The A Words Flashcards
(262 cards)
1
Q
Abase
A
V. Lower, humiliate
2
Q
Abash
A
V. Embarrass
3
Q
Abate
A
V. Subside, Decrease, lessen
4
Q
Abbreviate
A
V. Shorten
5
Q
Abdicate
A
V. Renounce, give up
6
Q
Abet
A
V. Aid, usually in doing something wrong, encourage
7
Q
Abhor
A
V. Detest, hate
8
Q
Abject
A
Adj, wretched, lacking pride
9
Q
Abjure
A
v. renounce upon oath
10
Q
Abnegation
A
N. Repudiation, self-sacrifice
11
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Abolish
A
V. Cancel, put an end to
12
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Abominable
A
Adj. Detestable, extremely unpleasant, very bad
13
Q
Aboriginal
A
Adj. N. Being the first of its kind in a region
14
Q
Abortive
A
Adj, unsuccessful, fruitless
15
Q
Abrade
A
V. wear away by friction, scrape, erode
16
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Abrasive
A
Adj, rubbing away, tending to grind down
17
Q
Abridge
A
V. Condense or shorten
18
Q
Abscond
A
V. Depart secretly and hid
19
Q
Absolute
A
Adj. complete, totally unlimited, certain
20
Q
Absolve
A
V. Pardon (an offense)
21
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Absorb
A
V. Assimilate or incorporate, suck or drink up, wholly engage
22
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Abstain
A
V. Refrain, hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice
23
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Abstemious
A
Adj. sparing in eating and drinking, temperate
24
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Abstinence
A
N. Restraint from eating or drinking
25
Abstract
adj. theoretical, not concrete, nonrepresentational
26
Abstruse
Adj. obscure, profound, difficult to understand
27
Abut
V. Border upon, adjoin
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Abysmal
Adj. bottomless
29
Abyss
N. enormous chasm
30
Accede
V. agree
31
Acclaim
V. applaud, announce with great approval
32
Acclimate
Adjust to climate
33
Acclivity
N. sharp upslope of a hill
34
Accolade
N. award of merit
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Accost
V. Approach and speak first to a person
36
Accoutre
V. Equip
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Acerbity
N.Bitterness of speech and temper
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Acetic
Adj. Vinegary
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Acidulous
Adj. Slightly sour, sharp, caustic
40
Acme
N. Top, pinnacle
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Acoustics
N. Science of sound, quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
42
Acquiesce
V. Assent, agree without protesting
43
Acquittal
N. Deliverance from a charge
44
Acrid
Adj. Sharp, bitterly pungent
45
Acrimonious
Adj. Bitter in words or manner
46
Acrophobia
N. Fear of heights
47
Actuarial
Adj. Calculating, pertaining to insurance statistics
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Acuity
N. Sharpness
49
Acumen
N. Mental keenness
50
Acute
Adj. Quickly perceptive, keen, brief and severe
51
Adage
N. Wise saying, proverb
52
Adamant
Adj. Hard, inflexible
53
Adapt
V. Alter, modify
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Addiction
N. compulsive, habitual need
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Addle
V. Muddle, drive crazy, become rotten
56
Address
V. Direct a speech to, deal with or discuss
57
Adept
Adj. Expert at
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Adhere
V. Stick fast
59
Adherent
N. Supporter, follower
60
Adjacent
ADJ. adjoining, neighboring, close by
61
Adjunct
N. Something added on or attached (generally nonessential or inferior)
62
Admonition
N. Warning
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Adorn
V. Decorate
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Adroit
Adj. Skillful
65
Adulation
N. Flattery, admiration
66
Adulterate
V. Make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances
67
Advent
N. Arrival
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Adversary
N. Opponent
69
Adverse
ADJ Unfavorable, hostile
70
Adversity
N. Unfavorable fortune, hardship, a calamitous event
71
Advocacy
N. Support, active pleading on something's behalf
72
Advocate
V. Urge, plead for
73
Aerie
N. Nest of a large bird of prey (eagle, hawk)
74
Aesthetic
Adj. artistic, dealing with or capable of the appreciation of the beautiful
75
Affable
Adj. easily approachable, warmly friendly
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Affected
Adj. artificial, pretended, assumed in order to impress
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Affidavit
N. Written statement made under oath
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Affinity
N. Kinship
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Affirmation
N. Positive assertion, confirmation, solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath
80
Affix
V. Fasten, attach, add on
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Affliction
N. State of distress, cause of suffering
82
Affluence
N. Abundance, wealth
83
Affront
N. Insult, offense, intentional act of disrespect
84
Aftermath
N. Consequences, outcome, upshot
85
Agenda
N. Items of business at a meeting
86
Agent
N. Means or instrument, personal representative, person acting in an official capacity
87
Aggrandize
V. Increase or intensify
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Aggregate
V. Gather, accumulate
89
Aggressor
N. Attacker
90
Aghast
Adj. Horrified
91
Agility
N. Nimbleness
92
Agitate
V. Stir up, disturb
93
Agnostic
N. one who is skeptical of the existence or know-ability of any god or any ultimate reality
94
Alacrity
N. Cheerful promptness
95
Alchemy
N. Medieval chemistry
96
Alcove
N. Nook, small recessed section of a room
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Alias
N. an assumed name
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Alienate
N. Make hostile, separate
99
Alimentary
Adj. supplying nourishment
100
Alimony
N. Payments made to an ex-spouse after divorce
101
Allay
V. Calm, pacify
102
Allege
V. state without proof
103
Allegiance
N. Loyalty
104
Allegory
N. Story in which characters are used as symbols
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Alleviate
V. relieve
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Alliteration
N. repetition of a beginning sound in poetry
107
Allocate
V. assign
108
Alloy
N. mixture as of metals
109
Alloy
V. Mix, make less pure, lessen or moderate
110
Allude
V. Refer indirectly
111
Allure
V. Entice, attract
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Allusion
N. Indirect reference
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Aloft
Adv. upward
114
Aloof
Adj. apart, reserved
115
Altercation
N. noisy quarrel, heated dispute
116
Altruistic
Adj. unselfishly generous, concerned for others
117
Amalgamate
V. combine, unite in one body
118
Amass
V. collect
119
Ambidextrous
Adj. capable of using either hand with equal ease
120
Ambience
N. environment, atmosphere
121
Ambiguous
Adj. Unclear or doubtful in meaning
122
Ambivalence
N. the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes
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Amble
N. moving at an easy pace
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Ambulatory
Adj. able to walk, not bedridden
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Ameliorate
V. Improve
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Amenable
Adj. readily managed, willing to be led
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Amend
V. correct, change, generally for the better
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Amenities
N. Convenient features, courtesies
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Amiable
Adj. agreeable, lovable, warmly friendly
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Amicable
Adj. politely friendly
131
Amiss
Adj. wrong, faulty
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Amity
N. Friendship
133
Amnesia
N. loss of memory
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Amnesty
N. pardon
135
Amoral
Adj. nonmoral
136
Amorous
Adj. moved by love, loving
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Amorphous
Adj. formless, lacking shape or definition
138
Amphibian
Adj. able to live on both land and in water
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Amphitheater
N. oval building with tiers of seats
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Ample
Adj. abundant
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Amplify
V. broaden or clarify by expanding, intensify, make stronger
142
Amputate
V. cut off part of the body, prune
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Anachronistic
Adj. having an error involving time in a stroy
144
Analogous
Adj. comparable
145
Analogy
N. similarity, parallelism
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Anarchist
N. person who seeks to overturn the established government, advocate of abolishing authority
147
Anathema
N. solemn curse, someone or something regarded as a curse
148
Ancestry
N. family descent
149
Anchor
V. secure or fasten firmly, be fixed in place
150
Anecdote
N. short account of an amusing or interesting event
151
Anemia
N. condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles
152
Anesthetic
N. substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness
153
Anguish
N. acute pain, extreme suffering
154
Angular
Adj. sharp-cornered, stiff in manner
155
Animated
Adj. lively, spirited
156
Animosity
N. active enmity
157
Animus
N. hostile feeling or intent
158
Annals
N. records, history
159
Annex
V. attach, take possession of
160
Annhilate
V. destroy
161
Annotate
V. comment, make explanatory notes
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Annul
V. make void
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Anoint
V. consecrate
164
Anomalous
Adj. abnormal, irregular
165
Anomaly
N. irregularity
166
Antecede
V. precede
167
Antecedents
N. preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later, ancestors or early background
168
Antediluvian
Adj. antiquated, extremely ancient
169
Anthem
N. song of praise or patriotism
170
Anthology
N. book of literary selections by various authors
171
Anthropocentric
Adj. regarding human beings as the center of the universe
172
Anthropoid
Adj. manlike
173
Anthropologist
N. a student of the history and science of mankind
174
Anticlimax
N. letdown in thought or emotion
175
Antidote
N. medicine to counteract a poison or disease
176
Antipathy
N. aversion, dislike
177
Antiquated
Adj. old-fashioned, obsolete
178
Antiseptic
N. substance that prevents infection
179
Antithesis
N. contrast, direct opposite of or to
180
Apathy
N. lack of caring, indifference
181
Ape
V. imitate or mimic
182
Apex
N. tip, summit, climax
183
Aphorism
N. pithy maxim
184
Aplomb
N. poise, assurance
185
Apocalyptic
Adj. prophetic, pertaining to revelations
186
Apocryphal
Adj. untrue, made up
187
Apolitical
Adj. having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
188
Apologist
N. one who writes in defense of a cause or institution
189
Apostate
N. one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs
190
Apotheosis
N. elevation to godhood, an ideal example of something
191
Appellation
N. name, title
192
Append
V. attach
193
Application
N. diligent attention
194
Apposite
Adj. appropriate, fitting
195
Apprise
V. inform
196
Approbation
N. approval
197
Apropos
PREP. with reference to, regarding
198
Aquiline
Adj, curved, hooke3d
199
Arable
Adj. fit for growing crops
200
Arbiter
N. a person with power to decide a dispute, judge
201
Arbitrator
N. judge
202
Arcade
N. covered passageway, usually lined with shops
203
Arcane
Adj. secret, mysterious, known only to the initiated
204
Archaic
Adj, antiquated
205
Archetype
N. prototype, primitive pattern
206
Ardent
Adj, intense, passionate, zealous
207
Aria
N. operatic solo
208
Arid
Adj. dry, barren
209
Arraign
V. charge in court, indict
210
Array
V. marshal, draw up in order
211
Array
V. clothe, adorn
212
Arrears
N. being in debt
213
Arrest
V. stop or slow down, catch someone's attention
214
Artifice
N. deception, trickery
215
Artless
Adj, without guile, open and honest
216
Ascendancy
N. controlling influence, domination
217
Ascetic
Adj. practicing self-denial, austere
218
Ascribe
V. refer, attribute, assign
219
Asinine
Adj. stupid
220
Askance
Adj. with a sideways or indirect look
221
Asperity
N. Sharpness (of temper)
222
Aspersion
N. slander, slur, derogatory remark
223
Aspirant
N. seeker after position or status
224
Assail
V. assault
225
Assay
V. analyze, evaluate
226
Assent
V. agree, accept
227
Assiduous
Adj. diligent
228
Assimilate
V. absorb, cause to become homogeneous
229
Assuage
V. ease or lessen (pain), satisfy (hunger), soothe (anger)
230
Astral
Adj. relating to the stars
231
Astringent
Adj, binding, causing contraction
232
Astute
Adj, wise, shrewd, keen
233
Asunder
Adv, into parts, apart
234
Asylum
N. place of refuge or shelter, protection
235
Atavism
N. reversion to an earlier type, throwback
236
Athestic
Adj, denying the existence of God
237
Atlas
N. a bound volume of maps, charts or tables
238
Atone
V. make amends for, pay for
239
Atrocity
N. brutal deed
240
Attenuate
V. make thin, weaken
241
Attest
V. testify, bear witness
242
Attribute
N. essential quality
243
Attribute
V. ascribe, explain
244
Attrition
N. gradual decrease in numbers, reduction in the work force without firing employees, wearing away of the opposition by means of harrassment
245
Audit
N. examination of accounts
246
August
Adj. impressive, majestic
247
Austere
Adj. forbiddingly stern, severely simple and unornamented
248
Authoritarian
Adj. subordinating the individual to the state, completely dominating another's will
249
Authoritative
Adj, having the weight of authority, peremptory and dictatorial
250
Automaton
N. robot, person performing a task mechanically
251
Autocratic
Adj, having absolute, unchecked power, dictatorial
252
Auxiliary
Adj, helper, additional or subsidiary
253
Avarice
N, greediness for wealth
254
Aver
AV. assert confidently, affirm
255
Averse
Adj, reluctant, disinclined
256
Avert
V. prevent, turn away
257
Avid
Adj, greedy, eager for
258
Avocation
N. secondary or minor occupation
259
Avow
V. declare openly
260
Awry
Adj, crooked, wrong, amiss
261
Axiom
N. self-evident truth requiring no proof
262
Azure
Adj. sky blue
