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300 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
abacus
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n. a Chinese device used to perform arithmetic equations by moving beads along rods
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abase
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v. to degrade; to humiliate
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abash
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v. to make ashamed or uneasy
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abate
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v. to reduce
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abbess
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n. a woman, commonly called Mother Superior in charge of a convent of nuns
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abbreviate
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v. to reduce to a shorter form
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abdicate
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v. to step down from a powerful position
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abduct
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v. to carry off a person, usually by force; to kidnap
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aberrant
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adj. straying from the correct or normal way
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abet
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v. to help someone do something illegal or wrong; to incite, encourage, or aid, especially in wrongdoing
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abeyance
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n. a state of not being presently used; temporary suspension or cessation
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abhor
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v. to hate deeply; detest
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abide
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v. to remain; continue; stay; endure
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abut
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v. border upon; to adjoin
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abject
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adj. extremely sad; hopeless; defeated
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abjure
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v. to repudiate or renounce; to give up
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ablution
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n. a cleansing with water or other liquid, especially as a religious ritual; the liquid used in such an act
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abnegate
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v. to deny oneself; to reject
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abominate
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v. to hate or loathe intensely
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aboriginal
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adj. native to an area
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abortive
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adj. unsuccessful
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abound
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v. to exist in large numbers; to be full; teem
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abridge
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v. to shorten; to condense; to diminish; to curtail
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abrogate
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v. to abolish, repeal, or nullify by authority; to do away with; to end formally
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abscond
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v. take flight, escape, to leave quickly and secretly
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absolute
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adj. total; complete
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absolve
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v. to make free of blame, obligation, or sin
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abstain
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v. to refrain from; denying oneself any action or practice
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abstract
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adj. difficult to understand; impersonal
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abstruse
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adj. hard to understand
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absurd
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adj. ridiculously unreasonable, laughable
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abysmal
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adj. bottomless; hopeless
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abyss
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n. bottomless pit; a profound depth or void
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accede
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v. to yield; give in to a request
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accentuate
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v. to emphasize; to make more noticeable; to accent
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access
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n. authorization or capacity to enter, look at, or use something
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acclaim
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v. to give public approval and praise; to approve enthusiastically
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acclimate
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v. to become suitable to a certain situation or use; adapt
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accolade
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n. an award, an honor; approval, praise
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accomodate
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v. to provide for; help; adapt; oblige
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accomplice
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n. a person who knowingly aids or abets another in an unlawful act or crime
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accord
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v. agree; conform; to grant; bestow upon
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accost
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v. to approach and speak to someone
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accountable
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adj. expected to answer for one's actions; responsible; liable
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accouterments
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n. the equipment needed for a particular activity or way of life; one's outfit or equipment
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accrete
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v. to increase by growth, or addition; adhere
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accrue
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v. to accumulate over time
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acerbic
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adj. sour; bitter; severe
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acme
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n. the highest point
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acquiesce
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v. to agree passively; comply; consent
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acquisitive
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adj. eager to possess and collect things; greedy
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acquit
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v. to decide officially someone is not guilty of a particular crime; to free from an obligation
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acrid
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adj. harsh; acidic
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acrimonious
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adj. bitter; nasty; spiteful
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acronym
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n. a word created from the initials of other words
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acuity
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n. sharpness, keeness of perception, deftness
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acumen
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n. mental keeness or sharpness
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acute
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adj. shrewd; sharp
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ad lib
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v. to act, speak, and perform spontaneously or off the cuff
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adage
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n. a wise saying or proverb; an old familiar saying that expresses folk wisdom
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adamant
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adj. resolute; stubborn; inflexible
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addicted
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adj. devoting (oneself) habitually or compulsively
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address
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v. to speak to
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adduce
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v. to give as proof; to cite
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adherent
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n. a follower of a leader; supporter
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adjourn
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v. to make a pause or rest; suspend until later
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adjunct
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n. something connected or added in a subordinate position; an assistant
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admonish
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v. to caution or warn; to criticize or scold mildly but firmly
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adrenaline
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n. a hormone produced by the adrenal gland; stimulation of energy and strength
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adroit
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adj. skillful; deft
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adulation
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n. extreme flattery or admiration
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adumbrate
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v. to sketch, to outline, to give a hint of things to come
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advent
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n. the arrival or beginning; coming
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adventitious
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adj. accidental or incidental; not expected or planned; irrelevant
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adverse
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adj. unfavorable; antagonistic
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advocate
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n. one who supports a cause; one who defends or pleads on behalf of another
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aegis
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n. a shield or protection
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aesthetic
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adj. having to do with artistic beauty
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affable
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adj. friendly; easy-going
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affect
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v. to influence, to impress the mind or move the feelings as emotion
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affectation
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n. false behavior intended to impress
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affidavit
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n. a sworn written statement
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affiliate
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v. to cause to become part of or to form a close relationship with; to associate or connect with
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affinity
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n. a natural attraction; kinship; similarity
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affirm
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v. to declare something to be true, to confirm or ratify
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affliction
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n. a condition of pain or suffering; the cause of misery, illness, or suffering
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afflict
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v. to cause suffering or pain
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affluent
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adj. wealthy, rich
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afford
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v. to allow to have; to provide; to have enough money to buy; to confer upon
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affront
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n. an action intended to insult or offend someone; an injury to one's dignity
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aftermath
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n. events following some occurence; a consequence of
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agenda
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n. schedule; program
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aggrandizement
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n. an exaggeration, an apearance of greater power or influence
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aggregate
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n. total; collection of different things
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aggrieve
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v. to distress or bring grief to; cause to suffer; to treat unfairly
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aghast
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adj. filled with terror; shocked; feelings of anxiety or fear
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agnostic
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n. one who believes it is impossible to know whether God exists
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agog
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adj. highly excited by eagerness
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agrarian
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adj. related to farming and land
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ague
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n. a malarial fever characterized by drastic changed of hot and cold body temperature
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ajar
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adj. partially open
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alacrity
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n. cheerful expectancy; eagerness
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alchemy
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n. a magical power or process of transmutation; a medieval study and practice of chemistry
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alcove
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n. nook, corner, any recessed space
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allegory
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n. a symbolic story
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alibi
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n. an excuse to avoid blame, a credible excuse or explanation of innocence
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alienate
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v. to make hostile; to cause to feel unwelcome or estranged
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allay
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v. to relieve, calm or pacify
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allege
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v. to state without proof
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allegiance
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n. devotion or loyalty to a person, country, or cause
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alleviate
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v. to make less severe; to relieve, to lessen
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alliterative
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adj. the repeating of initial consonant sounds in language
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allocate
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v. to assign; allot
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allot
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v. to give a share of something; allocate; appotion
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alloy
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n. combination of two or more metals
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allude
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v. to refer to indirectly
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allure
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v. to entice with something desirable; tempt
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ally
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v./n. to unite formally by treaty or league; a friend or close associate in a common cause
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alms
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n. money or goods given as charity to the poor
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aloof
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adj. distant, reserved in a manner; uninvolved
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also-ran
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n. one who is defeated in a race, election, or other competition; a loser
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altar
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n. an elevated structure, as a mound or platform where religious rites are performed
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altercation
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n. a vehement agrument, a heated quarrel
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alternative
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n. the choice between two possibilities; a situation presenting such a choice
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altruism
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n. devotion to helping others; selflessness
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amalgram
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n. fusion; compound; a blend of different things
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amass
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v. to gather or accumulate
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ambiance
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n. a mood, feeling; general atmosphere
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ambiguous
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adj. confusing; unclear as to meaning
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ambivalence
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n. indecision; experiencing contradictory emotions
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ambulatory
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adj. capable of walking
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ameliorate
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v. to make better
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amenable
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adj. agreeable, pleasant willing to give in to the wishes of another
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amend
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v. to alter, modify, improve; change for the better
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amenity
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n. a comfortable, pleasant feature
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amiable
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adj. friendly; agreeable
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amicable
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adj. possessing or showing friendliness or good will; peaceable
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amid
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prep. in the middle of or surrounded by
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amity
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n. friendship, good will, harmony
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amnesty
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n. political pardon
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amoral
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adj. lacking a sense of right and wrong; without moral feelings
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amorous
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adj. full of love; relating to love
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amplify
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v. to make larger, louder, or more powerful
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anachronism
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n. incongruity; something out of time or place in history
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analogous
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adj. comparable; similar or equivalent
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analogy
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n. a comparison of two things; similarity
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anarchy
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n. disorder; lawlessness; without government
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anathema
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n. something or someone greatly disliked or disapproved of
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ancillary
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adj. helping; providing assistance; subordinate
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androgynous
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adj. having the characteristics and nature of both male and female, neither specific
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anecdote
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n. a short, humorous story
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anemic
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adj. lacking power, vitality
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angst
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n. strong anxiety and unhappiness; a feeling of dread
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anguish
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n. agonizing pain, mental or physical
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angular
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adj. having an angle or angles; crooked; gaunt
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animated
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adj. filled with activity; vigor; movement
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animosity
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n. a feeling of ill-will; bitter hostility
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annals
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n. descriptive record; history
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annex
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n. an addition or attachment
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annotation
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n. an explanatory note added to a text
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annuity
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n. any income paid at fixed intervals
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anomaly
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n. an irregularity; a deviation from the norm
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anomie
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n. condition of an individual or of society resulting from a breakdown in standards and values
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anonymity
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n. the condition of being unknown or nameless
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antagonism
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n. active hostility or opposition
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antecedent
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n. something going before; an occurence or event preceding another
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antedate
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v. to be earlier than; precede in time; predate
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anterior
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adj. situated in front
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anthology
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n. a collection of aritistic works which usually have a similar form or subject
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anthropomorphic
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adj. ascribing human characteristics to something that is not human, i.e., animals, gods
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anticlimactic
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adj. having an end that is less important than what precedes it
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antipathy
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n. a natural basic dislike; aversion
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antipodal
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adj. situated on the opposite side of the globe; exactly opposite
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antiquity
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n. the quality of ancientness; ancient times
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antiseptic
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adj. free from germs; exceptionally clean
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antithesis
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n. the direct opposite
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antonym
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n. a word of opposite meaning; the opposite of "synonym"
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anxiety
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n. apprehension; uneasiness; nervousness; disquiet
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apathy
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n. absense or suppression of emotion or excitement
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aperture
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n. a narrow opening; usually a hole; esp. one that controls the amount of light reaching an optical instrument
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apex
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n. the highest point; peak
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aphorism
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n. a brief, witty saying
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apocalypse
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n. a prophetic prediction, esp. one concering the end of the world
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apogee
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n. the most important; the highest or most distant point, especially in space
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apoplexy
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n. the sudden loss of bodily functions caused by the rupture of a blood vessel
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apostasy
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n. the absolute rejection of one's religion, principles, or loyalties
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apotheosis
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n. the perfect example; divine
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appalling
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adj. causing dismay or horror
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apparel
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n. clothing, personal attire, something worn
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apparition
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n. a ghostly image; phantom; specter
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appease
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v. to soothe; to pacify or relieve by giving in to
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appellation
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n. a name, title, or other designation
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appendage
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n. something which exists as a smaller and less important part of something larger
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apposite
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adj. suitable and right for the occasion; fitting; appropriate
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appraise
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v. to examine something to determine the value
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appreciate
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v. to increase in value
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apprehensive
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adj. dreading or fearing coming adversity
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apprentice
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n. one who is learning a vocation
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apprise
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v. to inform; to tell; to make aware of
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approbation
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n. praise; approval
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appropriate
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v. to set aside; take without permission
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appurtenance
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n. an additional feature; something that supplements a more important thing; an accessory
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apropos
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adj. appropriate; relevant; opportune; suitable
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apt
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adj. likely; having a tendency to; suitable
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aptitude
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n. capacity for learning; natural ability
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arable
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adj. tillable, productive, able to be farmed
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arbiter
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n. judge; one who makes decisions
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arbitrary
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adj. decided by judgment rather than law or statute
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arcade
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n. a covered area or passageway in which there are shops; archways connected by pillars or columns
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arcane
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adj. unknown to the masses; mysterious
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archaic
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adj. ancient; outdated
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archetype
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n. the original model or pattern
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archipelago
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n. a large body of water containing many islands; a group of islands
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archival
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adj. pertaining to historical or public records, documents or archives
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ardent
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adj. passionate, full of desire or emotion
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arduous
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adj. hard, difficult, tiresome
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arid
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adj. having little rain; very dry; lacking imagination or feeling; uninteresting
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aristocratic
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adj. noble; snobbish
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armada
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n. a fleet of warships
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armament
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n. military supplies and weapons; the process of arming for war
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armistice
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n. an agreement between two countries or factions to stop fighting; a truce
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arraign
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v. to bring before a court of law; to respond to a charge; to accuse
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arrant
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adj. complete; unmitigated; downright; total
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array
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v. to place in an orderly arrangement for display
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arrears
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n. a debt that is late in being paid
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arrogant
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adj. feeling superior to others, overbearing
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arsenal
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n. a building where weapons and military equipment are stored; a collection of weapons; armory; any supply or store
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arson
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n. the malicious burning of a property
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artful
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adj. sly; crafty
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articulate
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v. to speak or pronounce clearly and distinctly; to express effectively
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artifact
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n. an object made by human work of archaeological or historical interest
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artifice
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n. cunning; trickery
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artisan
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n. a worker skilled in a craft
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artless
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adj. having no skill or art; crude
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ascend
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v. to go up; to rise or move upward, succeed
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ascent
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n. the act of ascending, rising or going up
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ascertain
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v. to discover; to make certain; to learn unquestionable
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ascetic
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adj. monk-like; practicing self-denial
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ascribe
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v. to attribute to a specific cause, source, or origin
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asinine
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adj. silly or stupid
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askance
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adv. with suspicion, disapproval or a lack of trust
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askew
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adj. to one side; crooked; awry
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asperity
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n. roughness or harshness, as of surface, weather, sound, or manner
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aspersion
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n. an insulting or malicious remark about someone
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aspirant
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n. someone who aspires, as to high honors or position
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aspiration
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n. strong desire to achieve a goal
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aspire
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v. to long for, aim, or seek ambitiously
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assail
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v. to attack violently
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assay
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v. to try or test; examine or analyze
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assent
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v. agree to a situation, opinion, or proposal; to concur
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asset
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n. an object of value; a useful or valuable person or resource
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assert
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v. to state with force or confidence
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assess
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v. to judge or decide the amount, value, quality or importance of
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assiduous
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adj. hardworking; diligent, busy
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assimilate
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v. to learn completely; to take in; to absorb
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assuage
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v. to sooth; to make less severe; to satisfy, ease, lessen
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astringent
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adj. stern, harsh, or severe
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astute
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adj. shrewd, clever, keen
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asunder
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adj. in separate parts or widely separated
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asylum
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n. a place of safety, as for political refugees; also an institution for the care of the ill
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atavistic
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adj. having characteristics relating to an earlier type; related to a throwback
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atone
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v. to make amends
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atrophy
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v. to wither away
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attenuate
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v. to make thin in consistency; to weaken
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attest
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v. to show or prove that something is true; to confirm or testify to
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attribute
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v. to credit to; to assign; to ascribe to
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attrition
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n. a gradual reduction or weakening; a rubbing away
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atypical
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adj. not typical; abnormal
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audacity
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n. daring; boldness
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augment
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v. to make or become greater
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augur
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v. to predict; to serve as a warning
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auspices
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n. sponsorship or protection; patronage; encouragement
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auspicious
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adj. favorable; promising for the future
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austere
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adj. stern, as in manner; unadorned; severely
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authentic
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adj. real, bona fide, original
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authoritarian
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n. someone who believes in total obedience or subjection to authority figures
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autism
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n. absorption in self-centered mental activity; withdrawal
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autocratic
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adj. tyrannical, despotic; ruling absolutely
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autonomy
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n. freedom and independence; self-government
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auxiliary
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adj. giving help or support; supplementary; additional
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avail
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v. to be useful; be of value to; to serve
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avant-garde
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adj. describing the advanced group in any field, esp. the arts; dealing in experimental methods
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avarice
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n. greed; extreme desire for wealth
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aver
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v. to assert with confidence; to state as true
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averse
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adj. having a feeling of opposition, repugnance, or disinclination
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avert
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v. to turn aside or away; to prevent; avoid
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avid
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adj. characterized by great eagerness; an unbounded craving
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avow
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v. to claim; admit; declare
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avuncular
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adj. helpful; generous; understanding
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awe
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n. the emotion of respect mixed with fear; reverence
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awry
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adj. not according to plan; off course; not straight
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axiom
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n. widely held belief
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babble
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v. prattle; to talk foolishly; chatter
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bacchanal
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n. any drunken party or riotous celebration
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badger
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v. to tease; annoy; harass persistently
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bagatelle
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n. something unimportant or insignificant; trifle
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baleful
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adj. threatening; hurtful; malignant; ominous
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balk
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v. to stop short and refuse to proceed
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ballad
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n. narrative poem recited or sung, a folk song
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ballast
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n. heavy material used to balance ships; stabilizer
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