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721 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Abacus
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A simple device for calculating, consisting of a frame with rows of wires or grooves along which beads are slid.
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Abaddon
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A name for the devil or for hell.
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Abandon
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Cease to support or look after (someone); desert.
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Abase
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Behave in a way that belittles or degrades (someone).
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Abasement
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The action or fact of abasing or being abased; humiliation or degradation.
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Abash
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Make (someone) feel embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed.
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Abate
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Become less intense or widespread.
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Abatement
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The action of abating or being abated; ending or subsiding.
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Abatis
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A defence made of felled trees placed lengthwise over each other with the boughs pointing outwards.
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Abattoir
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A slaughterhouse.
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Abaxial
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Facing away from the stem of a plant.
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Abaya
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A full-length, sleeveless outer garment worn by Arabs.
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Abbacy
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The office or period of office of an abbot or abbess.
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Abbatial
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Relating to an abbey, abbot, or abbess.
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Abbess
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A woman who is head of an abbey of nuns.
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Abbey
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The building or buildings occupied by a community of monks or nuns.
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Abbot
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A man who is the head of an abbey of monks.
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Abbreviate
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Shorten (a word, phrase, or text).
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Abdabs
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Nervous anxiety or irritation.
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Abdicate
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Renounce one's throne.
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Abdomen
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The part of the body of a vertebrate containing the digestive and reproductive organs; the belly.
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Abdominoplasty
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A surgical operation involving the removal of excess flesh from the abdomen.
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Abduct
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Take (someone) away illegally by force or deception; kidnap.
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Abductee
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A person who has been abducted.
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Abduction
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The action of forcibly taking someone away against their will.
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Abductor
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A person who abducts another person.
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Abecedarian
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Arranged alphabetically.
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Aberrant
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Departing from an accepted standard.
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Aberration
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A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically an unwelcome one.
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Abet
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Encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular to commit a crime.
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Abeyance
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A state of temporary disuse or suspension.
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Abhor
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Regard with disgust and hatred.
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Abhorrence
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A feeling of revulsion; disgusted loathing.
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Abhorrent
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Inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant.
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Abide
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Accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation).
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Abiding
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Lasting a long time; enduring.
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Ability
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Possession of the means or skill to do something.
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Ab initio
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From the beginning.
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Abiotic
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Physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms.
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Abject
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(of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree.
'abject poverty' |
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Abjure
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Solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).
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Ablation
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The surgical removal of body tissue.
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Ablaut
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Alteration in the vowels of related word forms, especially in Germanic strong verbs (e.g. in sing, sang, sung).
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Ablaze
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Burning fiercely.
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Able
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Having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something.
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Able-bodied
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Fit an healthy; not physically disabled.
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Abled
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Having a full range of physical or mental abilities; not disabled.
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Ableism
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Discrimination in favour of able-bodied people.
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Abloom
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Covered in flowers.
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Ablush
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Literally blushing.
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Ablution
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An act of washing oneself.
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Ably
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Skillfully; competently.
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Abnegate
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Renounce or reject (something desired or valuable).
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Abnegation
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The action of renouncing or rejecting something.
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Abnormal
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Deviating from what is normal or usual, typically in a way that is undesirable or worrying.
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Abnormality
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An abnormal feature, characteristic, or occurrence.
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Abode
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A place of residence; a house or home.
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Abolish
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Formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution).
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Abolition
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The action of abolishing a system, practice or institution.
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Abolitionist
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A person who favours the abolition of a practice or institution, especially capital punishment or (formerly) slavery.
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Abominable
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Causing moral revulsion.
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Abominably
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Very unpleasantly or unfairly.
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Abominate
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Detest; loathe.
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Abomination
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A thing that causes disgust or loathing.
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Aboral
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Relating to or denoting the side or end that is furthest from the mouth, especially in animals that lack clear upper and lower sides such as echinoderms.
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Aboriginal
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Inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or before the arrival of colonists; indigenous.
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Aborigine
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A person, animal, or plant that has been in a country or region from earliest times.
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Abort
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Carry out or undergo the abortion of (a fetus).
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Abortion
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The deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks.
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Abortive
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Failing to produce the intended result.
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Abound
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Exist in large numbers or amounts.
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Abounding
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Very plentiful; abundant.
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Abrade
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Scrape or wear away by friction or erosion.
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Abrasion
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The process of scraping or wearing something away.
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Abrasive
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(of a substance or material) capable of polishing or cleaning a hard surface by rubbing or grinding.
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Abreact
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Release (an emotion) by abreaction.
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Abreaction
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The expression and consequent release of a previously repressed emotion, achieved through reliving the experience that caused it (typically through hypnosis or suggestion).
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Abreast
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Side by side and facing the same way.
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Abridge
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Shorten (a book, film, speech, etc.) without losing the sense.
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Abroad
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In or to a foreign country or countries.
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Abrogate
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Repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement).
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Abrogation
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The repeal or abolition of a law, right, or agreement.
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Abrupt
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Sudden and unexpected.
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Abruption
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The sudden breaking away of a portion from a mass.
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Abscess
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A swollen area within body tissue, containing an accumulation of pus.
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Abscission
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The natural detachment of parts of a plant, typically dead leaves and ripe fruit.
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Abscond
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Leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to escape from custody or avoid arrest.
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Abseil
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Descend a rock face or other near-vertical surface by using a doubled rope coiled round the body and fixed at a higher point.
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Absence
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The state of being away from a place or person.
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Absent
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Not present in a place, at an occasion, or as part of something.
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Absentee
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A person who is expected or required to be present at a place or event but is not.
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Absenteeism
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The practice of regularly staying away from work or school without good reason.
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Absently
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In an absent-minded way; vaguely.
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Absent-minded
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Having or showing a forgetful or inattentive disposition.
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Absolute
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Not qualified or diminished in any way; total.
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Absolutely
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With no qualification, restriction, or limitation; totally.
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Absolution
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Formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment.
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Absolutism
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The holding of absolute principles in political, philosophical, or theological matters.
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Absolutise
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Make or treat (something) as absolute.
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Absolve
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Declare (someone) free from guilt, obligation, or punishment.
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Absonant
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Discordant or unreasonable.
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Absorb
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Take in or soak up (energy or a liquid or other substance) by chemical or physical action.
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Absorbance
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A measure of the capacity of a substance to absorb light of a specified wavelength. it is equal to the logarithm of the reciprocal of the transmittance.
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Absorbent
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(of a material) able to soak up liquid easily.
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Absorbing
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Intensely interesting; engrossing.
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Absorption
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The process by which one thing absorbs or is absorbed by another.
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Absquatulate
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Leave abruptly.
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Abstain
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Restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something.
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Abstemious
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Indulging only very moderately in something, especially food and drink.
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Abstention
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An instance of declining to vote for or against a proposal or motion.
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Abstinence
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The practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically sex or alcohol.
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Abstinent
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Refraining from an activity or from the consumption of something, especially alcohol.
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Abstract
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Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
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Abstracted
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Lacking concentration on what is happening around one.
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Abstraction
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The quality of dealing with ideas rather than events.
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Abstruse
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Difficult to understand; obscure.
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Absurd
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Wildly unreasonable, illogical or inappropriate.
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Absurdism
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The belief that human beings exist in a purposeless, chaotic universe.
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Absurdity
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The quality or state of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable.
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Absurdly
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In an absurd way; ridiculously.
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Abubble
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Full of excitement and enthusiasm.
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Abulia
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An absence of willpower or an inability to act decisively, a symptom of schizophrenia or other mental illness.
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Abundance
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A very large quantity of something.
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Abundant
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Existing or available in large quantities; plentiful.
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Abuse
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Use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse.
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Abusive
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Extremely offensive and insulting.
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Abustle
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Bustling; busy.
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Abut
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(of a building or an area of land) be next to or have a common boundary with.
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Abutment
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A structure built to support the lateral pressure of an arch or span, e.g at the ends of a bridge.
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Abuzz
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Filled with a continuous humming sound.
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Abysm
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An abyss.
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Abysmal
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Extremely bad; appalling.
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Abyss
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A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm.
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Abyssal
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Relating to or denoting the depths or bed of an ocean.
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Academe
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The academic environment or community; academia.
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Academia
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The environment or community concerned with the pursuit of research, education, and scholarship.
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Academic
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Relating to education and scholarship.
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Academical
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Relating to a college or university.
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Academy
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A place of study or training in a specific field.
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Acarology
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The study of mites and ticks.
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Acatalectic
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(of a line of verse) having the full number of syllables.
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Acausal
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Not governed or operating by the laws of cause and effect.
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Accede
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Agree to a demand, request, or treaty.
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Accelerant
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A substance used to aid the spread of fire.
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Accelerate
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Begin to move more quickly.
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Accent
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A distinctive way of pronouncing a language, especially one associated with a particular country, area, or social class.
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Accented
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Spoken with or characterised by a particular accent.
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Accentuate
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Make more noticeable.
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Accept
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Consent to receive or undertake (something offered).
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Acceptable
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Able to be agreed on; suitable.
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Acceptance
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The action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered.
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Access
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The means or opportunity to approach or enter a place.
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Accession
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The attainment or acquisition of a position of rank or power.
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Accessorize
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Provide (a garment) with a fashion accessory.
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Accessory
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A thing which can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive.
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Accident
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An unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury.
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Accidie
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Spiritual or mental sloth; apathy.
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Acclaim
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Praise enthusiastically and publicly.
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Acclamation
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Loud and enthusiastic approval.
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Acclimatize
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To become accustomed to a new climate or new conditions; adjust.
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Acclivity
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An upward slope.
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Accolade
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An award or privilege granted as a special honour or as an acknowledgement of merit.
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Accommodate
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Provide lodging or sufficient space for.
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Accommodating
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Fitting in with someone's wishes or demands in a helpful way.
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Accommodationist
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A person or political group that seeks compromise with an opposing point of view.
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Accompany
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Go somewhere with (someone) as a companion or escort.
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Accomplice
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A person who helps another commit a crime.
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Accomplish
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Achieve or complete successfully.
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Accord
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Give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition).
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Accordance
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In a manner conforming with.
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Accordant
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Agreeing or compatible.
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Accost
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Approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively.
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Accouchement
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The action of giving birth to a baby.
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Accoutrement
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An additional item of dress or equipment.
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Accredit
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Give credit to (someone) for something.
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Accrete
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Grow by accumulation or coalescence.
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Accretion
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Growth or increase by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter.
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Accrue
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(of a benefit or sum of money) be received by someone in regular or increasing amounts over time.
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Acculturate
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Assimilate to a different culture, typically the dominant one.
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Accumulate
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Gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of.
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Accumulation
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The acquisition or gradual gathering of something.
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Accumulative
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Gathering or growing by gradual increases.
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Accuracy
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The quality or state of being correct or precise.
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Accurate
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(especially of information, measurements, or predictions) correct in all details; exact.
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Accursed
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Under a curse.
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Accusation
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A charge or claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong.
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Accusatory
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Indicating or suggesting that one believes a person has done something wrong.
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Accuse
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Charge (someone) with an offence or crime.
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Accustom
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Make someone or something accept (something) as normal or usual.
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Accustomed
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Customary; usual.
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Acellular
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Not consisting of, divided into, or containing cells.
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Acentric
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Without a centre; not centralized.
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Acephalous
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Lacking a head.
Having no leader or chief. |
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Acerbic
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(especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright.
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Acetous
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Producing or resembling vinegar.
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Achkan
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A knee-length coat buttoned in front, worn by men from the Indian subcontinent.
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Acidly
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With bitterness or sarcasm.
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Acknowledge
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Accept or admit the existence or truth of.
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Acme
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The point at which something is at its best or most highly developed.
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Acolyte
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A person assisting a priest in a religious service or procession
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Acquaint
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Make someone aware of or familiar with.
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Acquaintance
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Knowledge or experience of something.
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Acquiesce
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Accept something reluctantly but without protest.
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Acquiescence
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The reluctant acceptance of something without protest.
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Acquiescent
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Ready to accept something without protest, or to do what someone else wants.
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Acquire
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Buy or obtain (an asset or object) for oneself.
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Acquisition
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An asset or object bought or obtained, typically by a library or museum.
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Acquisitive
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Excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.
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Acquit
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Free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty.
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Acquittance
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A written receipt attesting the settlement of a fine or debt.
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Acrid
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Unpleasantly bitter or pungent.
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Acrimonious
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(typically of speech or discussion) angry and bitter.
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Acrimony
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Bitterness or ill feeling.
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Acrolect
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The most prestigious dialect or variety of a particular language.
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Acronym
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An abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a ward.
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Actionable
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Giving sufficient reason to take legal action.
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Activate
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Make (something) active or operative.
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Activism
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The policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change.
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Actualize
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Make a reality of.
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Actuary
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A person who compiles and analyses statistics and uses the to calculate insurance risks and premiums.
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Acuity
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Sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing.
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Acumen
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The ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions.
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Acutely
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Intensly.
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Acyclic
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Not displaying or forming a part of a cycle.
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Adage
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A proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.
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Adamant
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Refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind.
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Adamantine
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Unable to be broken.
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Addendum
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An item of additional material added at the end of a book or other publication.
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Addle
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Make (someone) unable to think clearly; confuse.
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Addorsed
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Placed back to back.
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Adduce
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Cite as evidence.
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Adduct
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(of a muscle) move (a limb or other part of the body) towards the midline of the body or towards another part.
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Adherent
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Someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas.
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Adhibit
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Apply or affix (something) to something else.
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Adhocracy
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A system of flexible and informal organisation and management in place of rigid bureaucracy.
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Ad hominem
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Relating to or associated with a particular person.
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Adjourn
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Break off (a meeting, legal case, or game).
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Adjudge
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Consider or declare to be true or the case.
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Adjudicate
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Make a formal judgement on a disputed matter.
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Adjunct
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A thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than an essential part.
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Adjure
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Urge or request (someone) solemnly or earnestly to do something.
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Admissible
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Acceptable or valid, especially as evidence in a court of law.
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Admix
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Mix (something) with something else.
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Admonish
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Reprimand firmly.
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Admonition
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A firm warning or reprimand.
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Adnate
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Joined by having grown together.
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Adorn
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Make more beautiful or attractive.
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Adpressed
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Lying closely against the adjacent part, or against the ground.
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Adret
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A mountain slope which faces the sun.
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Adroit
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Clever or skillful.
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Adscitious
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Forming an addition or supplement; not integral.
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Adulate
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Praise (someone) excessively.
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Adulation
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Excessive admiration or praise.
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Adulterate
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Render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance.
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Adultescent
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A middle-aged person whose clothes, interests, and activities are typically associated with youth culture.
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Adumbrate
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Represent in outline.
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Adust
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Scorched; burnt.
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Advection
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The transfer of heat or matter by the flow of a fluid, especially horizontally in the atmosphere or the sea.
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Advent
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The arrival of a notable person or thing.
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Adventitious
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Happening as a result of an external factor or chance rather than design or inherent nature.
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Adventurism
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The willingness to take risks in business or politics; actions or attitudes regarded as reckless or potentially hazardous.
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Adversarial
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Involving or characterised by conflict or opposition.
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Adversary
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One's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute.
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Adversative
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(of a word or phrase) expressing opposition or antithesis.
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Adverse
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Preventing success or development; harmful; unfavourable.
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Adversity
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A difficult or unpleasant situation.
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Advisedly
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Deliberately and after consideration.
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Advocaat
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A liqueur made with eggs, sugar, and brandy.
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Advocacy
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Public support for a recommendation of a particular cause or policy.
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Advocate
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A person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.
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Aegis
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The protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organisation.
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Aeon
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An indefinite and very long period of time.
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Aerate
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Introduce air into (a material).
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Aesthete
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A person who is appreciative of and sensitive to art and beauty.
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Aetiology
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The cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition.
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Affable
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Friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to.
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AfAffectation
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Behaviour, speech, or writing that is pretentious and designed to impress.
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Affective
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Relating to moods, feelings, and attitudes.
'Affective disorders' |
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Affiance
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Be engaged to marry.
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Affiliate
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Officially attach or connect (a subsidiary group or a person) to an organisation.
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Affinal
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Concerning or having a family relationship by marriage.
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Affined
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Related or connected.
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Affinity
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A natural liking for and understanding of someone or something.
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Affirm
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State emphatically or publicly.
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Affix
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Stick, attach, or fasten (something) to something else.
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Afflatus
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A divine creative impulse or inspiration.
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Afflict
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Cause pain or trouble to; affect adversely.
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Affluence
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The state of having a great deal of money; wealth.
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Affluent
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Having a great deal of money; wealthy.
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Affluenza
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A psychological malaise supposedly affecting young wealthy people, symptoms of which include a lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, and a sense of isolation.
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Afflux
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A flow of something, especially water or air.
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Afforce
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Reinforce (a body of people) with new members.
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Affray
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An instance of group fighting in a public place that disturbs the peace.
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Affront
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An action or remark that causes outrage or offence.
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Aficionado
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A person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime.
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Afield
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To or at a distance.
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Aflutter
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In a state of tremulous excitement.
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Afoot
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In preparation or progress; happening or beginning to happen.
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Agamic
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Asexual; reproducing asexually.
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Agape
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Wide open in surprise or wonder.
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Agglomerate
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Collect or form into a mass or group.
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Agglutinate
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Firmly stick or be stuck together to form a mass.
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Aggrandize
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Increase the power, status, or wealth of.
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Aggravate
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Make (a problem, injury, or offence) worse or more serious.
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Aggregate
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A whole formed by combining several separate elements.
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Agitator
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A person who urges others to protest or rebel.
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Agitprop
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Political (originally communist) propaganda, especially in art or literature.
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Aglet
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A metal or plastic tube fixed round each end of a shoelace.
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Agnosia
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Inability to interpret sensations and hence to recognise things, typically as a result of brain damage.
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Agnostic
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A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.
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Agog
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Very eager or curious to hear or see something.
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Agrestic
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Relating to the country; rural or rustic.
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Agribusiness
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Agriculture conducted on strictly commercial principles.
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Ahistorical
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Lacking historical perspective or context.
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Airily
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In a way that shows that one is not treating something as serious; casually.
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Akrasia
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Chiefly the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgement through weakness of will.
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Alacrity
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Brisk and cheerful readiness.
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Alarmist
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Someone who exaggerates a danger and so causes needless worry or panic.
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Albescent
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Growing or shading into white.
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Albumen
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Egg white, or the protein contained in it.
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Alcove
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A recess in the wall of a room or garden.
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Aleatory
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Depending on the throw of a die or on chance; random.
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Alethic
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Denoting modalities of truth, such as necessity, contingency, or impossibility.
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Aliterate
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Unwilling to read, although able to do so.
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Allay
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Diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry).
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Allegation
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A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof.
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Allegorize
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Interpret or represent symbolically
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Allegory
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A story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
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Alliterate
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(of a phrase or line of verse) contain words which begin with the same sound or letter.
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Allocate
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Distribute (resources or duties) for a particular purpose.
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Allocution
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A formal speech giving advice or a warning.
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Allopathy
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The treatment of disease by conventional means, i.e. with drugs having effects opposite to the symptoms.
Often contrasted with Homeopathy. |
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Allot
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Give or apportion (something) to someone.
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Allude
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Suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at.
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Allure
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The quality of being powerfully or mysteriously attractive or fascinating.
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Allusive
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Using or containing suggestion rather than explicit mention.
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Alms
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Money or food given to poor people.
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Aloof
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Not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant.
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Alpenglow
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The rosy light of the setting or rising sun seen on high mountains.
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Altercation
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A noisy argument or disagreement, especially in public.
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Altruism
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Disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others.
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Amalgam
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A mixture or blend.
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Amalgamate
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Combine or unite to form one organisation or structure.
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Amatory
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Relating to or induced by sexual love or desire.
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Ambassador
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An accredited diplomat sent by a state as its permanent representative in a foreign country.
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Ambidextrous
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Able to use the right and left hands equally well.
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Ambience
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The character and atmosphere of a place.
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Ambient
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Relating to the immediate surroundings of something.
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Ambiguity
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The quality of being open to more than one interpretation.
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Ambiguous
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Open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning.
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Ambit
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The scope, extent, or bounds of something.
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Ambition
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The strong desire to do or achieve something.
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Ambivalence
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The state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
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Ambivert
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A person who has a balance of extrovert and introvert features in their personality.
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Ambrosia
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The food of the gods.
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Ambulant
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Able to walk about; not confined to bed.
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Ambulate
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Walk; move about.
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Ambuscade
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An ambush.
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Ameliorate
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Make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.
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Amelioration
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The act of making something better; improvement.
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Amenable
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Open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled.
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Amenity
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A desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place.
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Amentia
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Severe congenital mental disability.
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Amercement
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A fine.
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Amiability
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The quality of having a friendly and pleasant manner.
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Amiable
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Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.
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Amicable
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Characterized by friendliness and absence of discord.
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Amity
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Friendly relations.
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Amnesia
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A partial or total loss of memory.
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Amnesty
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An official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses.
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Amn't
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Am not.
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Amok
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Behave uncontrollably and disruptively.
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Amorist
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A person who is in love or who writes about love.
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Amorous
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Showing, feeling, or relating to sexual desire.
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Amorphous
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Without a clearly defined shape or form.
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Amortize
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Gradually write off the initial cost of (an asset) over a period of time.
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Amour
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A love affair or lover, especially one that is secret.
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Ample
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Enough or more than enough; plentiful.
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Anaclitic
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Relating to or characterized by a strong emotional dependence on another or others.
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Analgesia
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The inability to feel pain.
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Analogize
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Make a comparison of (something) with something else to assist understanding.
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Analogous
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Comparable in certain respects, typically in a way which makes clearer the nature of the things compared.
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Analogue
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A person or thing seen as comparable to another.
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Ananda
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Extreme happiness, one of the highest states of being.
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Anarchic
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With no controlling rules or principles to give order.
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Anarchism
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Belief in the abolition of all government and the organization of society on a voluntary, cooperative basis without recourse to force or compulsion.
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Anarchist
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A person who believes in or tries to bring about anarchy.
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Anarchy
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A state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority or other controlling systems.
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Anathema
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Something or someone that one vehemently dislikes.
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Anathematize
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Curse; condemn.
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Anatomical
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Relating to bodily structure.
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Ancillary
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Providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, system, etc.
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Androcentric
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Focused or centred on men.
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Androcracy
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A social system ruled or dominated by men.
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Androgynous
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Partly male and partly female in appearance; of indeterminate sex.
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Anecdotal
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Not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research.
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Anecdote
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A short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
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Anergia
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Abnormal lack of energy.
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Anglicize
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Make English in form or character.
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Anglophile
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A person who is fond or greatly admires England or Britain.
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Anglophone
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English-speaking.
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Angst
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A feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general.
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Anguish
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Severe mental or physical pain or suffering.
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Anhedonia
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Inability to feel pleasure in normally pleasurable activities.
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Animadversion
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Criticism or censure.
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Animadvert
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Pass criticism or censure on; speak out against.
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Animateur
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A person who enlivens or encourages something, especially a promoter of artistic projects.
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Animosity
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Strong hostility.
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Animus
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Hostility or ill feeling.
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Annal
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A record of the events of one year.
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Annex
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Add as an extra or subordinate part, especially to a document.
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Annuity
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A fixed sum of money paid to someone each year, typically for the rest of their life.
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Annul
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Declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result).
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Annunciate
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Announce (something).
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Anomalous
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Deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.
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Anomaly
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Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.
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Anomie
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Lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group.
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Anorak
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A waterproof jacket, typically with a hood, of a kind originally used in polar regions.
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Anserine
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Of or like a goose.
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Antagonist
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A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.
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Antagonistic
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Showing or feeling active opposition or hostility towards someone or something.
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Antagonize
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Cause (someone) to become hostile.
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Antedate
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Precede in time; come before (something) in date.
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Anthem
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A rousing or uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause.
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Anthropocentric
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Regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, especially as opposed to God or animals.
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Anthropoid
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Resembling a human being in form.
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Anthropomorphism
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The attribution of human characteristics or behaviour to a god, animal, or object.
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Anthropophagy
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The eating of human flesh by human beings.
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Antic
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Grotesque or bizarre.
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Antics
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Foolish, outrageous, or amusing behaviour.
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Antinomy
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A contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are in themselves reasonable; a paradox.
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Antipathy
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A deep-seated feeling of aversion.
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Antipode
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The direct opposite of something.
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Antiquated
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Old-fashioned or outdated.
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Antiquity
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The ancient past, especially the period of classical and other human civilizations before the Middle Ages.
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Antithesis
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A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
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Antithetical
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Directly opposed or contrasted; mutually incompatible.
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Antitype
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A person or thing that represents the opposite of someone or something else.
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Antonym
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A word opposite in meaning to another.
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Anxiolytic
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(chiefly of a drug) used to reduce anxiety.
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Apartheid
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A policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.
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Apathetic
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Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
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Apathy
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Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
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Aperture
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An opening, hole, or gap.
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Apery
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The action of imitating the behaviour or manner of someone, especially in an absurd or unthinking way.
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Apex
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The top or highest part of something, especially one forming a point.
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Aphorism
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A pithy observation which contains a general truth.
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Aphrodisiac
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A food, drink, or other thing that stimulates sexual desire.
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Aplomb
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Self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.
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Apocryphal
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(of a story or statement) of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true.
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Apodictic
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Clearly established or beyond dispute.
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Apogee
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The highest point in the development of something.
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Apologia
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A formal written defence of one's opinions or conduct.
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Apologist
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A person who offers an argument in defence of something controversial.
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Apologue
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A moral fable, especially one with animals as characters.
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Apoplectic
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Overcome with anger; furious.
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Aporia
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In irresolvable internal contradiction or logical disjunction in a text, argument, or theory.
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Aposiopesis
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The device of suddenly breaking off in speech.
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Apostasy
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The abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief or principle.
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Apostate
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A person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle.
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Apostatize
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Renounce a religious or political belief or principle.
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Apotheosis
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The highest point in the development of something; a culmination or climax.
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Apotheosize
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Elevate to, or as if to, the rank of a god; idolize.
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Apotropaic
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Supposedly having the power to avert evil influences or bad luck.
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Apparat
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The administrative system of a communist party, especially in a communist country.
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Apparition
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A ghost or ghostlike image of a person.
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Appease
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Pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands.
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Append
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Add (something) to the end of a written document.
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Appendage
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A thing that is added or attached to something larger or more important.
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Appertain
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Relate to; concern.
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Appetency
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A longing or desire.
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Appetitive
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Characterized by a natural desire to satisfy bodily needs.
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Applicable
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Relevant or appropriate.
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Applicative
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Relating to or involving the application of a subject or idea; practical or applied.
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Apportion
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Divide up and share out.
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Appose
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Place (something) side by side or close to something else.
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Appraisal
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An act of assessing something or someone.
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Appraise
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Assess the value or quality of.
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Appreciable
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Large or important enough to be noticed.
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Apprehend
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Arrest (someone) for a crime.
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Apprehensible
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Capable of being understood or perceived.
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Apprehension
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Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
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Apprehensive
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Anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
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Apprise
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Inform or tell (someone).
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Apprize
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Put a price on; appraise.
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Approbate
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Approve formally; sanction.
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Approbation
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Approval or praise.
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Appurtenance
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An accessory or other item associated with a particular activity or style of living.
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Apropos
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With reference to; concerning.
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Aptitude
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A natural ability to do something.
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Arable
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(of land) used or suitable for growing crops.
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Arational
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Not based on or governed by logical reasoning.
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Arbiter
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A person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter.
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Arbitrary
|
Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
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Arbitrate
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Reach an authoritative judgement or settlement.
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Arbitrator
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An independent person or body officially appointed to settle a dispute.
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Arboreal
|
Living in trees.
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Arborescent
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Tree-like in growth or appearance.
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Arcana
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Secrets or mysteries.
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Arcane
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Understood by few; mysterious or secret.
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Archaic
|
Very old or old-fashioned.
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Archetypal
|
Very typical of a certain kind of person or thing.
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Archetype
|
A very typical example of a certain person or thing.
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Archive
|
A collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people.
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Ardent
|
Very enthusiastic or passionate.
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Arduous
|
Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.
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Argent
|
Silver; silvery white.
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Argot
|
The jargon or slang of a particular group or class.
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Argufy
|
Argue or quarrel, typically about something trivial.
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Aristocracy
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The highest class in certain societies, typically comprising people of noble birth holding hereditary titles and offices.
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Armistice
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An agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.
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Arraign
|
Call or bring (someone) before a court to answer a criminal charge.
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Arrant
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Complete, utter.
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Arrears
|
Money that is owed and should have been paid earlier.
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Arriviste
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An ambitious or ruthlessly self-seeking person.
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Arrogate
|
Take or claim (something) for oneself without justification.
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Arson
|
The criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.
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Articulate
|
Having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently.
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Artifice
|
Clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others.
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Artisan
|
A worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand.
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Artless
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Without guile or deception.
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Ascendancy
|
Occupation of a position of dominant power or influence.
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Ascendant
|
Rising in power or influence.
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Ascertain
|
Find (something) out for certain; make sure of.
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Ascesis
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The practice of severe self-discipline, typically for religious reasons.
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Ascetic
|
Characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
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Ascribe
|
Regard something as being due to (a cause).
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Asinine
|
Extremely stupid or foolish.
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Askance
|
With an attitude or looking of suspicion or disapproval.
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Asocial
|
Avoiding social interaction; inconsiderate of or hostile to others.
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Asperity
|
Harshness of tone or manner.
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Asperse
|
Attack or criticize the reputation or integrity of.
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Asphyxiate
|
Kill (someone) by depriving them of air.
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Aspirant
|
Having ambitions to achieve something, typically to follow a particular career.
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Assail
|
Make a concerted or violent attack on.
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Assent
|
The expression of approval or agreement.
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Assertion
|
A confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.
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Asseveration
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The solemn or emphatic declaration or statement of something.
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Assiduity
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Constant or close attention to what one is doing.
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Assiduous
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Showing great care and perseverance.
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Assignation
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An appointment to meet someone in secret, typically one made by lovers.
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Assimilate
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Take in and understand fully (information or ideas).
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Assuage
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Make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.
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Astute
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Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.
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Asynchronous
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Not existing or occurring at the same time.
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Ataraxy
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A state of serene calmness.
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Atavistic
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Relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral.
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Atemporal
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Existing or considered without relation to time.
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Athwart
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From side to side of; across.
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Atone
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Make amends or reparation.
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Atonement
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The action of making amends for a wrong or injury.
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Atrabilious
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Melancholy or irritable.
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Attenuate
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Reduce the force, effect, or value of.
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Attenuated
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(especially of a person) extremely thin.
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Attest
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Provide or serve as clear evidence of.
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Attitudinize
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Adopt or express a particular attitude or attitudes, typically just for effect.
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Attribute
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Regard something as being cause by.
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Attrit
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Wear down (an opponent or enemy) by sustained action.
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Attrition
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The process of reducing something's strength or effectiveness through sustained attack or pressure.
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Attune
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Make receptive or aware.
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Atypical
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Not representative of a type, group, or class.
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Aubade
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A poem or piece of music appropriate to the dawn or early music.
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Audacious
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Showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.
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Audacity
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A willingness to take bold risks.
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Audit
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An official inspection of an organization's accounts, typically by an independent body.
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Augment
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Make (something) greater by adding to it.
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Augmentation
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The action or process of making or becoming greater in size or amount.
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Augur
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(of an event or circumstance) portend a good or bad outcome.
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Augury
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A sign of what will happen in the future; an omen.
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Aureate
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Made of or having the colour of gold.
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Auspice
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A divine or prophetic token.
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Auspicious
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Conductive to success; favourable.
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Austere
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Severe or strict in manner or attitude.
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Austerity
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Sternness or severity of manner or attitude.
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Autarch
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A ruler who has absolute power.
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Authoritarian
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Favouring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
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Autocracy
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A system of government by one person with absolute power.
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Autodidact
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A self-taught person.
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Autogenous
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Arising from within or from a thing itself.
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Autonomous
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Having the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs.
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Autonomy
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The right or condition of self-government.
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Autotelic
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(of an activity or a creative work) having an end or purpose in itself.
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Auxiliary
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Providing supplementary or additional help and support.
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Avarice
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Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
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Avaricious
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Having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
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Aver
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State or assert to be the case.
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Averment
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An affirmation or allegation.
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Avid
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Having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something.
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Avidity
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Keen interest or enthusiasm.
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Avizandum
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Time taken for further consideration of a judgement.
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Avocation
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A hobby or minor occupation.
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Avouch
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Affirm or assert.
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Avow
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Assert or confess openly.
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Avuncular
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Kind and friendly towards a younger or less experienced person.
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Axiom
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A statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.
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Axiomatic
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Self-evident or unquestionable.
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Azoic
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Having no trace of life or organic remains.
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Azoic
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Having no trace of life or organic remains.
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Axiomatic
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Self-evident or unquestionable.
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Babble
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Talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way.
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Babel
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A confused noise made by a number of voices.
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Bacchanal
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A wild and drunken celebration.
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Bacchanalian
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Characterized by or given to drunken revelry.
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Bachelor
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A man who is not and has never been married.
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Bachelorette
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A young unmarried woman.
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Badinage
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Humorous or witty conversation.
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Bagnio
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A brothel.
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Bailiwick
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One's sphere of operations or area of interest.
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Balderdash
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Senseless talk or writing; nonsense.
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Baleful
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Threatening harm; menacing.
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Balky
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Awkward; uncooperative.
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Ballot
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A system of voting secretly and in writing on a particular issue.
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Balmy
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Characterized by pleasantly warm weather.
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Banal
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So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.
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Banality
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The fact or condition of being banal; unoriginality.
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Banausic
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Not operating on an elevated level; mundane.
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Bane
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A cause of great distress or annoyance.
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Banish
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Send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment.
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Banjax
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Ruin, incapacitate, or break.
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Barbarism
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Absence of culture and civilization.
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Barbarity
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Extreme cruelty or brutality.
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Barbarize
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Cause to become savage or uncultured.
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Barbarous
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Extremely brutal.
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Bard
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A poet, traditionally one reciting epics and associated with a particular oral tradition.
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Bardolatry
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Excessive admiration of Shakespeare.
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Barmy
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Extremely foolish.
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Barney
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A quarrel, especially a noisy one.
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Baron
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A member of the lowest order of the British nobility. Baron is not used as a form of address, barons usually being referred to as 'Lord'.
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Baseness
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Lack of moral principles; bad character.
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Bashful
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Reluctant to draw attention to oneself; shy.
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Basilect
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A less prestigious dialect or variety of a particular language.
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Bastardize
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Corrupt or debase (a language, art form, etc.) typically by adding new elements.
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Bate
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An angry mood.
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Bated
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In great suspense; very anxiously or excitedly.
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Bathetic
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Producing an unintentional effect of anticlimax.
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Bathos
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(especially in a literary work) an effect of anticlimax created by an unintentional lapse in mood from the sublime to the trivial or ridiculous.
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Baulk
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Hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
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Bavardage
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Idle gossip.
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Bawdry
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Obscenity in speech or writing.
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Bawdy
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Dealing with sexual matters in a comical way; humorously indecent.
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Bawl
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Shout or call out noisily and unrestrainedly.
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Bearing
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A person's way of standing or moving.
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Bearish
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Resembling or likened to a bear, typically in being rough, surly, or clumsy.
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Beatific
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Feeling or expressing blissful happiness.
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Beatitude
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Supreme blessedness.
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Becloud
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Make obscure or muddled.
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Bedabble
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Stain or splash with dirty liquid or blood.
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Bedeck
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Decorate.
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Bedight
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Adorned.
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Bedim
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Cause to become dim.
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Bedizen
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Dress up or decorate gaudily.
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Bedlam
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A scene of uproar and confusion.
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Bedraggled
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Dishevelled.
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Befog
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Make confused.
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Befoul
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Make dirty; pollute.
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Befuddle
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Cause to become unable to think clearly.
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Beget
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(especially of a man) bring (a child) into existence by the process of reproduction.
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Beggarly
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Pitifully or deplorably meagre or bad.
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Beggary
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A state of extreme poverty.
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Begrime
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Blacken with ingrained dirt.
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Begrudge
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Envy (someone) the possession or enjoyment of (something).
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Beguile
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Charm or enchant (someone), often in a deceptive way.
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Behemoth
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A huge or monstrous creature.
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Behest
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A person's orders or command.
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Behoof
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Benefit or advantage.
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Behove
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It is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something.
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Belabour
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Attack (someone) physically or verbally.
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Belated
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Coming or happening later than should have been the case.
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Beldam
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An old woman, often malicious or loathsome.
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Beleaguer
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Lay siege to.
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Belie
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(of an appearance) fail to give a true impression of (something).
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Belittle
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Dismiss (someone or something) as unimportant.
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Bellicose
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Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.
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Belligerence
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Aggressive or warlike behaviour.
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Belligerent
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Hostile and aggressive.
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Bemire
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Cover or stain with mud.
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Bemoan
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Express discontent or sorrow over (something).
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Bemuse
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Puzzle, confuse, or bewilder.
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Benefaction
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A donation or gift.
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Benefactor
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A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.
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Benefic
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Beneficent or kindly.
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Beneficent
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Generous or doing good.
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Benevolence
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The quality of being well meaning; kindness.
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Benevolent
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Well meaning and kindly.
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Benighted
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In a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance.
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Benign
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Gentle and kind.
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Benignant
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Kindly and benevolent.
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Benison
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A blessing.
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Benumb
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Deprive of physical or emotional feeling.
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Bequeath
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Leave (property) to a person or other beneficiary by a will.
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Bequest
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A legacy.
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Berate
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Scold or criticize (someone) angrily.
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Berceuse
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A lullaby.
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Bereft
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Deprived of or lacking (something).
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Berk
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A stupid person.
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Beseech
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Ask someone urgently and fervently to do or give something.
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Beset
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Trouble (someone or something) persistently.
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Besmirch
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Damage (someone's reputation.
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Besotted
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Strongly infatuated.
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Bespeak
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Be evidence of; indicate.
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Bestir
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Make a physical or mental effort; exert or rouse oneself.
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Bestrew
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Cover or partly cover (a surface) with scattered objects.
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Betide
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Happen.
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Betoken
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Be a sign of.
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Bevy
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A large group of people or things of a particular kind.
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Bewail
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Express great regret, sadness, or disappointment about (something).
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Biblicist
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A person who interprets the Bible literally.
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Bibliomania
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Passionate enthusiasm for collecting and possessing books.
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Bibliophile
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A person who collects or has a great love of books.
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Bibulous
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Excessively fond of drinking alcohol.
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Bicker
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Argue about petty and trivial matters.
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Biddable
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Meekly ready to accept and follow instructions.
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Biddy
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A woman, especially an elderly one, regarded as annoying or interfering.
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Bifurcate
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Divide into two branches or forks.
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Bifurcation
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The division of something into two branches or parts.
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Bigamy
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The offence of marrying someone while already married to another person.
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Bigoted
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Having or revealing an obstinate belief in the superiority of one's own opinions and a prejudiced intolerance of the opinions of others.
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Bigotry
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Intolerance towards those who hold different opinions from oneself.
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Bilious
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Affected by or associated with nausea or vomiting.
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Bilk
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Obtain or withhold money from (someone) unfairly or by deceit; cheat or defraud.
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Bipartisan
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Of or involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies.
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