abbreviate v. make shorter; reduce to shorter form intended to represent full form, as for word or phrase |
aberrant n. abnormal; markedly different from an accepted norm |
abet v. aid, usually in doing something wrong; encourage |
abhor v. fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate |
abnormal a. unusual; not typical; not normal |
abode n. act of waiting; delay; stay or continuance in a place |
abolish v. cancel; put an end to; destroy completely |
abrasion n. the process of scraping or wearing away; scratch; friction |
abrasive a. rubbing away; tending to grind down |
abrogate a. abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority |
accede v. agree; give consent, often at insistence of another; concede |
accord n. settlement or compromise of conflicting opinions; written agreement between two states |
acquire v. gain through experience or effort; gain possession of; locate with tracking system |
adapt v. make fit for; change to suit a new purpose |
advocate v. speak, plead, or argue in favour of; plead for; push for something |
affable a. easily approachable; warmly friendly |
affirm v. offer someone emotional support or encouragement; confirm |
afoot a. currently in progress; traveling by foot |
agglomeration n. collection; heap; act or process of gathering into a mass |
allegiance n. loyalty to a nation, sovereign, or cause; fidelity to any person or thing; devotion |
allot v. parcel out in parts or portions; distribute to each individual concerned; assign as a share or lot |
aloof a. apart; remote in manner; distant physically or emotionally; reserved and remote |
aluminum n. silvery ductile metallic element |
amaze v. astonish; surprise greatly; affect with wonder |
ambiguity n. state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty |
amid ad. in the middle of; among; surrounded by |
amiss a. out of proper order; not in perfect shape; faulty |
ample a. more than enough in size or scope or capacity; fairly large |
anarchy n. absence of governing body; state of disorder; political disorder and confusion |
antagonize v. provoke the hostility of; act in opposition to |
apocryphal a. untrue; of questionable authorship or authenticity; erroneous; fictitious |
apparel n. external clothing; vesture; garments; dress; small ornamental piece |
apparition n. ghostly figure; sudden or unusual sight; appearance; state of being visible |
appeal n. attraction; charm; attract; fascinate; challenge |
appliance n. durable goods for home or office use; device or instrument for household use |
apprehend v. take into custody; arrest a criminal; grasp mentally; perceive |
apprehension n. fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future; act of seizing or capturing; understanding |
arbitrary a. randomly chosen; determined by chance or impulse, and not by reason or principle |
arrange v. put in proper order; dispose in the manner intended, or best suited for the purpose |
articulate a. expressing oneself easily in clear and effective language |
ascertain v. find out for certain; discover with certainty; make sure of |
aspiration n. a hope or ambition of achieving something; the action or process of drawing breath |
assail v. assault; attack with or as if with violent blows |
assay v. analyze; evaluate; examine by trial or experiment; put to test |
asset n. properties; advantage; useful or valuable quality |
assimilate v. incorporate and absorb into mind; make similar; cause to resemble |
astonish v. surprise or impress someone greatly; shock |
astounding a. surprisingly impressive or notable; shocking |
atheist n. nonbeliever; one who denies the existence of god |
attempt n. action of trying at something |
attribute n. essential quality; reputation; honor |
augment v. make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity |
avail v. turn to advantage of; be of service to; profit; promote |
avert v. prevent; turn or cause to turn off or away |
avid a. greedy; eager for; marked by keen interest and enthusiasm |
avocation n. activity taken up in addition to one's regular work or profession, usually for enjoyment |
awe n. mixed emotion of reverence, respect, dread, and wonder; fear, as of something evil |
azure a. sky blue; light purplish blue |
ballad n. popular kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing |
ballot n. printed or written ticket used in voting; act of voting; whole number of votes cast at an election |
balmy a. mild and pleasant; extremely foolish |
ban n. official prohibition; decree that prohibits something |