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91 Cards in this Set

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abase
to bring down, to lower
comes from french term meaning to lower
abash
to embarrass
comes from same french term as abase yet is related to bashful
abate
lessen in intensity, reduce, weaken
the word bate means to "beat"
so, in this case it's like being beaten down.
abbreviate
shorten
root word (breve = short)
abdicate
to give up by formal declaration; renounce
synonyms
-repudiate, disown, disclaim
pre - ab

root - dic = to say
aberrant
abnormal
err - to wander or stray (err-or for example)
abet
to assist, usually done in something wrong
as in "aiding and abetting"
abeyance
suspended action
the game was held in abeyance until the rain abated.
abhor
detest utterly

abominate; to regard with extreme repugnance or aversion; loathe.
ab = away +
hor = horror(to tremble at; shudder)
abject
miserable; wretched

"abject poverty"
ab = away +
ject = throw

as in throw away (trash), cast down

syn:
debasing, degrading
base, mean, low, vile

abjure
to disclaim knowledge of, to renounce(or give up) under oath; repudiate
ab = away +
jur = swear

to disavow, to swear(promise) away(openly)

syn - abdicate, repudiate
ablution
washing
ab = away, off +
lution (from luere=wash)
= to wash off
abnegation
to deny oneself, renunciation, self-sacrifice
ab=away, off +
negate=deny
(to deny oneself)

deny - is really a abbreviated version of denegation
abolish
cancel; put an end to; to destroy
of L. abolere (meaning to retard the growth of)

ab = away
olere = growth

stopping growth
abominable
detesable; very bad; repugnantly hateful
abominable snowman
abortive
unsuccessful
like my abortive GRE study strategy. (sike)
abrasive
to scrape or rub away; tending to grind down
of abradere,
from ab- "away, off" +
radere "to scrape" (see raze).

"an abrasive surfice"

to scrape away
abrogate
abolish (usually by authoritative, official, or formal action)
ab- "away" +
rogare "propose a law, request"

to off(or deny) a request, usually a proposed law.
absolve
to clear from, pardon,

related to (absolute, solution, absolution)
ab = off, away, from
solve = to clear, to free, loosen

(this is to clear from, free from, loosen from)

absolute - complete, totally unlimited, free.
abstain
to withhold oneself; refrain

During my studies I abstain from personal pleasures.
from L. abstinere "withhold," from ab(s)- "away, from, off" + tenere "to hold" (see tenet).
abstemios
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
ab(s)- "from" + stem of temetum "strong drink,"
abstinence
restraint from eating and drinking
self-control
abstract
theoretical; not concrete
ab(s) = away, from, off
tract = to drag, to pull

(drawn from; not tangible; not concrete)
abstruse
difficult to understand; profound(towards depth, intellectual debth); obscure
from L. abstrusus, pp. of abstrudere "conceal,"

"to thrust away,"
ab-"away" +
trudere "to thrust, push" (see extrusion).
abusive
coarsely insulting; physically harming; misusing;
ab=away, off, from
usive(from use)

(lit. "off use" or misuse)
abut
border upon; adjoin
from O.Fr. abouter "join end to end," bout "end."

The architectural abutment is first attested 1793.
accede
agree
ac= to, forward, toward(favor) +
ced =yield, give;

yield to; give in
accessible
able to go to; easy to approach; obtainable
ac= to, forward +
cess =go +
ible=able
(able to go to)
accliam
applaud; announce with great approval
ac=to,forward+
claim=call out, speak, say

to speak(in favor)

acclimate
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
ac=to, forward, in favor
rw. climate(environment)

climate to
acclivity(n)
sharp upslope of a hill
ac"to,forward"
cliv(us)"hill"
accolade(n)
award of merit
accollare,

from L. ac- "to" + collum "neck" (see collar).

The original sense is of an embrace about the neck or the tapping of a sword on the shoulders to confer knighthood.
Extended meaning "praise, award" is from 1852.
accommodate(v)
to make fit; oblige or help someone; adjust to bring into harmony
1531, from L. accomodatus
"suitable," pp. of accomodare
"fit one thing to another,"

from ac- "to" + commodare "make fit," from commodus "fit" (see commode). Accommodation "lodgings and entertainment" first recorded 1604.
accord(n)
to be in harmony; agreement
cord=harmony
ac=to

accost(v)
1.to confront boldly: The vagabond accosted me for money.

2. to approach, esp. with a greeting, question, or remark
from L.L. accostare
"come up to the side,"

ac- "to" +
costa "rib, side" (see coast).

The original notion is of fleets of warships attacking an enemy's coast.
accourte(v)
'LOL"said (uh-COOTER)

accoutrement(n)
equip
OF acou(s)trer - to arrange, accommodate, equip
accretion(n)

accrete(v)
growth; increase
from L. accretionem "a growing larger,"

from stem of accrescere
ac- "to" +
crescere "grow" (see crescent).
accrue(v)

accrual(n)
to happen or result as a natural growth, addition, etc.
O.Fr. acreue "growth, increase," from acreu, pp. of acreistre "to increase," from L. accrescere (see accretion).

ac- "to" +
crescere "grow" (see crescent).
acerbity(n)
bitterness of speech and temper

related to: acerbic(adj) - bitter or sour in nature; sharp and cutting.
from L. acerbitatem
"bitterness,"

from acerbus "bitter, sharp, tart"
(related to acer "sharp")

also (acr - see acrid).

Earliest use in Eng. is figurative, of "sharp and bitter" persons.
Acerbic in the fig. sense of "sour, harsh, severe" (of speech, manners, etc.)
acetic
vinegary

this salad has an exessively acetic flavor
see accerbity
accidulous(adj)

Moi
full of sharpness and bitterness; caustic

James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and accidulous remarks.
acid + ulous

ac/acr "sharp, point, edge,bitter,sour"
suffix. ous"full of"

so full of sharpness, bitterness, and sourness.
acknowledge(v)
recognize; admit
ac=to +
knowledge=to discern
acrid(adj)
sharp; bitterly pungent
from L. acer (fem. acris) "sharp, pungent, bitter, eager, fierce,"

acri- "corner, edge,"
acani- "point of an arrow,"
acme(n)
highest point; peak; pinnacle

Welles's success in Citizen Kane marked the acme of his career as an actor; never again did he acheive such popular acclaim
acri- "corner, edge," acani- "point of an arrow,"
acoustics(n)
science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in.

I played the acoustic guitar
acquiesce(v)
assent; agree passively
from L. acquiescere
"remain at rest," thus "be satisfied with,"

Speech is silver, silence is golden - Talk may be beneficial, but sometimes acquiescence may be the best option to take.

from ac- "to" +
quiescere "become quiet,"

from quies (gen. quietis) "rest, quiet" (see quiet (n.)).
acquittal(n)

acuit(v)
free from charges
from O.Fr. acquitter "settle a claim,"
à "to" +
quite "free, clear" (see quit).

Meaning "free from charges" is c.1386.
Sense of "to discharge one's duty" is from c.1386.
acrimonous(adj)

acrimony(n)
bitter in words or manner
1542, "quality of being acrid," from L. acrimonia "sharpness, pungency of taste,"

acr "sharp" (see acrid) +
-monia suffix of action, state, condition.

Figurative extension to "sharpness of temper" is first recorded 1618.
acrophobia
fear of heights
ac/acr "sharp, bitter, highest point, edge" as in acme(the highest point)

also acro-
used for terms related to heights such as acrobat,
+ -phobia"fear of"
actuarial(adj)

actuary(n)
as in actuarial science

calculating, pertaining to insurance statistics
act=action +
-ary=like, connected with
actuate(v)
(to make or cause an action); motivate
act=action
-ate=to make
acuity(n)
sharpness; acuteness; keenness:
(acuity of vision; acuity of mind.)
ac=sharp, bitter, at a point, +
-ity=state of being

acumen(n)
ak-u-men
mental keenness: he had remarkable acumen in business matters.
1531, from L. acumen "a point, sting," hence "sharpness, shrewdness," from acuere "to sharpen" (see acuity).
acute(adj)
sharp or severe in effect; intense: acute sorrow; an acute pain.
(see acuity).

Medical sense of "fever or disease that comes and goes quickly" (rather than a chronic one) first recorded 1667.
adage(n)
wise saying; proverb
adamant(adj)

adamancy(n)
hard; inflexible

i'm adamant in my ambition and determination to succeed.
from Gk. adamas (gen. adamantos) "unbreakable," the name of a hypothetical hardest material, perhaps lit. "invincible,"

from a- "not" +
daman "to conquer, to tame" (see tame)

Applied in antiquity to white sapphire, magnet, steel, emery stone, and especially diamond (see diamond).

Fig. sense of "unshakeable" first recorded 1677.

Adamantine (adj.) first recorded 1382.
adapt(v)
tadjust; modify; alter
from L. adaptare "adjust,"

from ad- "to" +
aptare "join," from aptus "fitted" (see apt).

Meaning "to undergo modification so as to fit new circumstances" (intr.) is from 1956.
addendum(n)
a thing to be added; an addition; appendix to book

Plural form is addenda.
1794, from L. addendus "that which is to be added," (see add). Plural form is addenda.

c.1374, from L. addere "add to, join"
from ad- "to" +
-dere combine form
addiction(n)
compulsive; habitual need
1595–1605; < L addictiōn- (s. of addictiō) a giving over, surrender. See addict, -ion

ad"to" + dic"declare, to say, give" +
-ion"

(to give over)(to give in)
addle(v)

addled(adj)
muddle(confuse); drive crazy; become rotten
1712, from addle (n.) "urine, liquid filth,"

from O.E. adela "mud, mire, liquid manure."

Used in noun phrase addle egg (c.1250) "egg that does not hatch, rotten egg,"

lit. "urine egg,"

was taken as an adj. from c.1600, meaning "putrid," and thence given a fig. extension to "empty, vain, idle," also "confused, muddled, unsound" (1706).
address(v)
direct a speech to; deal with or discuss
from V.L. *addirectiare
"make straight,"
ad- "to" +
*directiare, from L. directus "straight, direct" (see direct).

Meaning "to direct spoken words (too someone)" is from 1490
Meaning in Eng. expanded 17c.-18c. to the notion of directing something, as a letter, "straight" to where somebody lives.
"To send as a written message" is from 1636, which led to noun senses of "superscription of a letter" (1712) and "place of residence" (1888).
adept(adj)
a skilled or proficient person; expert
from L. adeptus "having reached, attained,"
from ad- "to" +
apisci "grasp, attain,"

related to aptus "fitted" (see apt).

Noun meaning "one who is skilled in the secrets of anything" is from a M.L. use in alchemy.
adhere(v)

adherent(n)
to stick fast

(n) adherent - supporter; follower
ad- "to +
haerēre "to stick, cling,"
adjacent(adj)
lying near, close, or contiguous; adjoining;
a motel adjacent to the highway.
c.1430, from L. adjacentem (nom. adjacens) "lying at," prp. of adjacere "lie near,"

from ad- "to" +
jac(ere) "to lie, rest,"
lit. "to throw" (see jet (v.)), with notion of "to cast (oneself) down."

-to throw down-
adjunct(n)
attached or belonging without full or permanent status:

an adjunct professor on the university staff.
ad"to" +
junct"join"
adjuration(n)

adjure(v)
a solemn or desperate urging or counseling:
an adjuration for all citizens of the beleaguered city to take shelter.
as"to"+
jur"to swear, promise"
from jus "pertaining to law"
adjutant(n)
1. A staff officer who helps a commanding officer with administrative affairs.

2. An assistant.
from ad- "to" +
juv(are) "to help, give strength, support,"
probably from same root as juvenis "young person"
(see young).
admonish(v)
advise; warn; reprove:
The teacher admonished him about excessive noise.
ad- "to" +
mon(ēre) "to remind, warn"
adorn(v)

adornment(adj)
decorate
ad-"to" +
ōrn(āre) "to dress"
adroit(adj)
cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious:

an adroit debater.
1652, "dexterous," originally "rightly,"

from Fr. phrase à droit "according to right,"
adulation
flattery; admiration

For all the adulation, the team and the city were at cross purposes. While the Saints players stuck to the one-game-at-a-time approach, New Orleans raced ahead of itself with UNFETTERED(unrestrained) talk of an undefeated run to the Super Bowl for the Saints.
from aduliari "to flatter,"

from ad- "to" + ul "tail,"

The original notion is "to wag the tail" like a FAWNING dog

(cf. Gk. sainein "to wag the tail," also "to flatter;" see also wheedle).
adulterate
to make impure
-ulter(like alter- to change)
advent
arrival
from L. adventus "arrival," from pp. stem of advenire "arrive, come to,"
from ad- "to" + ven(ire) "to come" (see venue).
adventitious
accidental; casual

associated with something by chance rather than as an integral part; extrinsic.
L. adventīcius
lit., coming from without, external,
ven- (of venīre - to come)
+ -itious
adverse
unfavorable; hostile
ver(tere) "to turn" (see versus).
advert
refer; to turn the attention

related words:
advertisement
vertere "to turn" (see versus).
aegis
(ee-jis)
shield
from Gk. Aigis, the shield of Zeus,

Athene's aigis was a short goat-skin cloak, covered with scales, set with a gorgon's head, and fringed with snakes.
affable
pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial; warmly polite:

an affable and courteous gentleman.
from L. affabilis "kind, friendly,"
lit. "he who can be easily spoken to,"
from affari "to speak to," from ad- "to" + fari "to speak" (see fame).
affected
to make mental or emotional states; artifical; pretended; assumed in order to impress
L affectus acted upon, subjected to; mental or emotional state (ptp. and action n. of afficere), equiv. to af- af- + fec- (comb. form of facere to make, do) + -tus action n. suffix or -tus ptp. suffix
affidavit
written statement made under oath
from L. ad- "to" + fidare "to trust," from fidus "faithful," from fides "faith" (see faith).

So called from being the first word of sworn statements.
affinity
1. a natural liking for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc

2.relationship by marriage or by ties other than those of blood (distinguished from consanguinity ).
affirmation
confirmation; positive assertion

A "positive affirmation."
Related words:

Affirm
Affirmative
affix
attach or add on; fasten

first the registrar had to affix
his signature to the license; then he had to affix his official seal.
related: affixed

has all his focused affixed on
af-to
fix-set, fasten
affliction

moi
hardship; state of distress; cause of suffering
conflict
affluence
abundance; wealth; prosperity;
opulence
flu- flow
affront
insult; taunt; vex; offend; face;
pique; huff; disrespect
front=face
agape
openmouthed; overwhelmed; ajar; shocked; confounded;

We stood there agape at the splendor.
agenda
items of business at a meeting
aggrandize
increase or intensify; raise in power, wealth, rank or honor
ag=to
grand=large
aggregate
gather; accumulate

syn: summation; accrue; conglomeration
ag=to
greg=flock
aghast
struck with overwhelming shock or amazement; filled with sudden fright or horror: They stood aghast at the sight of the plane crashing.

syn: shocked