Word List 3 Flashcards
(27 cards)
Amiss
Wrong, faulty.
Seeing her frown, he wondered if anything were amiss.
Amenities
Convenient features, courtesies.
In addition to the customary amenities for the business traveler-fax machines, modems, a health club- the hotel offers the services of a butter versed in the social amenities.
Amity
Friendship
Student exchange programs such as the Experimental in International Living were established to promote international amity.
Amorous
Moved by sexual love, loving.
“ love them and leave them “ was the motto of the amorous Don Juan.
Amphitheater
Oval building with tiers of seats.
The spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators.
Anachronistic
Having an error involving time in a story.
The reference to clocked in Julius Caesar is anachronistic: clocks did not exist in Caesars time.
Analgesic
Causing insensitivity to pain.
The analgesic qualities of this lotion will provide temporary relief.
Anathema
Solemn curse, someone or something regarded as curse.
The Ayatollah Khomeini heaped anathema upon “the great satan” that is, the United States. To the ayatollah, America and the west were anathema; he loathed the democratic nations, cursing them in his dying words.
Animus
Hostile feeling or intent.
The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks.
Annals
Records, history.
In the annals of this period, we find no mention of democratic movements.
Annex
Attach, take possession of.
Mexico objected to the United States’ attempts to annex the territory that later became the state of Texas.
Annuity
Yearly allowance.
Antediluvian
Antiquated, extremely ancient,
Looking at his great aunt’s antique furniture, which must have been cluttering up her attic since the time of Noah’s floods the young heir exclaimed, “heavens, how positively antediluvian!”
Anthology
Book of literary selections by various authors.
This anthology of science fiction was compiled by the late Isaac Asimov.
Anthropoid
Manlike.
The gorilla is the strongest of the anthropoid animals.
Antipathy
Aversion, dislike.
Tom’s extreme antipathy for disputes keeps him from getting into arguments with his temperamental wife. Noise in any form is antipathetic to him.
Ape
Mimic or imitate.
He was suspended for a week because he had aped the principal in front of the whole school.
Aperture
Opening, hole.
She discovered a small aperture in the wall, through which the insects had entered the room.
Aphasia
Loss of speech due to injury or illness.
After the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently.
Aphorism
Pithy maxim.
An aphorism differs from an adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific.
Apiary
A place where bees are kept.
Although he spent many hours daily in the apiary he was seldom stung by a bee.
Aplomb
Poise, assurance.
Gwen’s aplomb in handling potentially embarrassing moments was legendary around the office ; when one of her clients broke a piece of her best crystal,Moshe coolly picked up her own goblet and hurled it into the fireplace.
Apocalyptic
Prophetic, pertaining to revelations.
Apocryphal
Untrue, made up.
To impress his friends, tom invented apocryphal tales of his adventures in the big city.
