abase | v. humiliate; lower or depress in rank or esteem |
abbess | n. the lady superior of a nunnery. |
abbey | n. the group of buildings which collectively form the dwelling-place of a society of monks or nuns. |
abbot | n. the superior of a community of monks. |
abdicate | v. give up, renounce, abandon, lay down, or withdraw from, as a right or claim |
abdomen | n. belly, or that part of the body between the thorax and the pelvis |
abdominal | n. of, pertaining to, or situated on the abdomen. |
abduction | n. criminal act of capturing and carrying away by force |
abed | adv. in bed; on a bed. |
aberration | n. deviation from a right, customary, or prescribed course. |
abet | v. aid, usually in doing something wrong; encourage |
abeyance | n. suspended action; temporary cessation or suspension |
abhorrence | n. the act of detesting extremely. |
abhorrent | adj. very repugnant; hateful. |
abject | a. being of the most miserable kind; wretched; lacking pride; brought low in condition or status |
abjure | v. renounce upon oath; abandon forever |
able-bodied | adj. competent for physical service. |
ablution | n. washing or cleansing of the body, especially as part of religious rite |
abnegate | v. give up or surrender; deny something to oneself |
abnormal | a. unusual; not typical; not normal |
abominable | a. detestable; extremely unpleasant; very bad |
abominate | v. to hate violently. |
abomination | n. a very detestable act or practice. |
aboriginal | a. being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native |
aborigines | n. the original of earliest known inhabitants of a country. |
abrade | v. wear away by friction; scrape; erode |
abrasion | n. scratch; friction |
abridge | v. condense; shorten; reduce length of written text |
abridgment | n. a condensed form as of a book or play. |
abrogate | a. abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority |
abrupt | a. broken off; very steep; having sudden transitions from one subject to another |
abscess | n. a collection of pus in a cavity formed within some tissue of the body. |
abscission | n. the act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation. |
abscond | v. leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself, often to avoid arrest or prosecution |
absence | n. state of being absent; state of being away |
absent-minded | adj. lacking in attention to immediate surroundings or business. |
absolution | n. act of absolving or the state of being absolved; formal remission of sin imparted by a priest |
absolve | v. let off hook; relieve of requirement or obligation |
absorb | v. assimilate or incorporate; suck or drink up; occupy full attention |
absorption | n. process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion; state of mental concentration |
abstain | v. refrain; hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice |
abstemious | a. sparing or moderation in eating and drinking; temperate |
abstinence | n. restraint from eating or drinking; refraining from indulging appetite or desire |
abstruse | a. obscure; profound; difficult to understand. |
absurd | a. preposterous; ridiculously incongruous or unreasonable; foolish |
abundant | a. plentiful; possessing riches or resources |
abusive | a. coarsely insulting; physically harmful; characterized by improper or wrongful use |
abut | v. border upon; adjoin; touch or end at one end or side; lie adjacent |
abyss | n. enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit; any deep, immeasurable space; hell |
academic | a. related to school; not practical or directly useful; relating to scholarly organization; based on formal education |
academician | n. a scholar who is skilled in academic disputation |
academy | n. school for special instruction; society of scholars, scientists, or artists |
accede | v. agree; give consent, often at insistence of another; concede |
accelerate | v. move faster; cause to develop or progress more quickly; occur sooner than expected |
accept | v. to take when offered. |
access | n. approach; entry; entrance |
accessible | a. easily approached or entered; obtainable; easy to talk to or get along with |
accession | n. induction or elevation, as to dignity, office, or government. |
accessory | n. additional object; useful but not essential thing; subordinate or supplementary item |
acclaim | v. applaud; announce with great approval |
accommodate | v. do a favor or service for; provide for; supply with; make suitable; adapt; allow for |
accompaniment | n. act of accompanying someone or something |
accompanist | n. one who or that which accompanies. |
accompany | v. travel with; be associated with |
accomplice | n. partner in crime; associate in wrongdoing |
accomplish | v. succeed in doing; bring to pass; achieve; reach the end of; complete |
accordion | n. a portable box-shaped free-reed instrument; reeds that are made to vibrate by air from the bellows controlled by the player |
accost | v. approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with demand or request |
account | n. narrative or record of events; reason given for a particular action or event |
accouter | v. equip; provide with military equipment |
accredit | v. authorize; commission; give credit for |
accumulate | v. pile up; collect; mount up; increase |
accuracy | n. quality of nearness to the truth or the true value |
accurate | a. capable of providing a correct reading or measurement; performing with care and precision |
accursed | adj. doomed to evil, misery, or misfortune. |
accusation | n. indictment; charge of wrongdoing that is made against a person or other party |
accusatory | adj. of, pertaining to, or involving an accusation. |
accustom | v. to make familiar by use. |
acerbity | n. bitterness of speech and temper; sourness or acidness of taste, character, or tone |
acetate | n. a salt of acetic acid. |
acetic | a. having properties of vinegar; sour |
ache | v. to be in pain or distress. |
achillean | adj. invulnerable. |
achromatic | adj. colorless, |
acid | n. sour; water-soluble compounds having a sour taste; quality of being sarcastic, bitter, or scornful |
acidify | v. to change into acid. |
acknowledge | v. declare to be true or admit; express obligation, thanks |
acknowledgment | n. recognition. |
acme | n. the highest point or level, as of achievement or development; maturity or perfection of animal |
acoustic | adj. pertaining to the act or sense of hearing. |
acquaint | v. inform about; cause to come to know personally; make familiar |
acquiesce | v. assent; agree without protesting |
acquiescence | n. passive consent. |
acquit | v. to free or clear, as from accusation. |
acquittal | n. state of being found or proved not guilty; judgment of not guilty |
acquittance | n. release or discharge from indebtedness, obligation, or responsibility. |
acreage | n. quantity or extent of land, especially of cultivated land. |
acrid | a. unpleasantly sharp or bitter to taste or smell; bitterly pungent |
acrimonious | a. bitter and sharp in language, tone, or manner |
acrimony | n. sharpness or bitterness of speech or temper. |
actionable | adj. affording cause for instituting an action, as trespass, slanderous words. |
actuary | n. an officer, as of an insurance company, who calculates and states the risks and premiums. |
actuate | v. put into motion or action; activate |
acumen | n. mental keenness; quickness of perception |
acute | a. quickly perceptive; keen; having a sharp point or tip; extremely sharp or severe |
adamant | a. extremely hard; inflexible; stubbornly unyielding |
addendum | n. something added or to be added, especially a supplement to a book |
addle | v. muddle; drive crazy; become confused |
adduce | v. to bring forward or name for consideration. |
adhere | v. stick fast; stick to firmly; be compatible or in accordance with |
adherent | n. person who adheres; one who follows or upholds a leader, party, cause |
adhesion | n. the state of being attached or joined. |
adieu | inter. good-by; farewell. |
adjacency | n. the state of being adjacent. |
adjacent | a. adjoining; neighboring; close to; lying near |
adjudge | v. to award or bestow by formal decision. |
adjunct | n. something added on or attached generally nonessential or inferior |
adjuration | n. a vehement appeal. |
administrator | n. one who manages a government agency or department |
admissible | adj. having the right or privilege of entry. |
admittance | n. entrance, or the right or permission to enter. |
admonish | v. warn; counsel someone against something to be avoided |
admonition | n. gentle or friendly reproof; cautionary advice or warning |
ado | n. doing; bother; troublesome business; fuss; bustle |
adoration | n. act of playing honor to a divine being; worship paid to God; act of addressing as a god |
adroit | a. skillful and adept under pressing conditions |
adulterant | n. an adulterating substance. |
adulterate | v. make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances |
adumbrate | v. give hint or indication of something; disclose partially or guardedly; overshadow; shade |
advent | n. coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important |
adverse | a. in opposing direction; harmful or unfavorable; acting or serving to oppose |
adversity | n. state of misfortune, hardship, or affliction; misfortune |
advert | v. to refer incidentally. |
advertiser | n. one who advertises, especially in newspapers. |
advisory | a. having power to advice; containing advice |
advocacy | n. support; active pleading on behalf of something |
advocate | v. speak, plead, or argue in favour of; plead for; push for something |
aerial | a. of the air or atmosphere; produced by or found in the air; performed in the air |
aeronaut | n. one who navigates the air, a balloonist. |
aeronautics | n. the art or practice of flying aircraft |
aerostat | n. a balloon or other apparatus floating in or sustained by the air. |
aerostatics | n. the branch of pneumatics that treats of the equilibrium, pressure, and mechanical properties. |
affable | a. easily approachable; warmly friendly |
affect | v. have an emotional or cognitive impact upon |
affectation | n. a studied or ostentatious pretense or attempt. |
affiliate | v. associate; incorporate |
affirmative | a. confirmative; ratifying; giving assent or approval; confirming |
affix | v. fasten; append; add on; secure to something |
affluence | n. abundance; a plentiful supply of material goods; wealth |
affront | n. insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect |
aforesaid | adj. said in a preceding part or before. |
afresh | adv. once more, after rest or interval. |
afterthought | n. a thought that comes later than its appropriate or expected time. |
agglomerate | v. to pile or heap together. |
aggrandize | v. increase scope of; extend; intensify; make greater in power, influence, stature, or reputation |
aggravate | v. worsen; make worse or more troublesome |
aggravation | n. the fact of being made heavier or more heinous, as a crime , offense, misfortune, etc. |
aggregate | v. gather into a mass, sum, or whole; amount to |
aggress | v. to make the first attack. |
aggression | n. an unprovoked attack. |
aggrieve | v. to give grief or sorrow to. |
aghast | a. struck by shock, terror, or amazement |
agile | a. moving quickly and lightly; mentally quick |
agitate | v. cause to move with violence or sudden force; upset; disturb |
agrarian | a. pertaining to land or its cultivation; relating to agricultural or rural matters |
aide-de-camp | n. an officer who receives and transmits the orders of the general. |
ailment | n. sickness; illness; affliction |
airy | adj. delicate, ethereal. |
akin | a. of the same kin; related by blood |
alabaster | n. a white or delicately tinted fine-grained gypsum. |
alacrity | n. cheerful promptness or willingness; eagerness; speed or quickness |
albeit | ad. even though; although; notwithstanding |
albino | n. a person with milky white skin and hair, and eyes with bright red pupil and usually pink iris. |
album | n. a list of names; a register for visitors; a blank book, in which to insert autographs sketches, memorial writing of friends, photographs |
alchemy | n. medieval chemistry; magical or mysterious power or process of transforming |
alcohol | n. a volatile, inflammable, colorless liquid of a penetrating odor and burning taste. |
alcoholism | n. a condition resulting from the inordinate or persistent use of alcoholic beverages. |
alcove | n. nook; small, recessed section of a room |
alder | n. north temperate shrubs or trees having toothed leaves and cone like fruit |
alderman | n. a member of a municipal legislative body, who usually exercises also certain judicial functions. |
aldermanship | n. the dignity, condition, office, or term of office of an alderman. |
alias | n. assumed name; another name; name that has been assumed temporarily |
alien | a. dissimilar, inconsistent, or opposed in nature; very different place, society, or person |
alienable | adj. capable of being aliened or alienated, as lands. |
alienate | v. cause to become unfriendly or hostile; transfer property or ownership; isolate or dissociate emotionally |
alienation | n. estrangement. |
aliment | n. that which nourishes. |
alkali | n. soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash; one of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, potash, and ammonia |
allay | v. calm; pacify; reduce the intensity of; relieve |
allege | v. state without proof; assert to be true |
allegory | n. symbolic representation of abstract ideas or principles in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form |
alleviate | v. provide physical relief, as from pain; make easier; remove in part |
alley | n. narrow passage, especially a walk or passage in a garden or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes |
alliance | n. state of being allied; act of allying or uniting; a union or connection of interests between families, states, parties |
allot | v. parcel out in parts or portions; distribute to each individual concerned; assign as a share or lot |
allude | v. refer casually or indirectly, or by suggestion |
allusion | n. indirect reference; symbolical reference or comparison; metaphor |
ally | n. confederate; partner; collaborator |
almanac | n. a series of tables giving the days of the week together with certain astronomical information. |
aloof | a. apart; remote in manner; distant physically or emotionally; reserved and remote |
altar | n. raised structure on which sacrifices are offered or incense burned to a deity |
alter | v. modify; cause to change; make different; convert |
alteration | n. passage from one form or state to another; change |
altercate | v. to contend angrily or zealously in words. |
alternate | a. happening or following in turns; succeeding each other continuously; substitute |
alternative | a. one of two or more things, ideas or courses of action that may be used; option; choice |
altitude | n. elevation especially above sea level; height |
alto | n. the lowest or deepest female voice or part. |
altruism | n. benevolence to others on subordination to self-interest. |
altruist | n. one who advocates or practices altruism. |
amalgam | n. an alloy or union of mercury with another metal. |
amalgamate | v. combine; unite in one body; mix or alloy a metal with mercury |
amateur | a. nonprofessional; lacking the skill of a professional, as in an art |
amatory | adj. designed to excite love. |
ambidextrous | a. capable of using either hand with equal ease |
ambiguous | a. unclear or doubtful in meaning |
ambitious | a. aspiring; having a strong desire for success or achievement |
ambrosial | adj. divinely sweet, fragrant, or delicious. |
ambulance | n. field hospital organized as to follow an army in its movements; wagon for conveying the wounded to hospital |
ambush | n. disposition or arrangement of troops for attacking an enemy unexpectedly from a concealed station |
ameliorate | v. make or become better; improve; grow better |
amenable | a. responsive to advice or suggestion; responsible to higher authority; willing to comply with; agreeable |
americanism | n. a peculiar sense in which an english word or phrase is used in the united states. |
amicable | a. exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; not quarrelsome |
amity | n. friendship; peaceful relations, as between nations |
amorous | a. moved by sexual love; loving |
amorphous | a. formless; lacking shape or definition |
amour | n. a love-affair, especially one of an illicit nature. |
ampere | n. the practical unit of electric-current strength. |
amphibious | adj. living both on land and in water. |
amphitheater | n. oval building with tiers of seats from central open space or arena |
amputate | v. cut off part of body, especially by surgery; prune |
anachronism | n. anything occurring or existing out of its proper time. |
anagram | n. the letters of a word or phrase so transposed as to make a different word or phrase. |
analogous | a. comparable; similar or alike |
analogy | n. similarity in some respects; comparison based on similarity |
analyst | n. one who analyzes or makes use of the analytical method. |
analyze | v. diagnose; examine |
anarchy | n. absence of governing body; state of disorder; political disorder and confusion |
anathema | n. solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse |
anatomy | n. detailed analysis; branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals |
anecdote | n. short account of amusing or interesting event; short narrative; secret story of history or biography |
anemia | n. condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; deficiency of red blood cells; lack of vitality |
anemic | adj. affected with anemia. |
anemometer | n. an instrument for measuring the force or velocity of wind. |
anesthetic | n. substance that causes loss of sensation; producing temporary loss or impairment of feeling |
anglophobia | n. hatred or dread of england or of what is english. |
anglo-saxon | n. the entire english race wherever found, as in europe, the united states, or india. |
angular | a. sharp-cornered; consisting of an angle or angles; stiff in manner |
animadversion | n. the utterance of criticism or censure. |
animadvert | v. to pass criticism or censure. |
animalcule | n. an animal of microscopic smallness. |
animate | a. endowed with life; alive; living; animated |
animosity | n. bitter hostility; active hatred; hostile feeling or act |
annals | n. chronological record of the events of successive years |
annex | v. append or attach; take possession of; incorporate into an existing political unit |
annihilate | v. destroy completely; reduce to nonexistence |
annotate | v. comment; make explanatory notes |
annual | a. occurring or payable every year |
annuity | n. annual payment of allowance or income; periodical payment, amounting to a fixed sum in each year |
annunciation | n. proclamation. |
anode | n. the point where or path by which a voltaic current enters an electrolyte or the like. |
anonymous | a. having no name; having unknown or unacknowledged name |
antagonism | n. active resistance; condition of being an opposing principle, force, or factor |
antarctic | a. opposite to the northern or arctic pole; relating to the southern pole or to the region near it |
ante | v. in the game of poker, to put up a stake before the cards are dealt. |
antecede | v. precede; go before in time, and sometimes in place, rank, or logical order |
antecedent | n. one who or that which precedes or goes before, as in time, place, rank, order, or causality. |
antechamber | n. a waiting room for those who seek audience. |
antedate | v. be earlier in time; go back further |
antediluvian | a. antiquated; extremely old and ancient; belonging to very ancient times |
antemeridian | adj. before noon. |
antenatal | adj. occurring or existing before birth. |
anterior | a. before in time; antecedent; placed before or in front |
anteroom | n. a room situated before and opening into another, usually larger. |
anthology | n. book of literary selections by various authors |
anthropology | n. social science that studies origins and social relationships of human beings |
anthropomorphous | adj. having or resembling human form. |
antic | n. a grotesque, ludicrous, or fantastic action. |
antichrist | n. any opponent or enemy of christ, whether a person or a power. |
anticlimax | n. letdown in thought or emotion; decline viewed in disappointing contrast with previous rise |
anticyclone | n. an atmospheric condition of high central pressure, with currents flowing outward. |
antidote | n. medicine to counteract a poison or disease; agent that relieves or counteracts |
antilogy | n. inconsistency or contradiction in terms or ideas. |
antipathize | v. to show or feel a feeling of antagonism, aversion, or dislike. |
antiphon | n. a response or alteration of responses, generally musical. |
antiphony | n. an anthem or other composition sung responsively. |
antipodes | n. a place or region on the opposite side of the earth. |
antiquary | n. one who collects and examines old things, as coins, books, medals, weapons, etc. |
antiquate | v. make obsolete or old-fashioned |
antique | n. any furniture old and valuable; out of fashion |
antiseptic | n. substance that prevents infection; substance that restricts the growth of disease-causing microorganisms |
antislavery | adj. opposed to human slavery. |
antispasmodic | adj. tending to prevent or relieve non-inflammatory spasmodic affections. |
antistrophe | n. the inversion of terms in successive classes, as in "the home of joy and the joy of home". |
antitoxin | n. a substance which neutralizes the poisonous products of micro-organisms. |
antonym | n. word of opposite meaning; counter term |
anxious | a. eager; keen; worried; uneasy and apprehensive about an uncertain event or matter |
apathy | n. lack of caring; indifference |
aperture | n. opening; diameter of such an opening; hole |
apex | n. highest point; vertex; summit; climax |
aphorism | n. definition or concise statement of principle; tersely phrased statement of truth or opinion |
apiary | n. place where bees and beehives are kept, especially where bees are raised for their honey |
apogee | n. the highest point; point in orbit most distant from the body being orbited |
apology | n. acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense; explanation or excuse |
apostate | n. one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs |
apostle | n. any messenger commissioned by or as by divine authority. |
apothecary | n. one who keeps drugs for sale and puts up prescriptions. |
apotheosis | n. elevation to godhood; fact or action of becoming a god; an ideal example of something |
appall | v. depress or discourage with fear; grow faint or become weak |
apparent | a. capable of being seen, or easily seen; open to view; visible to eye |
apparition | n. ghostly figure; sudden or unusual sight; appearance; state of being visible |
appease | v. bring peace, quiet, or calm to; satisfy or relieve |
appellate | adj. capable of being appealed to. |
appellation | n. name; title; act of naming; act of appealing for aid, sympathy |
append | v. attach; add as supplement or appendix |
appertain | v. to belong, as by right, fitness, association, classification, possession, or natural relation. |
apposite | a. strikingly appropriate and relevant; well-suited |
apposition | n. the act of placing side by side, together, or in contact. |
appraise | v. estimate value of; evaluate, especially in official capacity |
appreciable | a. considerable; perceptible |
apprehend | v. take into custody; arrest a criminal; grasp mentally; perceive |
apprehensible | adj. capable of being conceived. |
approbation | n. expression of warm approval; praise |
appropriate | v. acquire; take possession of for one's own use; set apart for specific use |
aqueduct | n. a water-conduit, particularly one for supplying a community from a distance. |
aqueous | adj. of, pertaining to, or containing water. |
arbiter | n. person with power to decide a dispute; judge |
arbitrary | a. randomly chosen; determined by chance or impulse, and not by reason or principle |
arbitrate | v. to act or give judgment as umpire. |
arboreal | a. tree-dwelling; treelike; living in trees |
arborescent | adj. having the nature of a tree. |
arboretum | n. place where different tree varieties are exhibited |
arboriculture | n. the cultivation of trees or shrubs. |
arcade | n. covered passageway, usually lined with shops; simple arched opening in a wall; vault or vaulted place |
archaeology | n. study of artifacts and relics of early mankind |
archaic | a. no longer current or applicable; antiquated |
archangel | n. an angel of high rank. |
archbishop | n. the chief of the bishops of an ecclesiastical province in the greek, roman, and anglican church. |
archdeacon | n. a high official administrator of the affairs of a diocese. |
archetype | n. prototype; original model or type after which other similar things are patterned |
archipelago | n. group of closely located islands |
ardent | a. displaying or by strong enthusiasm or devotion; passionate |
ardor | n. intensity of passion or affection. |
arid | a. dry; lacking moisture, especially having insufficient rainfall to support trees or plants |
aristocracy | n. hereditary nobility; privileged class |
aristocrat | n. one of the aristocracy or people of rank in a community; one of a ruling class; a noble |
armada | n. a fleet of warships; a large group of moving things |
armful | n. as much as can be held in the arm or arms. |
armory | n. arsenal; a place where arms are manufactured |
aroma | n. fragrance; scent; pleasant characteristic odor, as of a plant, spice, or food |
arraign | v. officially charge someone in a court of law |
arrange | v. put in proper order; dispose in the manner intended, or best suited for the purpose |
arrangement | n. composition; order |
arrant | adj. notoriously bad. |
arrear | n. something overdue and unpaid. |
arrival | n. a coming to stopping-place or destination. |
arrogant | a. arising from feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others |
arrogate | v. claim without justification; claim for oneself without right |
artesian | well n. a very deep bored well. water rises due to underground pressure |
artful | adj. characterized by craft or cunning. |
arthurian | adj. pertaining to king arthur, the real or legendary hero of british poetic story. |
artifice | n. subtle but base deception; trickery; cleverness or skill; ingenuity |
artless | a. free of artificiality; natural; open and honest |
ascension | n. the act of rising. |
ascent | n. upward slope or grade; movement upward |
ascetic | a. leading a life of self-discipline and self-denial; austere |
ascribe | v. inscribe or dedicate; attribute to a specified cause, source, or origin; assign as a quality |
asexual | adj. having no distinct sexual organs. |
ashen | a. ash-colored; very pale; consisting of ashes |
askance | a. with sideways or indirect look; Turned to side, especially of eyes |
asperity | n. sharpness of temper; roughness or harshness, as of surface, sound, or climate |
aspirant | n. one who aspires, as to advancement, honors, or a high position |
aspire | v. seek to attain; long for; strive toward an end |
assailant | n. one who attacks. |
assassin | n. one who kills, or tries to kill, treacherously or secretly. |
assassinate | v. to kill, as by surprise or secret assault, especially the killing of some eminent person. |
assassination | n. act of assassinating; killing by treacherous violence; murder of public figure by surprise attack |
assay | v. analyze; evaluate; examine by trial or experiment; put to test |
assent | v. express agreement to what is alleged or proposed; accept |
assess | v. estimate value; judge worth of something |
assessor | n. an officer whose duty it is to assess taxes. |
assets | n. pl. property in general, regarded as applicable to the payment of debts. |
assiduous | a. constant in application or attention; diligent; unceasing or persistent |
assignee | n. one who is appointed to act for another in the management of certain property and interests. |
assimilate | v. incorporate and absorb into mind; make similar; cause to resemble |
assonance | n. resemblance or correspondence in sound. |
assonant | adj. having resemblance of sound. |
assonate | v. to accord in sound, especially vowel sound. |
assuage | v. ease or lessen pain; satisfy or appease |
astringent | a. causing contraction; having the effect of drawing tissue together; stern or austere |
astute | a. wise or keen; shrewd; with sharp intelligence |
atheism | n. the denial of the existence of god. |
athirst | adj. wanting water. |
athwart | adv. from side to side. |
atomizer | n. an apparatus for reducing a liquid to a fine spray, as for disinfection, inhalation, etc. |
atone | v. make amends, as for sin or fault; pay for; turn away from sin |
atonement | n. amends, reparation, or expiation made from wrong or injury. |
atrocious | adj. outrageously or wantonly wicked, criminal, vile, or cruel. |
atrocity | n. brutal deed; atrocious condition, quality, or behavior; monstrousness |
attache | n. a subordinate member of a diplomatic embassy. |
attest | v. testify; authenticate, affirm to be true |
attorney-general | n. the chief law-officer of a government. |
auburn | adj. reddish-brown, said usually of the hair. |
audacious | a. fearlessly, often recklessly daring; bold |
audible | a. perceptible; heard or perceptible by the ear |
audition | v. take part in a trial performance; evaluate in a trial performance |
auditory | a. of or relating to hearing, the organs of hearing, or the sense of hearing |
augment | v. make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity |
augustinian | adj. pertaining to st. augustine, his doctrines, or the religious orders called after him. |
aura | n. pervasive psychic influence supposed to emanate from persons |
aural | adj. of or pertaining to the ear. |
auricle | n. one of the two chambers of the heart which receives the blood from the veins. |
auricular | adj. of or pertaining to the ear, its auricle, or the sense of hearing. |
auriferous | adj. containing gold. |
aurora | n. the first light of day; an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands of light caused by charged solar particles following the earth's magnetic lines of force |
auspice | n. favoring, protecting, or propitious influence or guidance. |
austere | a. strict or severe in discipline; severely simple and unornamented |
autarchy | n. unrestricted power. |
authentic | a. not counterfeit or copied; valid; trustworthy |
authenticity | n. the state or quality of being genuine, or of the origin and authorship claimed. |
autocracy | n. absolute government. |
autocrat | n. dictator; ruler having unlimited power |
automaton | n. mechanism that imitates actions of humans |
autonomous | a. self-governing; not controlled by others or by outside forces; independent |
autonomy | n. independence; self-government or the right of self-government; self-determination |
autopsy | n. examination of dead body; post-mortem |
autumnal | adj. of or pertaining to autumn. |
auxiliary | a. helper, additional or subsidiary |
avalanche | n. great mass of falling snow and ice |
avarice | n. greediness for wealth; insatiable desire of gain |
aver | v. declare to be true; affirm |
averse | a. reluctant; disinclined; turned away or backward; unwilling |
aversion | n. firm dislike; turning away; avoidance of a thing, situation, or behavior because of dislike |
avert | v. prevent; turn or cause to turn off or away |
aviary | n. large cage, building, or enclosure in which birds are reared or kept |
avocation | n. activity taken up in addition to one's regular work or profession, usually for enjoyment |
avow | v. declare openly; acknowledge openly, boldly, and unashamedly |
awaken | v. to arouse, as emotion, interest, or the like. |
aye | adv. an expression of assent. |
azalea | n. a flowering shrub. |
azure | a. sky blue; light purplish-blue |
baconian | adj. of or pertaining to lord bacon or his system of philosophy. |
bacterium | n. single celled organism with no nucleus |
badger | v. pester; annoy persistently; persuade through constant efforts |
baffle | v. frustrate as by confusing or perplexing; impede force or movement of |
bailiff | n. an officer of court having custody of prisoners under arraignment. |
baize | n. a single-colored napped woolen fabric used for table-covers, curtains, etc. |
bale | n. a bundle or package of goods in a cloth cover, and corded for storage or transportation |
baleful | a. portending evil; harmful in intent or effect. |
ballad | n. popular kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing |
balsam | n. a medical preparation, aromatic and oily, used for healing. |
banal | a. obvious and dull; commonplace; lacking originality |
barcarole | n. a boat-song of venetian gondoliers. |
baritone | adj. having a register higher than bass and lower than tenor. |
barograph | n. an instrument that registers graphically and continuously the atmospheric pressure. |
barometer | n. instrument for determining the weight or pressure of the atmosphere |
bask | v. luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth |
bass | adj. low in tone or compass. |
baste | v. to cover with melted fat, gravy, while cooking. |
baton | n. staff or truncheon for various purposes, as one of a conductor in musical performances, one transferred by runners in a relay race |
battalion | n. a body of infantry composed of two or more companies, forming a part of a regiment. |
batten | n. a narrow strip of wood. |
batter | v. beat with successive blows; beat repeatedly and with violence |
bauble | n. small, showy ornament of little value; child's plaything or toy |
bawl | v. cry out with a loud, full sound; cry with vehemence, as in calling or exultation; shout |
beatify | v. to make supremely happy. |
beatitude | n. blessedness; state of extreme happiness |
beau | n. an escort or lover. |
becalm | v. keep from motion, or stop progress of; make calm or still |
beck | v. to give a signal to, by nod or gesture. |
bedaub | v. to smear over, as with something oily or sticky. |
bedeck | v. to cover with ornament. |
befriend | v. to be a friend to, especially when in need. |
beget | v. produce; give rise to |
begrudge | v. resent; give or expend with reluctance; be envious of |
belate | v. to delay past the proper hour. |
belay | v. to make fast, as a rope, by winding round a cleat. |
belie | v. contradict; give a false impression |
believe | v. to accept as true on the testimony or authority of others. |
belittle | v. disparage or depreciate; put down |
belle | n. a woman who is a center of attraction because of her beauty, accomplishments, etc. |
bellicose | a. warlike or hostile in manner or temperament; showing or having impulse to be combative |
belligerent | a. inclined or eager to fight; aggressive |
bemoan | v. regret strongly; express disapproval of |
benediction | n. blessing; invocation of divine blessing; expression of good wishes |
benefactor | n. gift giver; person who gives people or institutions with financial help |
benefice | n. a church office endowed with funds or property for the maintenance of divine service. |
beneficent | adj. characterized by charity and kindness. |
beneficial | a. helpful; tending to promote physical well-being |
beneficiary | n. person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will |
benefit | n. advantage; something that aids or promotes well-being ; welfare; gain |
benevolence | n. any act of kindness or well-doing. |
benevolent | a. generous in providing aid to others; charitable |
benign | a. kindly; favorable; not malignant |
benignant | adj. benevolent in feeling, character, or aspect. |
benignity | n. kindness of feeling, disposition, or manner. |
bequeath | v. leave to someone by a will; hand down |
bereave | v. to make desolate with loneliness and grief. |
berth | n. space for ship to dock or anchor; allotted place; place to sleep or stay; appointment or job |
beseech | v. beg; plead with; ask for or request earnestly |
beset | v. attack from all sides; trouble persistently; hem in |
besmear | v. to smear over, as with any oily or sticky substance. |
bestial | a. beastlike; brutal; lacking in intelligence or reason |
bestrew | v. to sprinkle or cover with things strewn. |
bestride | v. to get or sit upon astride, as a horse. |
bethink | v. to remind oneself. |
betide | v. to happen to or befall. |
betimes | adv. in good season or time. |
betroth | v. become engaged to marry; promise to marry |
betrothal | n. engagement to marry. |
bevel | n. any inclination of two surfaces other than 90 degrees. |
bewilder | v. lead into perplexity or confusion; perplex with mazes |
bibliography | n. list of works of a specific author or publisher; list of writings relating to a given subject |
bibliomania | n. the passion for collecting books. |
bibliophile | n. one who loves books. |
bibulous | adj. fond of drinking. |
biennial | a. every two years; lasting or living for two years |
bier | n. a horizontal framework with two handles at each end for carrying a corpse to the grave. |
bigamist | n. one who has two spouses at the same time. |
bigamy | n. the crime of marrying any other person while having a legal spouse living. |
bight | n. a slightly receding bay between headlands, formed by a long curve of a coast-line. |
bilateral | a. two-sided; mutual |
bilingual | n. using or able to use two languages, especially with equal or nearly equal fluency |
biograph | n. a bibliographical sketch or notice. |
biology | n. the science of life or living organisms. |
biped | n. an animal having two feet. |
birthright | n. a privilege or possession into which one is born. |
bitterness | n. sharp and bitter manner |
blase | adj. sated with pleasure. |
blaspheme | v. to indulge in profane oaths. |
blatant | a. flagrant; conspicuously obvious; loudly offensive |
blaze | n. brilliant burst of fire; destructive fire; flame |
blazon | v. to make widely or generally known. |
bleak | a. cold or cheerless; unlikely to be favorable |
blemish | v. mark with deformity; injure or impair, as anything which is excellent; make defective, either the body or mind |
blithe | a. gay; joyous; carefree and lighthearted |
blockade | n. shutting up of a place by troops or ships; obstruction to passage |
boatswain | n. a subordinate officer of a vessel, who has general charge of the rigging, anchors, etc. |
boisterous | a. rough and stormy; loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline |
bole | n. the trunk or body of a tree. |
bolero | n. a spanish dance, illustrative of the passion of love, accompanied by caste nets and singing. |
boll | n. a round pod or seed-capsule, as a flax or cotton. |
bolster | v. support or prop up with or as if with a long narrow pillow or cushion |
bomb | n. a hollow projectile containing an explosive material. |
bombard | v. to assail with any missile or with abusive speech. |
bombardier | n. a person who has charge of mortars, bombs, and shells. |
bombast | n. inflated or extravagant language, especially on unimportant subjects. |
boorish | a. rude and clumsy in behavior; ungentlemanly; awkward in manners |
bore | v. drill; make a hole in or through, with or as if with a drill |
borough | n. incorporated town that is not a city; association of men who gave pledges to the king for the good behavior of each other |
bosom | n. the breast or the upper front of the thorax of a human being, especially of a woman. |
botanical | adj. connected with the study or cultivation of plants. |
botanize | v. to study plant-life. |
botany | n. science which treats of the structure of plants, the functions of their parts, their places of growth, their classification |
bountiful | a. abundant; graciously generous; giving freely and generously |
bowdlerize | v. edit by omitting or modifying parts considered offensive, vulgar, or otherwise unseemly |
bowler | n. in cricket, the player who delivers the ball. |
boycott | v. refrain from buying or using |
braggart | n. boaster; one given to loud, empty boasting; very talkative person |
brandish | v. move or wave, as a weapon; raise and move in various directions |
bravado | n. defiant or swaggering behavior; pretense of courage; false show of bravery |
bray | n. a loud harsh sound, as the cry of an ass or the blast of a horn. |
braze | v. to make of or ornament with brass. |
brazier | n. an open pan or basin for holding live coals. |
breach | n. breaking of contract or duty |
breaker | n. one who trains horses, dogs, etc. |
brethren | n. pl. members of a brotherhood, gild, profession, association, or the like. |
brevity | n. quality or state of being brief in duration; concise expression |
bric-a-brac | n. objects of curiosity or for decoration. |
bridle | n. headgear with which a horse is directed and which carries a bit and reins |
brigade | n. a body of troops consisting of two or more regiments. |
brigadier | n. general officer who commands a brigade, ranking between a colonel and a major-general. |
brigand | n. one who lives by robbery and plunder. |
brine | n. water saturated with salt. |
bristle | n. one of the coarse, stiff hairs of swine: used in brush-making, etc. |
britannia | n. the united kingdom of great britain. |
briticism | n. a word, idiom, or phrase characteristic of great britain or the british. |
brittle | a. easily broken; having little elasticity |
broach | v. introduce; bring up for discussion or debate; announce |
broadcast | n. message that is transmitted by radio or television; radio or television show |
brogan | n. a coarse, heavy shoe. |
brogue | n. any dialectic pronunciation of english, especially that of the irish people. |
brokerage | n. the business of making sales and purchases for a commission; a broker. |
bromine | n. a dark reddish-brown, non-metallic liquid element with a suffocating odor. |
bronchitis | n. inflammation of the bronchial tubes. |
bronchus | n. either of the two subdivisions of the trachea conveying air into the lungs. |
brooch | n. ornamental clasp; decorative pin worn by women |
brotherhood | n. spiritual or social fellowship or solidarity. |
browbeat | v. bully; intimidate; discourage or frighten with threats |
brusque | a. abrupt and curt in manner or speech; rudely abrupt, unfriendly |
buffoon | n. one who makes a practice of amusing others by low tricks, antic gestures; droll; mimic; clown |
buffoonery | n. clowning; arts and practices of buffoon, as low jests, ridiculous pranks, vulgar tricks and postures |
bulbous | adj. of, or pertaining to, or like a bulb. |
bulrush | n. any one of various tall rush-like plants growing in damp ground or water. |
bulwark | n. earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends |
bumper | n. something as bars at edges to absorb shock and prevent serious damage |
bumptious | a. offensively self-assertive; liable to give or take offense; forward; pushing |
bungle | v. mismanage; blunder; work or act in clumsy, awkward, or blundering manner |
buoyancy | n. power or tendency to float on or in a liquid or gas. |
buoyant | a. able to float; cheerful and optimistic |
bureau | n. a chest of drawers for clothing, etc. |
bureaucracy | n. over-regulated administrative system |
burgess | n. in colonial times, a member of the lower house of the legislature of maryland or virginia. |
burgher | n. an inhabitant, citizen or freeman of a borough burgh, or corporate town. |
burnish | v. make shiny by rubbing; polish |
bursar | n. treasurer or keeper of funds; purser or treasurer of college or other community |
bustle | v. move or cause to move energetically and busily; teem |
butt | v. to strike with or as with the head, or horns. |
butte | n. a conspicuous hill, low mountain, or natural turret, generally isolated. |
buttress | v. support physically; prop up; support something or someone by supplying evidence |
by-law | n. a rule or law adopted by an association, a corporation, or the like. |
cabal | n. small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests |
cabinet | n. group of persons appointed by a head of state or a prime minister; hut; cottage; small house; small room; closet |
cacophony | n. a disagreeable, harsh, or discordant sound or combination of sounds or tones. |
cadaverous | a. like corpse; pale; Having appearance or color of dead human body |
cadence | n. rhythmic rise and fall of words or sounds; beat |
cadenza | n. an embellishment or flourish, prepared or improvised, for a solo voice or instrument. |
cajole | v. influence or urge by gentle urging or flattering |
cajolery | n. delusive speech. |
calculable | adj. that may be estimated by reckoning. |
calculus | n. a concretion formed in various parts of the body resembling a pebble in hardness. |
callosity | n. the state of being hard and insensible. |
callow | a. youthful; immature; inexperienced; without feathers |
calorie | n. unit of heat; unit of heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree |
calumny | n. false statement maliciously made to injure another's reputation; slander |
calvary | n. the place where christ was crucified. |
calvinism | n. the system of doctrine taught by john calvin. |
calvinize | v. to teach or imbue with the doctrines of calvinism. |
came | n. a leaden sash-bar or grooved strip for fastening panes in stained-glass windows. |
cameo | n. piece of jewelry; a small scale used as a jewel for adornment; famous actor's special appearance in a minor role in film |
campaign | n. battle ;a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end |
canaanite | n. a member of one of the three tribes that dwelt in the land of canaan, or western palestine. |
canary | n. pale yellowish color; wine made in the Canary Islands; canary bird; quick and lively dance |
candid | a. straightforward; frank; free from prejudice; impartial |
candor | n. frankness; quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech |
canine | a. related to dogs; dog-like; affecting or derived from dogs |
canon | n. law or rule; decision, regulation, code, or constitution made by authority; books of the Bible officially accepted; a group of literary works |
cant | n. inclination or slope; slanted or oblique surface; jargon, especially of thieves; dialect |
cantata | n. story or poem set to music that can be sung by chorus |
canto | n. part or division of poem of some length |
cantonment | n. the part of the town or district in which the troops are quartered. |
capacious | a. capable of containing a large quantity; spacious or roomy |
capillary | n. long and slender with a very small internal diameter |
capitulate | v. surrender; end all resistance; give up; go along with or comply |
caprice | n. sudden, unexpected fancy; impulsive change of mind |
caption | n. title; chapter heading; text under illustration |
captious | a. intended to confuse in an argument |
captivate | v. charm; enthrall; seize by force, as an enemy in war, or anything belonging to enemy |
carcass | n. dead body of an animal especially one slaughtered and dressed for food |
cardiac | a. of or relating to the heart |
cardinal | a. chief; serving as an essential component |
caret | n. a sign (^) placed below a line, indicating where omitted words, etc., should be inserted. |
caricature | n. representation that is deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic effect |
carnage | n. destruction of life; savage and excessive killing of many people |
carnal | a. fleshly; of or relating to body or flesh; bodily |
carnivorous | a. eating or feeding on flesh; predatory |
carouse | v. to drink deeply and in boisterous or jovial manner. |
carrion | n. dead and putrefying flesh. |
cartilage | n. an elastic animal tissue of firm consistence. |
cartridge | n. a charge for a firearm, or for blasting. |
caste | n. any of the hereditary social classes and subclasses of South Asian societies |
castigate | v. criticize severely; punish; revise or make corrections to publication |
casual | a. informal; purposeless; occurring by chance |
casualty | n. serious or fatal accident; someone injured or killed in an accident |
cataclysm | n. an event resulting in great loss and misfortune; deluge or overflowing of water |
cataract | n. large or high waterfall; eye abnormality |
catastrophe | n. calamity; disaster; state of extreme ruin and misfortune |
cathode | n. the negative pole or electrode of a galvanic battery. |
catholicism | n. the system, doctrine, and practice of the roman catholic church. |
catholicity | n. universal prevalence or acceptance. |
cat-o-nine-tails | n. an instrument consisting of nine pieces of cord, formerly used for flogging in the army and navy. |
caucus | n. private meeting of members of a party to select officers or determine policy |
causal | a. implying cause-and-effect relationship |
caustic | a. capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical action |
cauterize | v. to burn or sear as with a heated iron. |
cede | v. yield or formally resign and surrender to another |
censor | n. overseer of morals; official responsible for removal of objectionable or sensitive content |
censorious | a. critical; addicted to censure; severe in making remarks on others, or on their writings or manners; implying or expressing censure |
census | n. official examination of the details of a country's population |
centenary | a. relating to a 100-year period; occurring once every 100 years |
centiliter | n. a hundredth of a liter. |
centimeter | n. a length of one hundredth of a meter. |
centurion | n. officer of ancient Roman army, in command of a century of soldiers or minor division |
cereal | n. grass such as wheat, oats, or corn, the starchy grains of which are used as food. |
ceremonial | n. ritual; ceremony or rite |
ceremonious | a. marked by formality; strictly observant of or devoted to ceremony or ritual |
cessation | n. bringing or coming to end; ceasing |
cession | n. yielding to another; ceding or surrendering |
chameleon | n. lizard that changes color in different situations |
chancery | n. a court of equity, as distinguished from a common-law court. |
chaos | n. disorder; condition or place of great disorder or confusion; disorderly mass |
characteristic | n. feature that helps to identify, tell apart, or describe recognizably; a distinguishing mark or trait |
characterize | v. distinguish; be characteristic of; be a distinctive trait or mark of |
charlatan | n. quack; one who pretends to knowledge, skill, or importance |
chasten | v. rid of excess; refine or purify; correct by punishment or reproof |
chastise | v. punish, as by beating; criticize severely; rebuke |
chastity | n. state of being chaste; purity of body; freedom from unlawful sexual intercourse |
chateau | n. impressive country house or castle in France; large country house |
chattel | n. any article of personal property. |
check | v. stop motion; curb or restrain |
chiffon | n. a very thin gauze used for trimmings, evening dress, etc. |
chivalry | n. courtesy towards women |
cholera | n. an acute epidemic disease. |
choleric | a. hot-tempered; easily angered; bad-tempered; expressing anger |
choral | adj. pertaining to, intended for, or performed by a chorus or choir. |
christ | n. a title of jesus |
christen | v. to name in baptism. |
christendom | n. that part of the world where christianity is generally professed. |
chromatic | adj. belonging, relating to, or abounding in color. |
chronology | n. time sequence; arrangement of events in time |
chronometer | n. a portable timekeeper of the highest attainable precision. |
cipher | n. secret code; an Arabic numeral or figure; a number |
circulate | v. move through a space, circuit or system, returning to the starting point |
circumference | n. boundary line of a circle, figure, area, or object |
circumlocution | n. indirect or roundabout expression; evasion in speech or writing |
circumnavigate | v. to sail quite around. |
circumscribe | v. limit narrowly; confine; draw a line around; encircle |
circumspect | a. carefully aware of all circumstances; cautious |
citadel | n. fortress; fortified place which people could go for shelter during battle |
cite | v. quote; adduce as an instance |
claimant | n. one who makes a claim or demand, as of right. |
clairvoyance | n. intuitive sagacity or perception. |
clamorous | a. speaking and repeating loud words; full of clamor; calling or demanding loudly or urgently; vociferous; noisy; bawling; loud |
clan | n. faction; tribe; division of a tribe tracing descent from a common ancestor; a large group of relatives |
clandestine | a. secret; conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods |
clangor | n. loud, resounding noise; sharp, metallic, ringing sound; resonant, clanging sound |
clarify | v. make clear and comprehensible; elucidate |
clarion | n. a small shrill trumpet or bugle. |
classify | v. declare unavailable, as for security reasons; arrange or order by classes or categories |
clearance | n. act of clearing; space cleared; permission to proceed or trust |
clemency | n. mildness, as of the weather; merciful, kind, or lenient act |
clement | adj. compassionate. |
close-hauled | adj. having the sails set for sailing as close to the wind as possible. |
clothier | n. one who makes or sells cloth or clothing. |
clumsy | a. awkward; showing lack of skill or aptitude |
coagulant | adj. producing coagulation. |
coagulate | v. cause transformation of liquid into or as if into soft, semisolid, or solid mass |
coalescence | n. union of diverse things into one body or form or group; growing together of parts |
coalition | n. partnership; league; state of being combined into one body |
coddle | v. treat gently; cook in water just below boiling point |
codicil | n. supplement or appendix, especially to a will |
coerce | v. restrain by force, especially by law or authority; repress; curb |
coercion | n. use of force to get someone to obey |
coercive | adj. serving or tending to force. |
cogent | a. reasonable and convincing; based on evidence; forcefully persuasive |
cognate | a. related by blood; having common ancestor; related or analogous in nature, character, or function |
cognizant | adj. taking notice. |
cohere | v. stick or hold together in a mass that resists separation |
cohesion | n. tendency to keep together |
cohesive | a. cohering or tending to cohere; well integrated |
coincide | v. occur at the same time as; correspond |
coincidence | n. two or more things occurring at the same time by chance |
coincident | a. concerning; simultaneous |
collaborate | v. work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort |
collapse | v. breakdown; failure |
collapsible | adj. that may or can collapse. |
colleague | n. fellow worker; associate; co-worker |
collective | a. common; assembled into or viewed as a whole |
collector | n. one who makes a collection, as of objects of art, books, or the like. |
collegian | n. a college student. |
collide | v. bump; hit; conflict |
collier | n. one who works in a coal-mine. |
collision | n. crash; conflict of opposed ideas or attitudes or goals |
colloquial | a. of informal spoken language or conversation; conversational or chatty |
colloquialism | n. colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech |
collusion | n. secret agreement for an illegal purpose; conspiracy |
colossus | n. any strikingly great person or object. |
comely | a. pleasing or attractive to the eye; handsome; graceful |
comestible | adj. fit to be eaten. |
comical | a. arousing or provoking laughter |
commemorate | v. serve as a memorial to; honor the memory of with a ceremony |
commentary | n. written explanation or criticism or illustration that is added to a book or other textual material |
commissariat | n. the department of an army charged with the provision of its food and water and daily needs. |
commission | n. fee for services; group of people appointed to find out about something; authorize |
commitment | n. pledge, undertaking; act of binding yourself to a course of action |
committal | n. the act, fact, or result of committing, or the state of being |
commodity | n. goods; article of trade; advantage; benefit. |
commotion | n. disturbed or violent motion; agitation; public disturbance; riot; excitement |
commute | v. obtain or bargain for exemption or substitution; travel regularly from a place of residence to another place |
comparable | a. similar or equivalent; being of equal regard; worthy to be ranked with |
comparative | a. relative; based on, or involving comparison |
comparison | n. examination of two or more objects with reference to their likeness or unlikeness. |
compensate | v. make amends for; reimburse |
competence | n. quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually |
competent | a. capable; adept |
competitive | a. of or pertaining to competition; producing competition; showing a fighting disposition |
competitor | n. one who seeks what another seeks, or claims what another claims; one who competes; rival |
complacent | adj. pleased or satisfied with oneself. |
complaisance | n. politeness. |
complaisant | a. trying to please; showing cheerful willingness to do favors for others |
complement | v. complete; consummate; make perfect |
complex | a. complicated in structure; a whole structure, as a building, made up of interconnected or related structures |
compliant | a. yielding to request or desire; ready to accommodate; disposed or willing to comply |
complicate | v. to make complex, difficult, or hard to deal with. |
complication | n. complexity; intricacy; any disease or disorder that occurs during the course of another disease |
complicity | n. participation; involvement as partner or accomplice, especially in crime or other wrongdoing |
compliment | n. praise; commendation; say something to someone that expresses praise |
component | n. element; ingredient; abstract part of something |
comport | v. to conduct or behave (oneself). |
composure | n. mental calmness; calm or tranquil state of mind |
comprehensible | a. understandable; readily comprehended or understood; intelligible |
comprehension | n. grasp; ability to understand |
comprehensive | a. thorough; including all or everything; broad in scope |
compress | v. close; squeeze or press together; contract |
compressible | adj. capable of being pressed into smaller compass. |
compression | n. applying pressure; encoding information while reducing the bandwidth or bits required |
comprise | v. include; consist of; be composed of |
compulsion | n. act of compelling, or the state of being compelled; act of driving or urging by force or by physical or moral constraint |
compulsory | a. mandatory; obligatory; required by rule |
compunction | n. feeling of deep regret; strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt |
compute | v. reckon; make mathematical calculation |
concede | v. admit; yield; give up physical control of another |
conceit | n. overly high self-esteem; feelings of excessive pride |
conceive | v. form or develop in the mind; devise; become pregnant with; begin or originate in a specific way |
concerto | n. composition for orchestra and a soloist |
concession | n. act of yielding; point yielded; acknowledgment or admission |
conciliate | v. to obtain the friendship of. |
conciliatory | a. making or willing to yield, or to make concessions |
conclusive | a. definitive; decisive; final |
concord | n. agreement of opinions; harmonious state of things |
concurrent | a. simultaneous; coincident; occurring or operating at the same time |
concussion | n. shaking or agitation; shock; injury to an organ, especially the brain, produced by a violent blow |
condensation | n. compression |
condense | v. change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops; compress or concentrate |
condescend | v. stoop or descend; let one's self down; submit; waive the privilege of rank or dignity |
condolence | n. expression of sympathy with another in sorrow or grief. |
conduce | v. to bring about. |
conducive | adj. contributing to an end. |
conductible | adj. capable of being conducted or transmitted. |
conduit | n. a means for conducting something, particularly a tube, pipe, or passageway for a fluid. |
confectionery | n. the candy collectively that a confectioner makes or sells, as candy. |
confederate | n. ally; form a group or unite |
confer | v. bestow; present; have a conference in order to talk something over |
conferee | n. a person with whom another confers. |
confessor | n. a spiritual advisor. |
confidant | n. one to whom secrets are entrusted. |
confide | v. disclose; reveal; tell in confidence |
confidence | n. feeling secure or certain about something |
confident | a. assured; having or marked by assurance |
confinement | n. state of being confined; restraint within limits; any restraint of liberty by force |
confiscate | v. seize as forfeited to the public treasury; appropriate to the public use |
conflagration | a. large destructive fire; burning; large-scale military conflict |
confluence | n. act of two things flowing together; junction or meeting place where two things meet |
confluent | n. a stream that unites with another. |
conformable | adj. harmonious. |
conformance | n. the act or state or conforming. |
conformation | n. general structure, form, or outline. |
conformity | n. similarity in form or character; agreement |
confront | v. be face to face with; oppose in hostility or competition; deal with |
congest | v. to collect into a mass. |
congregate | v. assemble; convene; gather |
coniferous | adj. cone-bearing trees. |
conjecture | v. believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds |
conjugal | a. belonging to marriage; suitable or appropriate to the marriage state or to married persons; matrimonial |
conjugate | adj. joined together in pairs. |
conjugation | n. the state or condition of being joined together. |
conjunction | n. state of being conjoined, united, or associated; union; association; league |
connive | v. to be in collusion. |
connoisseur | n. specialist; person with expert knowledge or training, especially in the fine arts |
connote | v. to mean; signify. |
connubial | adj. pertaining to marriage or matrimony. |
conquer | v. gain or acquire by force; take possession of by violent means; gain dominion over |
consanguineous | a. of the same lineage or origin; having common ancestor |
conscience | n. motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles; source of moral or ethical judgment |
conscientious | a. diligent; responsible; reliable |
conscript | v. to force into military service. |
consecrate | v. to set apart as sacred. |
consecutive | a. following one after another without interruption; sequential |
consensus | n. general agreement or accord; opinion reached by a group as a whole |
conservatism | n. a political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes |
conservative | a. favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change |
conservatory | n. greenhouse; school of music or dramatic art |
consign | v. give, transfer, or deliver in a formal manner, as if by signing over into the possession of another |
consignee | n. a person to whom goods or other property has been entrusted. |
consignor | n. one who entrusts. |
consistency | n. harmonious uniformity or agreement among things or parts |
console | v. cheer from distress or depression; alleviate grief and raise spirits of; relieve; comfort |
consolidate | v. make solid; unite or press together into a compact mass; harden or make dense and firm |
consonance | n. the state or quality of being in accord with. |
consonant | a. compatible; harmonious |
consort | v. associate; join |
conspicuous | a. noticeable; prominent; easy to notice; obvious |
conspirator | n. one who engages in a conspiracy; plotter |
conspire | v. make a secret agreement, to do some act, as to commit treason or a crime, or to do some unlawful deed; plot together |
constable | n. an officer whose duty is to maintain the peace. |
constellation | n. a number of stars seen from the Earth as a group and often having a name |
consternation | n. intense state of fear or dismay; astonishment combined with terror |
constituency | n. the inhabitants or voters in a district represented in a legislative body. |
constituent | n. component or part; citizen, voter |
constrict | v. restrict; shrink; make smaller or narrower by binding or squeezing |
consul | n. an officer appointed to reside in a foreign city, chiefly to represent his country. |
consulate | n. the place in which a consul transacts official business. |
consummate | a. carried to the utmost extent or degree; of the highest quality; complete; perfect |
consumption | n. eating or drinking of something |
consumptive | adj. designed for gradual destruction. |
contagion | n. the communication of disease from person to person. |
contagious | a. infectious; of or relating to communicable diseases |
contaminate | v. make impure or unclean by contact or mixture; pollute; defile |
contemplate | v. look at attentively and thoughtfully; observe deep in thought |
contemporaneous | adj. living, occurring, or existing at the same time. |
contemporary | a. modern; belonging to the same period of time |
contemptible | a. worthy of contempt; deserving of scorn or disdain; mean |
contemptuous | a. scornful; expressing contempt; showing a lack of respect |
contender | n. contestant you hope to defeat |
contiguous | a. sharing an edge or boundary; touching; neighboring |
continence | n. self control; self restraint; partial or complete abstention from sexual activity |
contingency | n. condition of being dependent on chance; uncertainty; possibility |
contingent | a. possible, or liable, but not certain, to occur; incidental; casual. |
continuance | n. permanence. |
continuation | n. prolongation; extension by which something is carried to a further point |
continuity | n. property of a continuous and connected period of time |
continuous | adj. connected, extended, or prolonged without separation or interruption of sequence. |
contort | v. to twist into a misshapen form. |
contraband | n. trade forbidden by law or treaty. |
contradiction | n. assertion of contrary; denial of the truth of a statement or assertion; opposition, whether by argument or conduct |
contradictory | a. nature of, or being a contradiction; mutually exclusive; opposing |
contraposition | n. a placing opposite. |
contravene | v. to prevent or obstruct the operation of. |
contribution | n. act of contributing; payment exacted for special purpose; impost or levy |
contributor | n. one who gives or furnishes, in common with others, for a common purpose. |
contrite | adj. broken in spirit because of a sense of sin. |
contrivance | n. the act planning, devising, inventing, or adapting something to or for a special purpose. |
contrive | v. form by an exercise of ingenuity; devise; invent; design |
control | v. to exercise a directing, restraining, or governing influence over. |
controller | n. one who or that which regulates or directs. |
contumacious | adj. rebellious. |
contumacy | n. contemptuous disregard of the requirements of rightful authority. |
contuse | v. to bruise by a blow, either with or without the breaking of the skin. |
contusion | n. injury that doesn't break the skin |
convalesce | v. recover gradually from an illness |
convalescence | n. the state of progressive restoration to health and strength after the cessation of disease. |
convalescent | adj. recovering health after sickness. |
convene | v. cause to come together formally |
convenience | n. state of being suitable |
converge | v. approach; tend to meet; come together |
convergent | adj. tending to one point. |
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