3400 Words Flashcards
taken aback
surprised; startled
abandon
to leave; to give up; to discontinue
abase
to humiliate; to humble; to lower
abash
ashamed; embarrassed
abate
to lessen; to decrease
abdicate
to yield; to give up
abduct
to take away; to kidnap
aberration
abnormality; deviation
abet
to aid; to encourage
abeyance
a temporary postponement
abhor
to hate; to detest
abide
(two meanings); to remain; to put up with
abject
miserable; wretched
abjure
to give up (rights)
ablution
a washing; cleansing
abnegate
to deny; to reject
abolition
doing away with; putting an end to
abnegate
to deny; to reject
abolition
doing away with; putting an end to
abominate
to detest; to dislike strongly
aborigine
original inhabitant
abortive
unsuccessful
abound
to be large in number
aboveboard
honest; frank; open
abrade
to wear away
abridge
to shorten
abrogate
to abolish; to repeal
abscond
to leave secretly; to flee
absolve
to free from responsibility
abstemious
moderate or sparing in eating or drinking
abstience
self-denial; resistant to temptation
abstract
(two meanings); a summary (n), to remove (v)
abstruse
hard to understand
absurd
ridiculous; unreasonable
abut
to touch; to rest on or against
abysmal
wretched; extremely bad
abyss
a bottomless pit; anything infinite
academic
(two meanings); pertaining to school; theoretical or unrealistic
accede
to agree to
accelerate
to speed up; to move faster
accelerate
to speed up; to move faster
accessible
easy to approach; open
access
approach; admittance
accessory
something additional
acclaim
to greet with approval
acclimate
to adapt; to get used to
acclivity
upward slope
accolade
honor; aware; approval
accomodate
to make fit; to help
accomplice
a partner in crime
accord
agreement
accost
to approach and speak to
accoutrement
equipment; outfit
accredit
to approve; to certify
accretion
to increase; an addition
accrue
to gather; to accumulate
acerbic
sharp or bitter in smell or taste; sharpness of temper or words
acknowledge
to admit; to confess
acme
highest point; peak
acoustics
the branch of physics dealing with sound
acquiesce
to agree; to consent
acquit
to free of guilt; to clear
acrid
bitter to the taste or smell; sarcastic
acrimonious
harsh in speech or behavior
acronym
word formed from initials
acrophobia
fear of heights
actuate
to put into motion or action
acumen
mental keenness; shrewdness
acute
sharp; keen
ad infinitum
endlessly; forever
ad lib
to act or speak without preparation
adage
a familiar saying
adamant
stubborn; unyielding
adapt
to adjust; to change
addendum
something added as a supplement
addled
confused
adduce
to give an example in proving something
adept
highly skilled
adherent
(two meaning); sticking fast (adj); a follower or a supporter (n)
adipose
fatty
adjacent
near; close; adjoining
adjudicate
to judge
adjunct
a subordinate; an assistant
admonish
to warn
ado
fuss; trouble
Adonis
a very handsome man
adorn
to dress up; to decorate
adroit
skillful; clever
adulation
excessive praise or flattery
adulterate
to make impure
advent
an arrival; a coming
adventitious
accidental; nonessential
adversary
enemy; opponent
adversity
a misfortune; distress
advocate
to recommend; to defend
aegis
a shield; protection; sponsorship
aesthetic
pertaining to beauty
affable
friendly; agreeable
affectation
a phony attitude; insincerity
affiliate
to associate or to unite with
affinity
attraction to
affirmation
a statement that something is true
affix
to attach
affliction
great suffering; hardship
affluence
wealth
affront
an insult
aftermath
outcome; result
agape
open-mouthed; surprised
agenda
a list or program of things to be done
aggrandize
to enlarge or to expand
aggravate
to worsen an already bad situation; to intensify
aggregate
to collect; to gather together
aghast
shocked; terrified
agile
able to move quickly
agitate
to upset; to stir up
agnostic
one who doubts the existence of God
agoraphobia
fear of open places
agrarian
pertaining to farmers and agriculture
ague
a fever; plague
alacrity
liveliness; willingness
albatross
(two meanings); a seabird; a constant burden
albeit
although
alchemy
chemistry of the Middle Ages
alias
as assumed name
alien
strange; foreign
alienate
to make others unfriendly to you
alimentary
furnishing food or nourishment
allay
to relieve or to calm
alleged
so-called; supposed
allegory
a symbolic work of literature
allegro
rapid; quick
alleviate
to lessen; to relieve
allocate
to set aside for a specific person
allude
to hint at; to refer to indirectly
alluring
tempting; fascinating; charming
alluvial
pertianing to a deposit of sand formed by flowing water
aloft
up in the air; high
aloof
reserved; cool; indifferent
alter
to change
altercation
an argument; a disagreement
altruism
unselfishness; concern for others
amalgamate
to combine; to unite; to blend
amass
to accummulate; to collect
amazon
a big, strong, masculine woman
ambient
surrounding; on all sides
ambiguous
unclear; open to more than one interpretation
ambivalence
conflicting feelings toward something or someone
ambrosial
please to the taste or smell
ambulatory
moving about; capable of walking
ambuscade
hidden or secret attack
ameliorate
to improve; to make better
amenable
agreeable; responsive
amend
to change; to alter
amenities
courtesies; social graces; pleasantries
amiable
friendly; pleasant
amicable
friendly; agreeable
amiss
wrong; faulty; improper
amity
friendship
amnesty
official pardon for an offense
amoral
lacking a sense of right and wrong
amorous
loving
amorphous
shapless
amphibious
able to live on both land and water
ample
roomy; abundant
amplify
to make larger or greater
amulet
a charm worn to keep evil away
anachronism
something out of place or time
analgesic
drug that relieves pain
analogy
similarity or comparison
anarchy
absence of government
anathema
a curse; a perosn or thing to be avoided
ancillary
helping; subordinate
anecdote
a short, entertaining story
anent
regarding; concerning
anguish
great suffering or grief
anhydrous
without water
animadversion
criticism; comment that opposes
animate
to give life to
animosity
hatred; hostility
animus
hostile feeling
annals
historical records
anneal
to heat and then cool; to toughen
annihilate
to totally destroy
annuity
specified income payable at stated intervals
annul
to cancel; to do away with
anomalous
abnormal; inconsistent
anon
soon
anoxia
lack of oxygen
antecedent
that which goes before something else
antediluvian
very old-fashioned; primitive
anterior
located in front or forward
anteroom
a lobby or waiting room
anthem
song of praise
anthology
collection of literary works
anthropoid
resembling man
anthrpomorphic
attributing human form to objects, gods, etc.
antic
playful or silly act; prank
anticlimax
something unimportant coming after something important
antidote
a remedy; a counteractive
antipathy
intense dislike
antipodes
opposite sides (of the earth)
antiquated
ancient; extremely old
antithesis
an exact opposite
apathy
indifference; lack of feeling
ape
(two meanings); a monkey (n); to imitate or to mimic (v)
aperture
an opening; a gap
apex
the highest point; summit
aphasia
loss of the ability to speak
aphorism
brief saying; poise
apocryphal
doubtful; not authentic
apogee
farthest point away from the earth
apoplexy
sudden loss of consciousness; paralysis
apostate
one who gives up his beliefs
apothecary
druggist
apothegem
brief instructive saying
apotheosis
glorification of a person to the rank of God
appall
to frighten; to cause loss of courage
apparel
clothing; attire
apparition
a ghost
appease
to soothe; to satisfy
appellation
a name
append
to attach; to add
apposite
appropriate
apprehend
(two meanings); to seize; to understand
apprehensive
fearful; anxious
apprise
to inform
approbation
approval
appropriate
to take possession of (v); suitable (adj)
appurenance
something added to another more important thing
apropos
relevant; appropriate; fitting
aptitude
ability
aquatic
pertaining to water
aquiline
like an eagle; curved or hooked
arable
good for farming
arbiter
a judge; an umpire
arbitrary
partial; biased
arbor
a shaded area
arcane
mysterious
archaic
outdated; old-fashioned
archaeology
study of remains of past cultures
archetype
original; first of its kind
archipelago
group of islands
archives
public records and documents
ardent
intensely enthusiastic
arduous
difficult; strenuous
aria
a solo in an opera
arid
dry
armistice
a truce; suspension of hostilities
aromatic
pleasant-smelling
arraign
to accuse
arrant
notorious; downright
array
an orderly arrangement
in arrears
in debt
arrogant
proud; haughty
arroyo
a deep ditch caused by running water
arson
illegal burning of property
artful
cunning; tricky; crafty
articulate
to speak clearly
artifact
a handmade object
artifice
trick; deception
artisan
one skilled in arts and crafts
ascendant
rising
ascertain
to find out; to determine
ascetic
one who denies his body pleasure and comfort
ascribe
to attribute; to credit as to a cause or source
aseptic
without bacteria
asinine
stupid; silly
to look askance
to look sidewise; to look suspiciously
askew
crooked; out of position
asperity
harshness; roughness
aspersion
a damaging remark
aspire
to desire; to have an ambition
assail
to attack; to assault
assay
to test; to try
assent
to agree; to accept
assertive
confident; positive
assess
to estimate the value of
assiduity
diligence; care
assimilate
to absorb
assuage
to calm; to make less severe
asteroid
a very small planet
astral
pertaining to the stars
astray
in the wrong direction
astringent
substance that contracts blood vessels or shrinks tissues
astute
shrewd; very smart
asunder
into separate parts
asylum
a safe place; a refuge
atavistic
going back to behavior found in a remote ancestor
atheist
one who denies God’s existence
atlas
book of maps
atone
to make up for; to repent
atrocious
cruel; brutal
atrophy
to waste away; to become useless
attenuated
decreased; weakened
attest
to confirm; to declare to be correct
attribute
(two meanings); to credit or assign to (v); a characteristic or trait (n)
attrition
a wearing down or away; a decline
atypical
abnormal; not usual
au courant
up-to-date; fully informed
audacity
boldness; daring
audible
capable of being heard
audit
to examine accounts
augment
to increase; to make greater
augur
to predict
august
majestic; worthy of respect; impressive
aura
a radiance; a glow
aural
pertaining to the sense of hearing
auroral
rosy; pertaining to the dawn
auspices
approval; support
auspicious
favorable
austere
severe; stern; self-disciplined
authenticate
to confirm; to make acceptable
authoritative
dictatorial; having power
autocratic
despotic; unlimited to authority
automaton
self-operating machine; reboot
autonomy
self-rule
autumnal
mature; declining
auxiliary
giving assistance; subordinate
avarice
greed
avenge
to get even; to take revenge
aver
to declare; to state firmly
averse
reluctant; not willing
aversion
intense dislike
avert
to prevent; to turn away
aviary
place where birds are kept
avid
enthusiastic
avocation
a hobby; not one’s regular work
avoirdupois
heaviness; weight
avow
to declare openly
avuncular
like an uncle
awe
(in awe of); great admiration for or fear of
awry
twisted to one side; in the wrong direction
axiom
true statement; established principle
azure
blue
bacchanalian
wild with drunkenness
badger
to nag; to annoy
badinage
playful, teasing talk
baffle
to confuse; to bewilder
bagatelle
thing of little value; trifle
bait
(two meanings); to entrap or to seduce (v); a decoy (n)
baleful
harmful; menacing; pernicious
balk
to stop short
balm
something that calms or soothes
balmy
(two meanings); mild and refreshing; mentally unstable (slang)
banal
common; ordinary; trite
bandy
to exchange (as words)
bane
cause of ruin, harm or distress
banter
teasing; good-natured joking
barb
a pointed part, as of an arrow or fishhook
barbarous
uncultured; crude
bard
a poet
bark
a boat or sailing vessel
baroque
overdecorated; showy
barrage
heavy attack
barrister
lawyer (British)
bask
to lie in or be exposed to warmth
bastion
a strong defense; a fort
bauble
showy but useless thing
bawdy
indecent; humorously obscene
bayou
marshy body of water
beacon
a light used for warning or guiding
beatitude
state of bliss
bedlam
(two meanings); a madhouse; a noisy uproar
befuddle
to confuse; to perplex
beget
to produce
begrudge
to resent another’s success or enjoyment
beguile
to deceive; to charm
behemoth
huge animal
beholden
obligated; indebted
belated
delayed or detained
beleaguer
to encircle (with an army); to annoy
belittle
to put down; to humiliate
belligerent
warlike; quarrelsome
bellow
to yell loudly
benediction
blessing
benefactor
one who helps or supports another
beneficiary
one whoe received benefits or profits
benevolent
generous; kindly
benign
harmless; gentle
benignant
kindly; gentle
bequeath
to hand down; to pass on to
berate
to scold severely
bereave
to leave in a sad or lonely state; to deprive by force
berserk
frenzied; violently destructive
beseech
to beg; appeal to
beset
to attack
beseige
to overwhelm; to close in on
besmirch
to make dirty
bestial
savage; brutal
bestow
to give or present
bestride
to mount (a horse)
betrothed
engaged; pledged to marry
bevy
a large group
bewitch
to cast a spell on; to charm; to fascinate
bias
preference; prejudice
bibliophile
lover of books
bibulous
absorbent; fond of alchoholic beverages
bicker
to quarrel
bide (one’s time)
to wait for a favorable opportunity
biennial
occurring every two years
bigot
a narrow-minded, prejudiced person
bilious
bad-tempered; cross
bilk
to cheat; to swindle
binge
a spree; wild party
biped
two-legged animal
bivouac
temporary shelter
bizarre
weird; strange
blanch
to whiten; to make pale
bland
mild; tasteless; dull
blandishment
flattery
blase
bored with life; unexcited; indifferent
blasphemy
disrespect for holy places, people or things; irreverence
blatant
annoyingly conspicuous; offensively noisy and loud
blazon
to display; to proclaim
bleak
unsheltered; gloomy
bleary
blurred; dimmed
blight
destruction; withering; disease
bliss
extreme happiness
blithe
carefree; lighthearted
bludgeon
a short, heavy club (n); to bully or coerce (v)
