse

Answer 2

—adjective

1) hard to understand; recondite; esoteric: abstruse theories.

—Related forms

ab·struse·ly, adverb
ab·struse·ness, noun

Question 3

Affable

Answer 3

—adjective

1) warmly polite and friendly: an affable and courteous gentleman.

—Related forms

af·fa·bil·i·ty, af·fa·ble·ness, noun 
af·fa·bly, adverb 
un·af·fa·ble, adjective 
un·af·fa·ble·ness, noun 
un·af·fa·bly, adverb

Question 4

Amble

Answer 4

—verb

1) a slow stroll.

—Related forms

am·bler, noun
am·bling·ly, adverb

Question 5

Ambulate

Answer 5

—verb

1) to move from place to place.

—Related forms

am·bu·lat·ed, verb
am·bu·lat·ing, verb
am·bu·la·tion, noun
am·bu·la·tor, noun

Question 6

Argot

Answer 6

—noun

1) Jargon: sociologists’ argot.

—Related forms

ar·got·ic [ahr-got-ik] , adjective

Question 7

Arrant

Answer 7

—adjective

1) downright; thorough; unmitigated; notorious: an arrant fool.

—Related forms

ar·rant·ly, adverb

Question 8

Assiduous

Answer 8

—adjective

1) persistent: assiduous reading.

—Related forms

as·sid·u·ous·ly, adverb 
as·sid·u·ous·ness, noun 
un·as·sid·u·ous, adjective 
un·as·sid·u·ous·ly, adverb 
un·as·sid·u·ous·ness, noun

Question 9

Astringent

Answer 9

—adjective

1) harsh or caustic: his astringent criticism.

—Related forms

as·trin·gen·cy, noun 
as·trin·gent·ly, adverb 
non·as·trin·gen·cy, noun 
non·as·trin·gent, adjective 
non·as·trin·gent·ly, adverb

Question 10

Augury

Answer 10

—noun

1) an omen.

—Related forms

au·gu·ral, adjective

Question 11

Aureate

Answer 11

—adjective

1) golden or gilded.

—Related forms

au·re·ate·ly, adverb
au·re·ate·ness, noun

Question 12

Bedeck

Answer 12

—verb

1) to adorn.

—Related forms

un·be·decked, adjective

Question 13

Besmirch

Answer 13

—verb

1) to soil or tarnish.

—Related forms

be·smirch·er, noun
un·be·smirched, adjective

Question 14

Bon vivant

Answer 14

—noun

1) one who lives luxuriously.

Question 15

Bookish

Answer 15

—adjective

1) devoted to reading or study.

—Related forms

book·ish·ly, adverb 
book·ish·ness, noun 
non·book·ish, adjective 
non·book·ish·ly, adverb 
non·book·ish·ness, noun 
o·ver·book·ish, adjective 
o·ver·book·ish·ly, adverb 
o·ver·book·ish·ness, noun 
un·book·ish, adjective 
un·book·ish·ly, adverb 
un·book·ish·ness, noun

Question 16

Brickbat

Answer 16

—noun

1) an unkind or unfavorable remark: The critics greeted the play with brickbats.

Question 17

Cabal

Answer 17

—noun

1) a small group of secret plotters.

—Related forms

ca·bal·ler, noun

Question 18

Canny

Answer 18

—adjective

1) circumspect; shrewd; skilled: a canny negotiator.

—Related forms

can·ni·ness, noun
o·ver·can·ny, adjective
can·ni·ly, adverb

Question 19

Dilettante

Answer 19

—noun

1) someone who dabbles in something merely for amusement.

—Related forms

dil·et·tan·tish, adjective