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Essential GRE Words - Barron's > A > Flashcards

A Flashcards

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1
Q

abate, v.

A

to decrease; reduce

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2
Q

abdicate, v.

A

to give up a position, right, or power

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3
Q

de facto, adj.

A

in fact, whether by right or not; exercising power without being legally established (Latin: from the fact)

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4
Q

aberrant, adj.*

A

deviating from what is normal

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5
Q

deviant, n.

A

a person whose behavior differs from the accepted standards of society

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6
Q

abeyance, n.*

A

temporary suppression or suspension

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7
Q

abject, adj.

A

miserable; pitiful

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8
Q

abjure, v.

A

to reject; abandon formally

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9
Q

abscission, n.

A

the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant

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10
Q

abscond, v.

A

to depart secretly

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11
Q

abstemious, adj.*

A

moderate in appetite

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12
Q

abstinence, n.

A

the giving up of certain pleasures

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13
Q

accretion, n.

A

growth in size or increase in amount (from ad- “to” + crescere “grow”).

Accretion concerns the growth of natural bodies. Accrual, by contrast, concerns an increase or concerns something that accumulates. It therefore has less to do with natural bodies.

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14
Q

accrue, v.

A

to accumulate; grow by additions.

Accretion concerns the growth of natural bodies. Accrual, by contrast, concerns an increase or concerns something that accumulates. It therefore has less to do with natural bodies.

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15
Q

adamant, adj.

A

uncompromising; unyielding

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16
Q

adjunct, n.

A

something added, attached, or joined

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17
Q

admonish, v.

A

to caution or reprimand

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18
Q

adulterate, v.

A

to corrupt or make impure

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19
Q

aesthetic, adj.

A

relating to beauty or art

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20
Q

affected, adj.

A

pretentious, phony

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21
Q

affinity, n.

A

fondness; liking; similarity

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22
Q

aggrandize, v.

A

to make larger or greater

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23
Q

aggregate, adj.

A

amounting to a whole; total.

Aggregate means to bring together or to collect into a mass or sum while amalgamate means to merge, combine, blend or join. Amalgamate means to coalesce, hence any difference is blended or joined after the thing is amalgamated, while aggregate concerns the mere combination of particulars such that their identity is not lost after aggregation. As a noun aggregate is a mass, assemblage, or sum of particulars; something consisting of elements but considered as a whole.

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24
Q

*alacrity, n.

A

cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed

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25
alchemy, n.
medieval chemical philosophy based on changing medal into gold; a seemingly magical power or process of transmutation
26
allay, v.
to lessen; ease; soothe
27
*alleviate, v.
to relieve; improve partially
28
alloy, n.
a combination; a mixture of two or more metals
29
allure, n.
the power to entice by charm
30
*amalgamate, v.
to combine into a unified whole Aggregate means to bring together or to collect into a mass or sum while amalgamate means to merge, combine, blend or join. Amalgamate means to coalesce, hence any difference is blended or joined after the thing is amalgamated, while aggregate concerns the mere combination of particulars such that their identity is not lost after aggregation. As a noun aggregate is a mass, assemblage, or sum of particulars; something consisting of elements but considered as a whole.
31
*ambiguous, adj.
unclear or doubtful in meaning
32
*ambivalence, n.
the state of having two conflicting emotional attitudes
33
ambrosia, n.
something delicious; the food of the gods
34
*ameliorate, v.
to improve
35
amenable, adj.
agreeable; cooperative
36
amenity, n.
something that increases comfort
37
amulet, n.
ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
38
*anachronism, n.
something out of the proper time
39
analgesic, n.
medication that reduces or eliminates pain
40
*analogous, adj.
comparable
41
analogy, n.
similarity in some ways between things that are otherwise dissimilar
42
*anarchy, n.
absence of government; state of disorder
43
anodyne, n.
something that calms or soothes pain
44
*anomalous, adj.
irregular; deviating from the norm
45
antecedent, n.
something that comes before
46
antediluvian, adj.
prehistoric
47
*antipathy, n.
dislike; hostility
48
*apathy, n.
indifference
49
apex, n.
the highest point As nouns the difference between apex and apogee is that apex is the highest point of something while apogee is (astronomy) the point, in an orbit about the earth, that is furthest from the earth: the apoapsis of an earth orbiter
50
apogee, n.
the point in an orbit most distance from the body being orbited; the highest point As nouns the difference between apex and apogee is that apex is the highest point of something while apogee is (astronomy) the point, in an orbit about the earth, that is furthest from the earth: the apoapsis of an earth orbiter.
51
apothegm, n.
a terse, witty saying (pronounced AP-uh-them and also spelled apophthegm
52
appease, v.
to calm; pacify; placate As verbs the difference between pacify and appease is that pacify is to bring peace to (a place or situation), by ending war, fighting, violence, anger or agitation while appease is to make quiet; to calm; to reduce to a state of peace; to dispel (anger or hatred). Pacify deals more with places and objects, appease with emotions, though there's little difference between them.
53
appellation, n.
name
54
apposite, adj. (apazit)
strikingly appropriate and relevant
55
apprise, v. (apprize)
to inform
56
approbation, n.
praise; approval
57
appropriate, v.
to take possession of for one's own use; confiscate
58
apropos, adj.
relevant
59
arabesque, n.
ornate design featuring intertwined curves; a ballet position in which one leg is extended in back while the other supports the weight of the body
60
archeology, n.
the study of material evidence of past human life
61
ardor, n.
great emotion or passion
62
arduous, adj.
extremely difficult; laborious
63
argot, n.
a specialized vocabulary used by a group
64
arrest, v.
to stop; to seize
65
artifact, n.
item made by human craft
66
artless, adj.
guileless; natural Ex: "The source of meaning of artless as guileless is the poet John Dryden, who wrote of William Shakespeare in 1672: 'Such artless beauty lies in Shakespeare's wit...'"
67
ascetic, n.
one who practices self-denial
68
asperity, n.
severity; harshness; irritability
69
aspersion, n.
slander; false rumor
70
assiduous, adj.
diligent; hard-working
71
assuage, v.
to make less severe
72
astringent, adj.
harsh; severe
73
asylum, n.
place of refuge or shelter
74
atavism, n.
in biology, the reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence; individual or a part that exhibits atavism; return of a trait after a period of absence
75
attenuate, v.
to weaken
76
audacious, adj.
bold; daring
77
austere, adj.
stern; unadorned
78
autonomous, adj.
self-governing; independent
79
avarice, n.
greed
80
aver, v.
to affirm; declare to be true
81
avocation, n.
secondary occupation
82
avuncular, adj.
like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
83
axiomatic, adj.
taken for granted

Essential GRE Words - Barron's (5 decks)

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