Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
371 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Abase
|
lower, degrade, humiliate
|
|
|
Abash
|
embarrass
|
|
|
Abate
|
subside or moderate
|
|
|
Abbreviate
|
shorten
|
|
|
Abdicate
|
renounce, give up
|
|
|
Aberrant
|
abnormal or deviant
|
|
|
Aberration
|
abnormality, departure from the norm. mental irregularity or disorder.
|
|
|
Abet
|
assist, usually in doing something wrong, encourage.
|
|
|
Abeyance
|
suspended action
|
|
|
Abhor
|
detest, hate
|
|
|
Abject
|
wretched, lacking pride, hopeless
|
|
|
Abjure
|
renounce upon oath, disavow
|
|
|
Ablution
|
washing
|
|
|
Abnegation
|
renunciation, self-sacrifice
|
|
|
Abolish
|
cancel, put an end to
|
|
|
Abominable
|
detestable, extremely unpleasant, very bad
|
|
|
Abominate
|
loathe, hate
|
|
|
Aboriginal
|
being the 1st of its kind in a region, primitive, native
|
|
|
Abortive
|
unsuccessful, fruitless
|
|
|
Abrasive
|
rubbing away, tending to grind down
|
|
|
Abridge
|
condense or shorten
|
|
|
Abrogate
|
abolish
|
|
|
Abscission
|
removal by cutting off, as in surgery. separation
|
|
|
Abscond
|
depart secretly and hide
|
|
|
Absolute
|
complete, totally limited; certain.
|
|
|
Absolve
|
pardon (an offense), not guilty
|
|
|
Abstain
|
refrain, withhold from participation
|
|
|
Abstemious
|
Sparing in feasting and drinking, temperate
|
|
|
Abstinence
|
restraint from eating or drinking
|
|
|
Abstract
|
theoretical; not concrete, nonrepresentational.
|
|
|
Abstruse
|
obscure, profound; difficult to understand
|
|
|
Abusive
|
coarsely insulting, physically harmful
|
|
|
Abut
|
border upon, adjoin
|
|
|
Abysmal
|
bottomless
|
|
|
Abyss
|
enormous chasm; vast, bottomless pit.
|
|
|
Academic
|
related to school, not practical or directly useful
|
|
|
Accede
|
agree
|
|
|
Accelerate
|
move faster
|
|
|
Accessible
|
easy to approach, obtainable
|
|
|
Accessory
|
additional object, useful but not essential thing
|
|
|
Acclaim
|
applaud, announce with great approval
|
|
|
Acclimate
|
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
|
|
|
Acclivity
|
sharp upslope or a hill
|
|
|
Accolade
|
award of
|
|
|
Accommodate
|
oblige or help someone, adjust or bring into harmony, adapt.
|
|
|
Accomplice
|
partner in crime
|
|
|
Accord
|
agreement
|
|
|
Accost
|
approach and speak first to a person
|
|
|
Accoutre
|
equip
|
|
|
Accretion
|
growth, increase
|
|
|
accrue
|
come about by addition
|
|
|
Acerbic
|
bitter or sour in nature, sharp and cutting
|
|
|
Acerbity
|
bitterness of speech and temper
|
|
|
Acetic
|
vinegary
|
|
|
Acidulous
|
slightly sour, sharp, caustic
|
|
|
Acknowledge
|
recognize; admit
|
|
|
Acme
|
peak, pinnacle, highest point
|
|
|
Acoustics
|
science of sound, quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in.
|
|
|
Acquiesce
|
assent, agree passively.
|
|
|
Acquittal
|
deliverance from a charge
|
|
|
Acrid
|
sharp, bitterly pungent
|
|
|
Acrimonious
|
bitter in words or manner
|
|
|
Acrophobia
|
fear of heights
|
|
|
Actuarial
|
calculating, pertaining to insurance statistics
|
|
|
Actuate
|
motivate
|
|
|
Acuity
|
sharpness
|
|
|
Acumen
|
mental keenness
|
|
|
Acute
|
quickly perceptive, keen, brief, and severe
|
|
|
Adage
|
wise saying, proverb
|
|
|
Adamant
|
hard, inflexible
|
|
|
Adapt
|
alter, modify
|
|
|
Addendum
|
addition, appendix to a book
|
|
|
Addition
|
compulsive, habitual need
|
|
|
Addle
|
muddle, drive crazy, become rotten
|
|
|
Address
|
direct speech, deal with or discuss
|
|
|
Adept
|
expert at
|
|
|
Adhere
|
stick fast
|
|
|
Adherent
|
supporter, follower
|
|
|
Adjunct
|
something (generally nonessential or inferior) added on or attached
|
|
|
Adjuration
|
solemn urging
|
|
|
Adjutant
|
staff officer assisting the commander, assistant
|
|
|
Admonish
|
warn, reprove (express disapproval)
|
|
|
Adorn
|
decorate
|
|
|
Adroit
|
skillfull
|
|
|
Adulation
|
flattery, admiration
|
|
|
Adulterate
|
make impure by addign inferior or tainted substances
|
|
|
Advent
|
arrival
|
|
|
Adventitious
|
accidental, casual
|
|
|
Adversary
|
opponent, enemy
|
|
|
Adverse
|
unfavorable, hostile
|
|
|
Adversity
|
poverty, misfortune
|
|
|
Advert
|
refer to
|
|
|
Advocacy
|
support; active pleading on behalf or someone or something
|
|
|
Advocate
|
urge, plead for
|
|
|
Aegis
|
shield, defense
|
|
|
Aerie
|
nest of a large bird or prey
|
|
|
Aesthetic
|
artistic, dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful
|
|
|
Affable
|
easily approachable, warmly friendly
|
|
|
Affected
|
artificial, pretended, assumed in order to impress
|
|
|
Affidavit
|
written statement made under oath
|
|
|
Affiliation
|
joining, associating with
|
|
|
Affinity
|
kinship
|
|
|
Affirmation
|
positive assertion, confirmation, solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath
|
|
|
Affix
|
attach or add on, fasten
|
|
|
Affliction
|
state of distress, cause of suffering
|
|
|
Affluence
|
abundance; wealth
|
|
|
Affront
|
insult, offense, intentional act of disrespect
|
|
|
Agape
|
open mouth
|
|
|
Agenda
|
items of business at a meeting
|
|
|
Agglomeration
|
collection, heap
|
|
|
Aggrandize
|
increase or intensify
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
increase or intensify, raise in power, wealth, rank or honor
|
|
|
Aggressor
|
attacker
|
|
|
Aghast
|
horrified, dumbfounded
|
|
|
Agility
|
nimbleness
|
|
|
Agitate
|
stir up, disturb
|
|
|
Agnostic
|
one who is skeptical of the existence of a god or any ultimate reality.
|
|
|
Agog
|
highly excited, intensely curious.
|
|
|
Agrarian
|
pertaining to land or its cultivation
|
|
|
Alacrity
|
cheerful promptness, eagerness
|
|
|
Alchemy
|
medieval form of speculative thought that aimed to transform base metals into silver/gold and to discover a means of prolonging life
|
|
|
Alcove
|
nook, recess, small room
|
|
|
Alias
|
an assumed name
|
|
|
Alienate
|
make hostile, separate
|
|
|
Alimentary
|
supplying nourishment
|
|
|
Alimony
|
payments made to an ex-spouse after divorce
|
|
|
Allay
|
calm, pacify
|
|
|
Allege
|
state without proof
|
|
|
Allegiance
|
loyalty
|
|
|
Allegory
|
story in which characters are used as symbols, fable
|
|
|
Alleviate
|
relieve
|
|
|
Alliteration
|
repetition of beginning sound in poetry
|
|
|
Allocate
|
assign
|
|
|
Alloy (2)
|
1) mixture as of metals
2) mix, make less pure; lessen or moderate |
|
|
Allude
|
refer indirectly
|
|
|
Allure
|
entice, attract
|
|
|
Allusion
|
indirect reference
|
|
|
Alluvial
|
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
|
|
|
Aloof
|
apart, reserved
|
|
|
Aloft
|
upward
|
|
|
Altercation
|
noisy quarrel, heated dispute
|
|
|
Altruistic
|
unselfishly generous; concerned for others
|
|
|
Amalgamate
|
combine; unite on one body
|
|
|
Amass
|
collect
|
|
|
Amazon
|
female warrior
|
|
|
Ambidextrous
|
capable of using either hand
|
|
|
Ambiance
|
environment; atmosphere
|
|
|
Ambiguous
|
unclear or doubtful in meaning
|
|
|
Ambivalence
|
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotion attitudes
|
|
|
Amble
|
moving at an easy pace
|
|
|
Ambrosia
|
food of the gods
|
|
|
Ambulatory
|
able to walk, not bed ridden
|
|
|
Ameliorate
|
improve
|
|
|
Amenable
|
readily managed or willing to be led, answerable or accountable legally
|
|
|
Amend
|
correct, change, generally for the better
|
|
|
Amenities
|
convenient features, courtesies
|
|
|
Amiable
|
agreeable, lovable, warmly, friendly
|
|
|
Amicable
|
politely friendly, not quarrelsome
|
|
|
Amiss
|
wrong, faulty
|
|
|
Amity
|
friendship
|
|
|
Amnesia
|
loss of memory
|
|
|
Amnesty
|
pardon
|
|
|
Amoral
|
nonmoral
|
|
|
Amorous
|
moved by sexual love; loving
|
|
|
Amorphous
|
formless, lacking shape or definition
|
|
|
Amphibian
|
able to live both in land and in water
|
|
|
Amphitheater
|
oval building with tiers of seats
|
|
|
Ample
|
abundant
|
|
|
Amplify
|
broaden or clarify by expanding, intensify, make stronger
|
|
|
Amputate
|
cut off part of body, prune
|
|
|
Amok/Amuck
|
in a state of rage
|
|
|
Amulet
|
charm, talisman
|
|
|
Anachronism
|
something or someone misplaced in time
|
|
|
Analgesic
|
causing insensitivity to pain
|
|
|
Analogous
|
comparable
|
|
|
Analogy
|
similarity, parallelism
|
|
|
Anarchist
|
person who seeks to overturn the established government, advocate of abolishing authority
|
|
|
Anarchy
|
absence of governing body; state of disorder
|
|
|
Anathema
|
solemn curse, someone or something regarded as a curse
|
|
|
Ancestry
|
family descent
|
|
|
Anchor
|
secure or fasten firmly, to be fixed in place
|
|
|
Ancillary
|
serving as an aid or accessory, auxiliary
|
|
|
Anecdote
|
short accound of an amusing or interesting event
|
|
|
Anemia
|
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles
|
|
|
Anesthetic
|
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness
|
|
|
Anguish
|
acute pain, extreme suffering
|
|
|
Angular
|
sharp-cornered, stiff in manner
|
|
|
Animadversion
|
critical remark
|
|
|
Animated
|
livery, spirited
|
|
|
Animosity
|
active enmity (positive active, mutual hatred)
|
|
|
Animus
|
hostile feeling or intent
|
|
|
Annals
|
records, history
|
|
|
Anneal
|
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling.
|
|
|
Annex
|
attach, take possession
|
|
|
Annihilate
|
destroy
|
|
|
Annotate
|
comment, make explanatory notes
|
|
|
Annuity
|
yearly allowance
|
|
|
Annul
|
to make void
|
|
|
Anodyne
|
drug that relieves pain, opiate
|
|
|
Anoint
|
consecrate, pour or smear, to rub on
|
|
|
Anomalous
|
abnormal, irregular
|
|
|
Anomaly
|
irregularity
|
|
|
Anonymity
|
state of being nameless, anonymousness
|
|
|
Antagonism
|
hostility, active resistance
|
|
|
Antecede
|
precede
|
|
|
Antecedents
|
preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later, ancestors or early background
|
|
|
Antediluvian
|
antiquated, extremely ancient
|
|
|
Anthem
|
song of praise or patriotism
|
|
|
Anthology
|
book of literary selections by various authors
|
|
|
Anthropoid
|
manlike
|
|
|
Anthropologist
|
student of history and science of humankind
|
|
|
Anthropomorphic
|
having human form or characteristics
|
|
|
Antic
|
extravagantly odd
|
|
|
Anticlimax
|
letdown in though or emotion
|
|
|
Antidote
|
remedy to counteract a poison or disease
|
|
|
Antipathy
|
aversion, dislike
|
|
|
Antiquated
|
obsolete, outdated
|
|
|
Antiseptic
|
substance that prevents infection
|
|
|
Antithesis
|
contract, direct opposite of or to
|
|
|
Anvil
|
iron block used in hammering out metals
|
|
|
Apathy
|
lack of caring, indifference
|
|
|
Ape
|
imitate or mimic
|
|
|
Aperture
|
opening, a hole
|
|
|
Apex
|
tip, summit, climax
|
|
|
Aphasia
|
lost of speech due to injury or illness
|
|
|
Aphorism
|
pithy maxim or saying. scientific or or philosophic
concise statement containing a subjective truth or observation cleverly and pithily written |
|
|
Apiary
|
place where bees are kept
|
|
|
Aplomb
|
poise, assurance
|
|
|
Apocalyptic
|
prophetic, pertaining to revelations
|
|
|
Apocryphal
|
spurious, not authentic, invented rather than true
|
|
|
Apogee
|
highest point
|
|
|
Apolitical
|
having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
|
|
|
Apologist
|
one who writes in defense of a cause or institution
|
|
|
Apostate
|
one who abandons his religious faith or political belief
|
|
|
apothecary
|
druggist; pharmacist
|
|
|
apothegm
|
pithy, compact saying. proverbs
|
|
|
apotheosis
|
elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
|
|
|
appall
|
dismay; shock
|
|
|
apparent
|
easily seen or understood
|
|
|
apparition
|
ghost; phantom
|
|
|
appease
|
pacify or soothe, bring peace to
|
|
|
appellation
|
name; title
|
|
|
append
|
attach
|
|
|
application
|
diligent (showing care) attention
|
|
|
apposite
|
appropriate; fitting
|
|
|
appraise
|
estimate value of
|
|
|
appreciate
|
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of
|
|
|
apprehend
|
arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive;
|
|
|
apprehensive
|
fearful; discerning
|
|
|
apprise
|
inform
|
|
|
approbation
|
approval
|
|
|
appropriate
|
acquire; take possession of for one’s own use
|
|
|
appurtenances
|
subordinate possessions
|
|
|
apropos
|
with reference to; regarding
|
|
|
aptitude
|
fitness; talent
|
|
|
aquiline
|
curved; hooked
|
|
|
arable
|
fit for growing crops
|
|
|
arbiter
|
person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge
|
|
|
arbitrary
|
unreasonable or capricious; tyrannical.
|
|
|
arbitrate
|
act as judge
|
|
|
arabesque (2)
|
1) style of decoration involving intertwined plants and abstract curves
2) ballet position with one leg supporting the weight of the body while the other leg is extended in the back |
|
|
arboretum
|
place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
|
|
|
arcade
|
a covered passageway usually lined with shops
|
|
|
Arcane
|
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated
|
|
|
archaeology
|
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
|
|
|
archaic
|
antiquated; no longer used
|
|
|
archetype
|
prototype; primitive pattern
|
|
|
archipelago
|
group of closely located islands
|
|
|
archives
|
public records; place where public records are kept
|
|
|
ardor
|
heat; passion; zeal
|
|
|
arduous
|
hard; strenuous, hard to climb
|
|
|
Argot
|
slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
|
|
|
aria
|
operatic solo
|
|
|
arid
|
dry; barren; unproductive land
|
|
|
aristocracy
|
hereditary nobility; privileged class
|
|
|
armada
|
fleet of warships
|
|
|
aromatic
|
fragrant; having a sweet smell
|
|
|
arraign
|
charge in court; indict
|
|
|
array
|
marshal; draw up in order
|
|
|
arrears
|
being in debt
|
|
|
arrhythmic
|
lacking rhythm or regularity
|
|
|
arrogance
|
pride; haughtiness
|
|
|
arroyo
|
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
|
|
|
arsenal
|
storage place for military equipment
|
|
|
artful
|
cunning, crafty, sly
|
|
|
arrest
|
stop or check; seize or capture (the attention)
|
|
|
articulate
|
effective; distinct
|
|
|
artifact
|
object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
|
|
|
artifice
|
deception; trickery, tricky, clever
|
|
|
artisan
|
manually skilled worker,craftsman
|
|
|
artless
|
without guile; open and honest
|
|
|
ascendancy
|
controlling influence
|
|
|
ascertain
|
find out for certain
|
|
|
ascetic
|
practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts
|
|
|
ascribe
|
refer; attribute; assign
|
|
|
aseptic
|
preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
|
|
|
ashen
|
ash-colored; deadly pale
|
|
|
asinine
|
stupid
|
|
|
Askance
|
with a sideways or indirect look
|
|
|
askew
|
crookedly; slanted; at an angle
|
|
|
asperity
|
sharpness (of temper)
|
|
|
aspersion
|
slanderous remark
|
|
|
aspirant
|
seeker after position or status
|
|
|
aspire
|
seek to attain (position or status); long for
|
|
|
assay
|
analyze; evaluate
|
|
|
assent
|
agree; accept;
|
|
|
assert
|
state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.)
|
|
|
Assiduous
|
diligent (steady)
|
|
|
assimilate
|
absorb; cause to become homogeneous
|
|
|
assuage
|
mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
|
|
|
assumption
|
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of
|
|
|
assurance
|
promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence
|
|
|
Asteroid
|
small planet
|
|
|
astigmatism
|
eye defect which prevents proper focus
|
|
|
astral
|
relating to the stars
|
|
|
astringent
|
binding; causing contraction; harsh or severe
|
|
|
astronomical
|
enormously large or extensive
|
|
|
astute
|
wise; shrewd; keen
|
|
|
asunder
|
into parts; apart
|
|
|
asylum
|
place of refuge or shelter; protection
|
|
|
asymmetric
|
not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
|
|
|
atavism
|
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback;
|
|
|
atheistic
|
denying the existence of God
|
|
|
atone
|
make amends for; pay for
|
|
|
atrocity
|
brutal deed
|
|
|
atrophy
|
wasting away
|
|
|
attentive
|
alert and watchful; considerate; thoughtful
|
|
|
attenuate
|
make thin; weaken, lessen
|
|
|
attest
|
testify; bear witness
|
|
|
assail
|
assault
|
|
|
attribute (2)
|
1) essential quality
2) ascribe, explain |
|
|
attrition
|
gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment
|
|
|
atypical
|
not normal; not typical
|
|
|
audacious
|
daring; bold
|
|
|
audit
|
examination of accounts of a business; official examination
|
|
|
augment
|
increase; add to
|
|
|
augury
|
omen; prophecy; sign of coming events
|
|
|
August
|
impressive; majestic
|
|
|
aureole
|
sun’s corona; halo; bright circle of light
|
|
|
auroral
|
pertaining to the aurora borealis; natural light display.
|
|
|
auspicious
|
favoring success; giving signs of future success
|
|
|
austere
|
forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented
|
|
|
authenticate
|
prove genuine
|
|
|
authoritarian
|
subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another’s will
|
|
|
authoritative
|
having the weight of authority; peremptory and dictatorial
|
|
|
autocratic
|
having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial
|
|
|
automaton
|
mechanism that imitates actions of humans
|
|
|
autonomous
|
self-governing
|
|
|
autopsy
|
examination of a dead body; postmortem
|
|
|
auxiliary
|
offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary
|
|
|
avalanche
|
great mass of falling snow and ice
|
|
|
avantgarde
|
group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; radical, daring
|
|
|
avarice
|
greediness for wealth
|
|
|
avenge
|
take vengence for something or on behalf of someone
|
|
|
aver
|
state confidently; declare as true
|
|
|
averse
|
reluctant; disinclined
|
|
|
aversion
|
firm dislike
|
|
|
avert
|
prevent; avoid; turn away
|
|
|
aviary
|
enclosure for birds; large cage
|
|
|
avid
|
greedy; extremely eager for
|
|
|
avocation
|
secondary or minor occupation
|
|
|
avow
|
declare openly
|
|
|
avuncular
|
of or like an uncle
|
|
|
awe
|
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear
|
|
|
awful
|
terrible; very bad
|
|
|
awl
|
pointed tool used for piercing
|
|
|
awry
|
distorted; crooked; bent
|
|
|
axiom
|
self-evident truth requiring no proof
|
|
|
azure
|
sky blue
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
increase or intensify, raise in power, wealth, rank or honor
|
|
|
assessment
|
estimation, appraisal
|
