Arete Words Set 1 Flashcards
(500 cards)
1
Q
abysmal
A
bottomless
2
Q
anthropologist
A
student of the history and science of humankind
3
Q
bludgeon
A
club; heavy-headed weapon; V.
4
Q
bastard
A
illegitimate child
5
Q
amenities
A
convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
6
Q
abrasive
A
rubbing away; tending to grind down
7
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
8
Q
asymmetric
A
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
9
Q
barrister
A
counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar
10
Q
ambush
A
act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.
11
Q
abominate
A
loathe; hate
12
Q
amputate
A
cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
13
Q
alluvial
A
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
14
Q
adulation
A
flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
15
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
16
Q
adversary
A
opponent; enemy
17
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.
18
Q
accommodate
A
oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
19
Q
atheistic
A
denying the existence of God; N. atheism
20
Q
aboriginal
A
being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine
21
Q
accost
A
approach and speak first to a person
22
Q
absolute
A
complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism
23
Q
assumption
A
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
24
Q
badinage
A
teasing conversation; banter; joking talk
25
anodyne
drug that relieves pain or trouble; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
26
apex
tip; summit; climax; highest point
27
aureole
sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light
28
auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
29
amnesty
pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
30
benefit
advantage; anything that brings helpl
31
allege
state without proof
32
ablution
washing
33
abscond
depart secretly and hide
34
allegory
story
35
beleaguer
besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset
36
apotheosis
elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
37
autocratic
having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat
38
appurtenances
subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
39
angular
sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
40
appreciate
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
41
academic
related to a school; not practical or directly useful
42
animated
lively; spirited
43
authoritative
having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
44
ascribe
refer; attribute; assign
45
asunder
into parts; apart; V. sunder
46
abscission
cutting off; separation
47
bent
determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination
48
avarice
greediness for wealth
49
appellation
name; title
50
aloft
upward; high up in the air
51
approbation
approval
52
aggrandize
make greater; increase in power
53
artisan
a manually skilled worker
54
appropriate
acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
55
barefaced
shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie
56
blasphemy
irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege
57
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable
58
antecedents
preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
59
ample
enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
60
adept
expert at; very skilled
61
address
direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
62
arrogance
pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
63
application
diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
64
alimentary
supplying nourishment
65
ascertain
find out for certain; make certain
66
beguile
deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile
67
agitate
stir up; disturb
68
apolitical
having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
69
advocacy
support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something
70
apologist
one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
71
bestow
confer
72
battalion
army unit made up of four or more companies
73
anarchist
person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
74
alchemy
medieval chemistry
75
affable
easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
76
bellicose
warlike
77
abash
embarrass
78
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
79
amorphous
formless; lacking shape or definition
80
aperture
opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
81
aphorism
pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
82
bigotry
stubborn intolerance
83
banal
hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed
84
anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
85
animosity
active enmity
86
baffle
frustrate; perplex
87
amorous
moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
88
acidulous
slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
89
arsenal
storage place for military equipment
90
adamant
hard; inflexible
91
bluff
pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured
92
abut
border upon; adjoin
93
aplomb
poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
94
advocate
speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
95
awl
pointed tool used for piercing
96
bliss
complete happiness; ADJ. blissful
97
apparent
evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement
98
avid
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
99
barb
sharp projection from fishhook
100
anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
101
avow
declare openly; N. avowal
102
alcove
nook; recess
103
avantgarde
group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
104
arroyo
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
105
allure
entice; attract; tempt
106
aver
state confidently; declare as true
107
badger
pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal
108
abject
(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
109
arcade
a covered passageway usually lined with shops
110
acrid
bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
111
bemoan
lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of
112
august
impressive; majestic
113
apprise
inform
114
ascetic
practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
115
adventitious
accidental; casual; happening by chance
116
anecdote
short story of an amusing or interesting event
117
acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
118
arraign
charge in court; indict
119
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
120
abate
subside or moderate
121
ambidextrous
capable of using either hand with equal ease
122
aesthetic
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
123
avalanche
great mass of falling snow and ice
124
ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
125
blush
become red in the face (from embarrassment or shame); become red or rosy; N.
126
appall
dismay; shock deeply
127
anachronism
an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
128
absolve
pardon (an offense)
129
beneficial
helpful; useful; advantageous
130
addendum
addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)
131
assuage
mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
132
apiarist
person who keeps bees
133
abrogate
abolish
134
amulet
charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil
135
bevy
large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets
136
aegis
shield; protection; defense
137
atone
make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
138
apposite
appropriate; fitting
139
aghast
filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
140
babble
chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N.
141
affinity
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
142
adulterate
make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
143
abstain
refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote
144
authoritarian
subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
145
avenge
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.
146
archaeology
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
147
archives
public records; place where public records are kept
148
antiquated
obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
149
ashen
ash-colored; deadly pale
150
aptitude
fitness; talent
151
blatant
extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
152
baroque
highly ornate
153
acetic
vinegary
154
amphibian
able to live both on land and in water; N.
155
arbitrate
act as judge (at the request of both sides)
156
backslide
revert (to bad habits); N. reverter
157
bifurcated
divided into two branches; forked
158
arbiter
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
159
asteroid
small planet
160
alms
money or goods given to the poor
161
asylum
place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
162
balm
something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees
163
bane
posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous
164
aversion
firm dislike
165
belabor
harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically
166
besiege
surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually
167
awful
terrible; very bad
168
addiction
compulsive habitual need
169
anomaly
irregularity
170
bar
railing in a courtroom; legal profession; vertical line dividing a staff into equal measures; Ex. prisoner at the bar; V: shut in or out with bars; forbid; exclude; CF. barrister
171
agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
172
arrears
being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
173
attentive
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
174
ape
imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)
175
abide
dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.
176
benediction
blessing
177
agenda
items of business at a meeting
178
amalgam
combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth
179
accelerate
move faster
180
acknowledge
recognize; admit
181
auspicious
favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
182
acoustics
science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
183
accoutre
equip; N. accoutrement
184
atypical
not normal; not typical
185
artifice
deception; trickery
186
attenuate
make thin; weaken
187
askew
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
188
ascendancy
controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
189
aloof
apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
190
bawdy
indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd
191
anathema
solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
192
abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
193
beset
harass or trouble from all directions; hem in
194
anemia
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
195
altruistic
unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
196
accomplice
partner in crime
197
adverse
going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
198
assent
agree; accept; N. assessment
199
adherent
supporter; follower
200
bequeath
leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest
201
adjuration
solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
202
bantering
joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter
203
apathy
lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
204
assay
analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
205
bilious
suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated
206
analgesia
condition of being unable to feel pain
207
aberrant
abnormal or deviant
208
array
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
209
abstinence
restraint from pleasant things
210
acumen
mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
211
affected
artificial; pretended
212
astronomical
enormously large or extensive
213
amity
friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
214
auxiliary
offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
215
annihilate
destroy
216
aria
operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
217
base
contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron
218
assurance
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
219
allay
calm; pacify
220
acclaim
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
221
arboreal
of or living in trees
222
annul
make void
223
abortive
unsuccessful; fruitless
224
abdicate
renounce; give up (position
225
bewitch
cast a spell over; captivate completely
226
advert
refer
227
amnesia
loss of memory
228
agape
openmouthed
229
blandishment
flattery
230
bask
luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth
231
automaton
mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
232
amazon
female warrior
233
arbitrary
unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
234
bode
foreshadow; portend
235
aberration
deviation from the normal; mental disorder
236
audacious
daring; bold; N. audacity
237
aseptic
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
238
avuncular
of or like an uncle
239
analogous
comparable; similar
240
apogee
highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
241
alloy
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
242
bluster
blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze
243
bard
poet
244
atrocity
brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
245
ardor
heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
246
amble
walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
247
blurt
utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement
248
affliction
state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
249
azure
sky blue
250
affidavit
written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
251
belligerent
quarrelsome
252
benison
blessing
253
abet
assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
254
alleviate
relieve (pain)
255
attribute
essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
256
acrophobia
fear of heights
257
astringent
binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
258
belie
contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure.
259
askance
with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
260
belated
delayed
261
agog
highly excited; intensely curious
262
analgesic
causing insensitivity to pain; N.
263
bicker
quarrel
264
blackball
vote against (an applicant); ostracize; N: negative vote
265
betroth
become engaged to marry
266
blunder
error; stupid mistake
267
acrimonious
stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
268
antiseptic
substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ.
269
bacchanal
noisy party with a lot of drinking
270
accolade
award of merit; strong praise and approval
271
befuddle
confuse thoroughly
272
blunt
having a dull edge; abrupt and frank in speech or manner; brusque; V: make or become blunt
273
bearing
deportment; connection
274
apropos
with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV.
275
beneficiary
person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will
276
arrhythmic
lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
277
bastion
stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism
278
beware
be cautious (of)
279
balmy
soft and mild (of air); fragrant
280
anticlimax
letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting
281
bog
soft wet land; V: hinder or be hindered; Ex. bogged down in the mud
282
beget
father; become the father of; produce; give rise to
283
animus
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
284
appease
pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
285
affluence
abundance; wealth
286
attrition
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
287
augment
increase; add to
288
adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
289
audit
examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
290
astute
wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
291
ambulatory
able to walk
292
awry
distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
293
abase
lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect
294
archetype
prototype; primitive pattern
295
amenable
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
296
acuity
sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
297
allocate
assign; set apart for a particular purpose
298
abstract
theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
299
annex
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
300
abridge
condense or shorten
301
abode
dwelling place; home
302
blanch
bleach; whiten; make white or pale
303
aspirant
seeker after position or status
304
bilk
swindle; cheat
305
blues
state of depression or melancholy; style of slow
306
altercation
noisy quarrel
307
anarchy
absence of governing body; state of disorder
308
apocryphal
(of a story) widely believed but untrue
309
adjacent
adjoining; neighboring; close by
310
alimony
payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
311
belittle
disparage; depreciate
312
apprehend
arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
313
append
attach
314
bargain
agreement between two groups or people; something for sale at a price advantageous to the buyer; V: negotiate; trade; Ex. bargaining power
315
autopsy
examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
316
abusive
coarsely insulting; physically harmful
317
amicable
peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
318
adhere
stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
319
anthropomorphic
having human form or characteristics
320
acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point
321
artifacts
object made by human beings
322
bereavement
state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft
323
balk
stop short
324
beeline
direct quick route
325
allegiance
loyalty
326
antagonism
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
327
alias
an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias
328
begrudge
envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.
329
bate
let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate
330
abeyance
suspended action
331
ancestry
family descent; ADJ. ancestral
332
afterlife
life after death; later part of one's life
333
aspire
seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
334
blight
plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy
335
apoplexy
stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
336
agrarian
pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform
337
bereft
deprived of (something valuable); lacking
338
asinine
stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
339
beatific
giving or showing bliss; blissful
340
adroit
skillful (in using mind or hand)
341
astral
relating to the stars
342
ambrosia
food of the gods
343
acquittal
deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
344
bicameral
two-chambered as a legislative body
345
blemish
mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished
346
amphitheater
oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
347
accede
agree
348
apostate
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
349
anthropoid
manlike; resembling a human being; N.
350
armada
fleet of warships
351
amiable
agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
352
apiary
a place where bees are kept
353
bank
heap; piled-up mass; embankment; lateral tilting (as of an aircraft in turning); V: pile up; protect with a bank; tilt in turning
354
berate
scold strongly
355
arduous
hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
356
apiculture
bee-keeping
357
bid
command; utter (a greeting); offer as a price; N: offer of a price; amount offered; earnest effort to gain something; Ex. bid for freedom
358
antecede
precede
359
accord
agreement
360
blare
loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light
361
adorn
decorate
362
anthology
book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
363
assiduous
diligent
364
barrage
barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism
365
apprehensive
fearful; discerning
366
avocation
secondary or minor occupation
367
annotate
comment; make explanatory notes
368
behemoth
huge creature; something of monstrous size or power
369
actuate
motivate; activate; cause to act
370
bedraggle
wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled
371
Bacchanalia
the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus
372
blighted
suffering from a disease; destroyed
373
apparition
ghost; phantom
374
archaic
antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
375
barterer
trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money
376
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
377
alienate
make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
378
astigmatism
eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
379
anchor
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
380
acute
(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
381
aquiline
curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
382
arid
(of land) dry; barren; unproductive
383
berserk
mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited
384
augury
omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
385
anvil
iron block used in hammering out metals
386
abolish
cancel; put an end to
387
agility
nimbleness; ability to move quickly
388
admonish
warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
389
affirmation
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
390
blue
gloomy; depressed
391
ancillary
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
392
awe
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
393
blotch
spot; blot; CF. blot+botch
394
apocalyptic
prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
395
accretion
growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
396
antipathy
aversion; dislike or opposition
397
assert
state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights
398
amalgamate
(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
399
bait
harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals
400
amass
collect (gradually
401
betoken
signify; indicate; be a sign of
402
artless
without guile; open and honest
403
abstemious
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
404
anesthetic
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
405
authenticate
prove genuine
406
arable
fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
407
assimilate
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)
408
attest
testify; bear witness
409
acerbity
bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste
410
abominable
detestable; extremely unpleasant
411
aggregate
sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
412
benign
kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor
413
beatitude
blessedness; state of great happiness
414
beneficent
kindly; doing good
415
ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
416
bloated
(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air
417
bleak
cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing
418
amiss
wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
419
anomalous
abnormal; irregular
420
airy
of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
421
actuary
someone who advises insurance companies
422
autonomous
self-governing; N. autonomy
423
anoint
consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
424
biennial
every two years
425
apothecary
druggist; pharmacist
426
artful
exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice
427
betray
be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety.
428
aviary
enclosure for birds; large cage
429
bestial
beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel
430
atrophy
wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
431
advent
arrival
432
asperity
sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
433
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
434
annals
records arranged in yearly parts; history
435
acquiesce
assent; agree passively; comply without protest
436
adversity
great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
437
addle
make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
438
adage
wise saying; proverb
439
attire
clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
440
beseech
beg; plead with
441
beholden
obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude
442
accessory
additional object; useful but not essential thing
443
abstruse
obscure; profound; difficult to understand
444
bemused
confused; lost in thought; preoccupied
445
alacrity
cheerful promptness without reluctance
446
bauble
trinket; cheap jewel; trifle
447
abjure
renounce upon oath
448
acclimate
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
449
baleful
evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look
450
arcane
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
451
benefactor
gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose
452
antediluvian
antiquated; extremely ancient
453
acne
skin disease (on the face)
454
benevolent
generous; charitable; having a wish to do good
455
amplify
increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph
456
amend
correct; change ; generally for the better
457
argot
slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
458
assail
assault
459
billowing
swelling out in waves; surging
460
analogy
similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
461
bigot
one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics)
462
besmirch
soil; defile; make dirty
463
adapt
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.
464
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
465
annuity
yearly allowance
466
agglomeration
collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
467
affiliation
joining; associating with
468
adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior position
469
allude
refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
470
austere
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
471
actuarial
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
472
blowhard
talkative boaster; braggart
473
ballast
heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast
474
abhor
detest; hate
475
ambience
environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
476
anguish
acute pain; extreme suffering
477
abyss
enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
478
ameliorate
improve
479
archipelago
group of closely located islands
480
antidote
remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
481
anthem
song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
482
aromatic
fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
483
affront
insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
484
bereaved
deprived of (someone beloved through death)
485
appraise
estimate value of; N. appraisal
486
bandy
discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with
487
amoral
nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
488
alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
489
abbreviate
shorten
490
aphasia
loss of speech due to injury or illness
491
arboretum
place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
492
bland
soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence
493
bedizen
dress with vulgar finery
494
aspersion
slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
495
bacchanalian
drunken
496
bivouac
temporary encampment; camp without tents; V.
497
animadversion
critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
498
billow
large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge
499
artery
blood-vessel; CF. vein
500
averse
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
