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Barren > A > Flashcards

A Flashcards

1
Q

abase

A

lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect

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2
Q

abash

A

embarrass

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3
Q

abate

A

subside or moderate

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4
Q

abbreviate

A

shorten

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5
Q

abdicate

A

renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)

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6
Q

aberrant

A

abnormal or deviant

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7
Q

aberration

A

deviation from the normal; mental disorder

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8
Q

abet

A

assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage

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9
Q

abeyance

A

suspended action

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10
Q

abhor

A

detest; hate

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11
Q

abide

A

dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can’t abide rude people.

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12
Q

abject

A

(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology

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13
Q

abjure

A

renounce upon oath

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14
Q

ablution

A

washing

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15
Q

abnegation

A

renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation

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16
Q

abode

A

dwelling place; home

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17
Q

abolish

A

cancel; put an end to

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18
Q

abominable

A

detestable; extremely unpleasant

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19
Q

abominate

A

loathe; hate

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20
Q

aboriginal

A

being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine

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21
Q

abortive

A

unsuccessful; fruitless

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22
Q

abrasive

A

rubbing away; tending to grind down

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23
Q

abridge

A

condense or shorten

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24
Q

abrogate

A

abolish

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25
Q

abscission

A

cutting off; separation

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26
Q

abscond

A

depart secretly and hide

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27
Q

absolute

A

complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism

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28
Q

absolve

A

pardon (an offense)

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29
Q

abstain

A

refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one’s vote;

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30
Q

abstemious

A

sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

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31
Q

abstinence

A

restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote

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32
Q

abstract

A

theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational

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33
Q

abstruse

A

obscure; profound; difficult to understand

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34
Q

abusive

A

coarsely insulting; physically harmful

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35
Q

abut

A

border upon; adjoin

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36
Q

abysmal

A

bottomless

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37
Q

abyss

A

enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit

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38
Q

academic

A

related to a school; not practical or directly useful

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39
Q

accede

A

agree

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40
Q

accelerate

A

move faster

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41
Q

accessible

A

easy to approach; obtainable

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42
Q

accessory

A

additional object; useful but not essential thing

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43
Q

acclaim

A

applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise

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44
Q

acclimate

A

adjust to climate or environment; adapt

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45
Q

acclivity

A

sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity

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46
Q

accolade

A

award of merit; strong praise and approval

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47
Q

accommodate

A

oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging

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48
Q

accomplice

A

partner in crime

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49
Q

accord

A

agreement

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50
Q

accost

A

approach and speak first to a person

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51
Q

accoutre

A

equip; N. accoutrement

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52
Q

accretion

A

growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete

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53
Q

accrue

A

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

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54
Q

acerbity

A

bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)

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55
Q

acetic

A

vinegary

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56
Q

acidulous

A

slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic

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57
Q

acknowledge

A

recognize; admit

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58
Q

acme

A

peak; pinnacle; highest point

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59
Q

acne

A

skin disease (on the face)

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60
Q

acoustics

A

science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in

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61
Q

acquiesce

A

assent; agree passively; comply without protest

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62
Q

acquittal

A

deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner

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63
Q

acrid

A

bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent

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64
Q

acrimonious

A

stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior

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65
Q

acrophobia

A

fear of heights

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66
Q

actuarial

A

calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics

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67
Q

actuary

A

someone who advises insurance companies

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68
Q

actuate

A

motivate; activate; cause to act

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69
Q

acuity

A

sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)

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70
Q

acumen

A

mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen

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71
Q

acute

A

(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain

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72
Q

adage

A

wise saying; proverb

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73
Q

adamant

A

hard; inflexible

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74
Q

adapt

A

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.

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75
Q

addendum

A

addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)

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76
Q

addiction

A

compulsive habitual need

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77
Q

addle

A

make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)

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78
Q

address

A

direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one’s efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech

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79
Q

adept

A

expert at; very skilled

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80
Q

adhere

A

stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality

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81
Q

adherent

A

supporter; follower

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82
Q

adjacent

A

adjoining; neighboring; close by

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83
Q

adjoin

A

be next to

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84
Q

adjourn

A

suspend until a later time; move from one place to another

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85
Q

adjunct

A

something attached to but holding an inferior position

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86
Q

adjuration

A

solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly

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87
Q

adjutant

A

staff officer assisting the commander; assistant

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88
Q

admonish

A

warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove

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89
Q

adore

A

love deeply and respect highly

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90
Q

adorn

A

decorate

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91
Q

adroit

A

skillful (in using mind or hand)

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92
Q

adulation

A

flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved

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93
Q

adulterate

A

make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances

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94
Q

Advent

A

arrival

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95
Q

adventitious

A

accidental; casual; happening by chance

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96
Q

adversary

A

opponent; enemy

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97
Q

adverse

A

going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile

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98
Q

adversity

A

great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event

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99
Q

advert

A

refer

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100
Q

advocacy

A

support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something

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101
Q

advocate

A

speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for

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102
Q

aegis

A

shield; protection; defense

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103
Q

aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)

A

nest of a large bird of prey

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104
Q

aesthetic

A

artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics

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105
Q

affable

A

easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly

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106
Q

affected

A

artificial; pretended

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107
Q

affidavit

A

written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)

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108
Q

affiliation

A

joining; associating with

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109
Q

affinity

A

feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages

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110
Q

affirmation

A

positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination

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111
Q

affliction

A

state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on

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112
Q

affluence

A

abundance; wealth

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113
Q

affront

A

insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally

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114
Q

afterlife

A

life after death; later part of one’s life

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115
Q

agape

A

openmouthed

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116
Q

agenda

A

items of business at a meeting

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117
Q

agglomeration

A

collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap

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118
Q

aggrandize

A

make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement

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119
Q

aggregate

A

sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars

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120
Q

aghast

A

filled with great surprise or fear; horrified

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121
Q

agility

A

nimbleness; ability to move quickly

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122
Q

agitate

A

stir up; disturb

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123
Q

agnostic

A

one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality

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124
Q

agog

A

highly excited; intensely curious

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125
Q

agrarian

A

pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform

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126
Q

airy

A

of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal

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127
Q

alacrity

A

cheerful promptness without reluctance

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128
Q

alchemy

A

medieval chemistry

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129
Q

alcove

A

nook; recess

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130
Q

alias

A

an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias

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131
Q

alienate

A

make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of

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132
Q

alimentary

A

supplying nourishment

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133
Q

alimony

A

payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce

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134
Q

allay

A

calm; pacify

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135
Q

allege

A

state without proof

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136
Q

allegiance

A

loyalty

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137
Q

allegory

A

story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable

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138
Q

alleviate

A

relieve (pain)

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139
Q

alliteration

A

repetition of beginning sound in poetry

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140
Q

allocate

A

assign; set apart for a particular purpose

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141
Q

alloy

A

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 maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness

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142
Q

allude

A

refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference

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143
Q

allure

A

entice; attract; tempt

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144
Q

alluvial

A

pertaining to soil deposits left by running water

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145
Q

alms

A

money or goods given to the poor

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146
Q

aloft

A

upward; high up in the air

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147
Q

aloof

A

apart; not open in one’s relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.

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148
Q

altercation

A

noisy quarrel

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149
Q

altruistic

A

unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism

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150
Q

amalgam

A

combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth

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151
Q

amalgamate

A

(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body

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152
Q

amass

A

collect (gradually, in a very large amount)

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153
Q

amazon

A

female warrior

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154
Q

ambidextrous

A

capable of using either hand with equal ease

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155
Q

ambience

A

environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature

156
Q

ambiguous

A

unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation

157
Q

ambivalence

A

the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions

158
Q

amble

A

walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly

159
Q

ambrosia

A

food of the gods

160
Q

ambulatory

A

able to walk

161
Q

ambush

A

act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.

162
Q

ameliorate

A

improve

163
Q

amenable

A

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

164
Q

amend

A

correct; change ; generally for the better

165
Q

amenities

A

convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies

166
Q

amiable

A

agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly

167
Q

amicable

A

peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement

168
Q

amiss

A

wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.

169
Q

amity

A

friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations

170
Q

amnesia

A

loss of memory

171
Q

amnesty

A

pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)

172
Q

amok(amuck)

A

in a state of rage; Ex. run amok

173
Q

amoral

A

nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong

174
Q

amorous

A

moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances

175
Q

amorphous

A

formless; lacking shape or definition

176
Q

amphibian

A

able to live both on land and in water; N.

177
Q

amphitheater

A

oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena

178
Q

ample

A

enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space

179
Q

amplify

A

increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one’s remarks with a graph

180
Q

amputate

A

cut off part of body; prune (a limb)

181
Q

amulet

A

charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck

182
Q

anachronism

A

an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic

183
Q

analgesia

A

condition of being unable to feel pain

184
Q

analgesic

A

causing insensitivity to pain; N.

185
Q

analogous

A

comparable; similar

186
Q

analogy

A

similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things

187
Q

anarchist

A

person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority

188
Q

anarchy

A

absence of governing body; state of disorder

189
Q

anathema

A

solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize

190
Q

ancestry

A

family descent; ADJ. ancestral

191
Q

anchor

A

secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage

192
Q

ancillary

A

serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.

193
Q

anecdote

A

short story of an amusing or interesting event

194
Q

anemia

A

condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic

195
Q

anesthetic

A

substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia

196
Q

anguish

A

acute pain; extreme suffering

197
Q

angular

A

sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner

198
Q

animadversion

A

critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval

199
Q

animated

A

lively; spirited

200
Q

animosity

A

active enmity

201
Q

animus

A

hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition

202
Q

annals

A

records arranged in yearly parts; history

203
Q

anneal

A

reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)

204
Q

annex

A

attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one

205
Q

annihilate

A

destroy

206
Q

annotate

A

comment; make explanatory notes

207
Q

annuity

A

yearly allowance

208
Q

annul

A

make void

209
Q

anodyne

A

drug that relieves pain or trouble;opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement

210
Q

anoint

A

consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)

211
Q

anomalous

A

abnormal; irregular

212
Q

anomaly

A

irregularity

213
Q

anonymity

A

state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous

214
Q

antagonism

A

hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist

215
Q

antecede

A

precede

216
Q

antecedents

A

preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background

217
Q

antediluvian

A

antiquated; extremely ancient

218
Q

anthem

A

song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem

219
Q

anthology

A

book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus

220
Q

anthropoid

A

manlike; resembling a human being; N.

221
Q

anthropologist

A

student of the history and science of humankind

222
Q

anthropomorphic

A

having human form or characteristics

223
Q

anticlimax

A

letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting

224
Q

antidote

A

remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles

225
Q

antipathy

A

aversion; dislike or opposition

226
Q

antiquated

A

obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated

227
Q

antique

A

made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was made in an earlier period and that is rare or valuable

228
Q

antiquity

A

quality of being very old; ancient times;

229
Q

antiseptic

A

substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.

230
Q

antithesis

A

contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical

231
Q

antler

A

bony growth on the head of a deer

232
Q

anvil

A

iron block used in hammering out metals

233
Q

apathy

A

lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic

234
Q

ape

A

imitate or mimic (a person’s behavior or manner)

235
Q

aperture

A

opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light

236
Q

apex

A

tip; summit; climax; highest point

237
Q

aphasia

A

loss of speech due to injury or illness

238
Q

aphorism

A

pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic

239
Q

apiarist

A

person who keeps bees

240
Q

apiary

A

a place where bees are kept

241
Q

apiculture

A

bee-keeping

242
Q

aplomb

A

poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence

243
Q

apocalyptic

A

prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse

244
Q

apocryphal

A

(of a story) widely believed but untrue

245
Q

apogee

A

highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee

246
Q

apolitical

A

having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs

247
Q

apologist

A

one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia

248
Q

apoplexy

A

stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain

249
Q

apostate

A

one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy

250
Q

apothecary

A

druggist; pharmacist

251
Q

apothegm(apophthegm)

A

pithy, compact saying

252
Q

apotheosis

A

elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something

253
Q

appall

A

dismay; shock deeply

254
Q

apparent

A

evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement

255
Q

apparition

A

ghost; phantom

256
Q

appease

A

pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement

257
Q

appellation

A

name; title

258
Q

append

A

attach

259
Q

application

A

diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself

260
Q

apposite

A

appropriate; fitting

261
Q

appraise

A

estimate value of; N. appraisal

262
Q

appreciate

A

be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference

263
Q

apprehend

A

arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension

264
Q

apprehensive

A

fearful; discerning

265
Q

apprise

A

inform

266
Q

approbation

A

approval

267
Q

appropriate

A

acquire; take possession of for one’s own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate

268
Q

appurtenances

A

subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing

269
Q

apropos

A

with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.

270
Q

aptitude

A

fitness; talent

271
Q

aquiline

A

curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose

272
Q

arable

A

fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land

273
Q

arbiter

A

person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware

274
Q

arbitrary

A

unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler

275
Q

arbitrate

A

act as judge (at the request of both sides)

276
Q

arboreal

A

of or living in trees

277
Q

arboretum

A

place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited

278
Q

arcade

A

a covered passageway usually lined with shops

279
Q

arcane

A

esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener

280
Q

arch-

A

chief; first; Ex. archbishop

281
Q

archaeology

A

study of artifacts and relics of early mankind

282
Q

archaic

A

antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.

283
Q

archetype

A

prototype; primitive pattern

284
Q

archipelago

A

group of closely located islands

285
Q

archives

A

public records; place where public records are kept

286
Q

ardor

A

heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent

287
Q

arduous

A

hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work

288
Q

argot

A

slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people

289
Q

aria

A

operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio

290
Q

arid

A

(of land) dry; barren; unproductive

291
Q

aristocracy

A

hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat

292
Q

armada

A

fleet of warships

293
Q

aromatic

A

fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell

294
Q

arraign

A

charge in court; indict

295
Q

array

A

marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array

296
Q

arrears

A

being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done

297
Q

arrhythmic

A

lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia

298
Q

arrogance

A

pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one’s own importance and a lack of respect for other people)

299
Q

arroyo

A

gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater

300
Q

arsenal

A

storage place for military equipment

301
Q

artery

A

blood-vessel; CF. vein

302
Q

artful

A

exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice

303
Q

articulate

A

effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints

304
Q

artifacts

A

object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced

305
Q

artifice

A

deception; trickery

306
Q

artisan

A

a manually skilled worker

307
Q

artless

A

without guile; open and honest

308
Q

ascendancy

A

controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant

309
Q

ascertain

A

find out for certain; make certain

310
Q

ascetic

A

practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism

311
Q

ascribe

A

refer; attribute; assign

312
Q

aseptic

A

preventing infection; having a cleansing effect

313
Q

ashen

A

ash-colored; deadly pale

314
Q

asinine

A

stupid; Ex. asinine remarks

315
Q

askance

A

with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at

316
Q

askew

A

crookedly; slanted; at an angle

317
Q

asperity

A

sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter

318
Q

aspersion

A

slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on

319
Q

aspirant

A

seeker after position or status

320
Q

aspire

A

seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership

321
Q

assail

A

assault

322
Q

assay

A

analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)

323
Q

assent

A

agree; accept; N. assessment

324
Q

assert

A

state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one’s independence

325
Q

assiduous

A

diligent

326
Q

assimilate

A

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 wasy of behaving or thinking)

327
Q

assuage

A

mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)

328
Q

assumption

A

something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume

329
Q

assurance

A

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 assuranc

330
Q

asteroid

A

small planet

331
Q

astigmatism

A

eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism

332
Q

astral

A

relating to the stars

333
Q

astringent

A

binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism

334
Q

astronomical

A

enormously large or extensive

335
Q

astute

A

wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one’s advantage

336
Q

asunder

A

into parts; apart; V. sunder

337
Q

asylum

A

place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)

338
Q

asymmetric

A

not identical on both sides of a dividing central line

339
Q

atavism

A

resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic

340
Q

atheistic

A

denying the existence of God; N. atheism

341
Q

atone

A

make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for

342
Q

atrocity

A

brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious

343
Q

atrophy

A

wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)

344
Q

attentive

A

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

345
Q

attenuate

A

make thin; weaken

346
Q

attest

A

testify; bear witness

347
Q

attire

A

clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel

348
Q

attribute

A

essential quality; V: ascribe; explain

349
Q

attrition

A

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 attrition

350
Q

atypical

A

not normal; not typical

351
Q

audacious

A

daring; bold; N. audacity

352
Q

audit

A

examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.

353
Q

augment

A

increase; add to

354
Q

augury

A

omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)

355
Q

august

A

impressive; majestic

356
Q

aureole

A

sun’s corona; halo; bright circle of light

357
Q

auroral

A

pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis

358
Q

auspicious

A

favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices

359
Q

austere

A

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

360
Q

authenticate

A

prove genuine

361
Q

authoritarian

A

subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another’s will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father

362
Q

authoritative

A

having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive

363
Q

autocratic

A

having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy

364
Q

automaton

A

mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself

365
Q

autonomous

A

self-governing; N. autonomy

366
Q

autopsy

A

examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.

367
Q

auxiliary

A

offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant

368
Q

avalanche

A

great mass of falling snow and ice

369
Q

avantgarde

A

group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard

370
Q

avarice

A

greediness for wealth

371
Q

avenge

A

take vengence 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.

372
Q

aver

A

state confidently; declare as true

373
Q

averse

A

reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work

374
Q

aversion

A

firm dislike

375
Q

avert

A

prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.

376
Q

aviary

A

enclosure for birds; large cage

377
Q

avid

A

greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity

378
Q

avocation

A

secondary or minor occupation

379
Q

avow

A

declare openly; N. avowal

380
Q

avuncular

A

of or like an uncle

381
Q

awe

A

solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome

382
Q

awful

A

terrible; very bad

383
Q

awl

A

pointed tool used for piercing

384
Q

awry

A

distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.

385
Q

axiom

A

self-evident truth requiring no proof

386
Q

azure

A

sky blue

Barren (1 decks)

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