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335 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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aback (preceded by taken)
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surprised; startled
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abandon
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to leave; to give up; to discontinue
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abase
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to humiliate; to humble; to lower
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abash
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ashamed; embarrassed
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abate
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to lessen; to decrease
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abdicate
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to yield; to give up
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abduct
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to take away; to kidnap
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aberration
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abnormality; deviation
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abet
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to aid; to encourage
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abeyance
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a temporary postponement
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abhor
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to hate; to detest
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abide (two meanings)
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to remain; to put up with
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abject
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miserable; wretched
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abjure
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to give up (rights)
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ablution
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a washing; cleansing
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abnegate
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to deny; to reject
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abolition
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doing away with; putting an end to
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abominate
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to detest; to dislike strongly
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aborgine
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original inhabitant
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abortive
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unsuccessful
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abound
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to be large in number
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aboveboard
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honest; frank; open
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abrade
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to wear away
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abridge
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to shorten
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abrogate
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to abolish; to repeal
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abscond
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to leave secretly; to flee
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absolve
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to free from responsibility
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abstemious
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moderate or sparing in eating or drinking
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abstinence
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self-denial; resisting tempting foods
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abstract (two meanings)
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a summary (noun); to remove (verb)
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abstruse
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hard to understand
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absurd
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ridiculous; unreasonable
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abut
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to touch; to rest on or against
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abysmal
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wretched; extremely bad
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abyss
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a bottomless pit; anything infinite
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academic (two meanings)
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pertaining to school; theoretical or unrealistic
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accede
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to agree to
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accelerate
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to speed up; to move faster
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accessible
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easy to approach; open
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access
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approach; admittance
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accessory
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something additional
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acclaim
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to greet with approval
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acclimate
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to adapt; to get used to
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acclivity
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upward slope
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accolade
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honor; award; approval
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accommodate
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to make fit; to help
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accomplice
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a partner in crime
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accord
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agreement
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accost
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to approach and speak to
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accoutrement
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equipment; outfit
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accredit
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to approve; to certify
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accretion
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an increase; an addition
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accrue
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to gather; to accumulate
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acerbic
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sharp or bitter in smell or taste
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Achilles' heel
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a weakness
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acknowledge
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to admit; to confess
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acme
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highest point; peak
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acoustics
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branch of physics dealing with sound
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acquiesce
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to agree; to consent
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acquit
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to free from guilt; to clear
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acrid
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bitter to the taste or smell; sarcastic
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acrimonious
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harsh in speech or behavior
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acronym
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word formed from initials
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acrophobia
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fear of heights
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actuate
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to put into motion or action
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acumen
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mental keenness; shrewdness
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acute
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sharp; keen
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ad infinitum
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endlessly; forever
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ad lib
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to act or speak without preparation
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adage
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a familiar saying
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adamant
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stubborn; unyielding
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adapt
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to adjust; to change
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addendum
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something added as a supplement
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addled
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confused
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adduce
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to give an example in proving something
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adept
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highly skilled
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adherent (two meanings)
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sticking fast (adjective); a follower or a supporter (noun)
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adipose
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fatty
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adjacent
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near; close; adjoining
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adjudicate
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to judge
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adjunct
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a subordinate; an assistant
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admonish
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to warn
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ado
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fuss; trouble
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adonis
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a very handsome man
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adorn
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to dress up; to decorate
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adroit
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skillful; clever
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adulation
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excessive praise or flattery
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adulterate
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to make impure
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advent
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an arrival; a coming
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adventitious
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accidental; nonessential
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adversary
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enemy; opponent
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adversity
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a misfortune; distress
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advocate
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to recommend; to defend
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aegis
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a shield; protection; sponsorship
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aesthetic
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pertaining to beauty
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affable
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friendly; agreeable
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affectation
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a phony attitude; insincereity
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affiliate
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to associate or to unite with
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affinity
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attraction to
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affirmation
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a statement that something is true
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affix
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to attach
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affliction
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great suffering; hardship
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affluence
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wealth
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affront
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an insult
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aftermath
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outcome; result
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agape
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open-mouthed; surprised
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agenda
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a list or program of things to be done
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aggrandize
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to enlarge or to expand
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aggravate
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to worsen an already bad situation; to intensify
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aggregate
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to collect; to gather together
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aghast
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shocked; terrified
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agile
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able to move quickly
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agitate
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to upset; to stir up
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agnostic
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one who doubts the existence of God
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agoraphobia
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fear of open places
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agrarian
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pertaining to farmers and agriculture
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ague
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a fever; a plague
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alacrity
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liveliness; willingness
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albatross (two meanings)
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a seabird; a constant burden
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albeit
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although
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alchemy
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chemistry of the Middle Ages
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alias
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an assumed name
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alien
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strange; foreign
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alienate
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to make others unfriendly to you
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alimentary
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furnishing food or nourishment
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allay
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to relieve or to calm
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alleged
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so-called; supposed
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allegory
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a symbolic work of literature
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allegro
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rapid; quick
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alleviate
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to lessen; to relieve
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allocate
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to set aside for the specific purpose
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allude
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to hint at; to refer to indirectly
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alluring
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tempting; fascinating; charming
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alluvial
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pertaining to a deposit of sand formed by flowing water
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aloft
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up in the air; high
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aloof
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reserved; cool; indifferent
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alter
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to change
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altercation
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an argument; a disagreement
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altruism
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unselfishness; concern for others
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amalgamate
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to combine; to unite; to blend
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amass
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to accumulate; to collect
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amazon
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a big, strong, masculine woman
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ambidextrous
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equally skillful with either hand
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ambient
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surround; on all sides
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ambiguous
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unclear; open to more than one interpretation
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ambivalence
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conflicting feelings toward something or someone
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ambrosial
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pleasing to the taste or smell
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ambulatory
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moving about; capable of walking
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ambuscade
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hidden or secret attack
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ameliorate
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to improve; to make better
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amenable
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agreeable; responsive
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amend
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to change; to alter
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amenities
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courtesies; social graces; pleasantries
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amiable
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friendly; pleasant
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amicable
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friendly; agreeable
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amiss
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wrong; faulty; improper
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amity
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friendship
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amnesty
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official pardon for an offense
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amoral
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lacking a sense of right and wrong
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amorous
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loving
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amorphous
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shapeless
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amphibious
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able to live on both land and water
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ample
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roomy; abundant
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amplify
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to make larger or greater
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amulet
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a charm worn to keep evil away
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anachronism
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something out of place or time
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analgesic
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drug that relieves pain
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analogy
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similarity or comparison
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anarchy
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absence of government
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anathema
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a curse; a person or thing to be avoided
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ancillary
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helping; subordinate
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anecdote
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a short; entertaining story
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anent
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regarding; concerning
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anguish
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great suffering or grief
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anhydrous
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without water
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animadversion
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criticism; comment that opposes
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animate
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to give life to
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animosity
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hatred; hostility
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animus
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hostile feeling
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annals
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historical records
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anneal
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to heat and then cool; to toughen
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annihilate
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to totally destroy
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annuity
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specified income payable at stated intervals
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annul
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to cancel; to do away with
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anomalous
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abnormal; inconsistent
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anon
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soon
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anoxia
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lack of oxygen
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antecedent
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that which goes before something else
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antediluvian
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very old-fashioned; primitive
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anterior
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located in front or forward
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anteroom
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a lobby or waiting room
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anthem
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song of praise
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anthology
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collection of literary works
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anthropoid
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resembling man
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anthropomorphic
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attributing human form to objects, gods, etc
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antic
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playful or silly act; prank
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anticlimax
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something unimportant coming after something important
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antidote
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a remedy; a counteractive
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antipathy
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intense dislike
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antipodes
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opposite sides (of the earth)
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antiquated
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ancient; extremely old
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antithesis
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an exact opposite
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apathy
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indifference; lack of feeling
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ape (two meanings)
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a monkey (noun); to imitate or to mimic (verb)
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aperture
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an opening; a gap
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apex
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the highest point; summit
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aphasia
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loss of the ability to speak
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aphorism
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brief saying; proverb
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apiary
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place where bees are kept
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aplomb
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self-confidence; poise
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apocryphal
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doubtful; not authentic
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apogee
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farthest point away from the earth
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apoplexy
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sudden loss of consciousness; paralysis
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apostate
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one who gives up his beliefs
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apothecary
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druggist
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apothegm
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brief instructive saying
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apotheosis
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glorification of a person to the rank of God
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appall
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to frighten; to cause loss of courage
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apparel
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clothing; attire
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apparition
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a ghost
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appease
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to soothe; to satisfy
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appellation
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a name
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append
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to attach; to add
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apposite
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appropriate
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apprehend (two meanings)
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to seizure; to understand
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apprehensive
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fearful; anxious
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apprise
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to inform
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approbation
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approval
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appropriate
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to take possession of (verb); suitable (adjective)
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appurtenance
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something added to another more important thing
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apropos
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relevant; appropriate; fitting
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aptitude
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ability
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aquatic
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pertaining to water
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aquiline
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like an eagle; curved or hooked
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arable
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good for farming
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arbiter
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a judge; an umpire
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arbitrary
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partial; biased
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arbor
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a shaded area
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arcane
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mysterious
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archaic
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out-dated; old-fashioned
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archeology
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study of remains of past cultures
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archetype
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original; first of its kind
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archipelago
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group of islands
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archives
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public records and documents
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ardent
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intensely enthusiastic
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arduous
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difficult; strenuous
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aria
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a solo in an opera
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arid
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dry
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armistice
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a truce; suspension of hostilities
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aromatic
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pleasant-smelling
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arraign
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to accuse
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arrant
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notorious; downright
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array
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an orderly arrangement
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arrears (preceded by in)
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in debt
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arrogant
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proud; haughty
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arroyo
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a deep ditch caused by running water
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arson
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illegal burning of property
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artful
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cunning; tricky; crafty
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articulate
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to speak clearly
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artifact
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a handmade object
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artifice
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trick; deception
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artisan
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one skilled in arts and crafts
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ascendant
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rising
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ascertain
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to find out; to determine
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ascetic
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one who denies his body pleasure and comfort
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ascribe
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to attribute; to credit as to a cause or source
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aseptic
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without bacteria
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asinine
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stupid; silly
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askance (preceded by to look)
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sidewise; suspiciously
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askew
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crooked; out of position
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asperity
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harshness; roughness
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aspersion
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a damaging remark
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aspire
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to desire; to have an ambition
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assail
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to attack; to assault
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assay
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to test; to try
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assent
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to agree; to accept
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assertive
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confident; positive
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assess
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to estimate the value of
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assiduity
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diligence; care
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assimilate
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to absorb
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assuage
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to calm; to make less severe
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asteroid
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a very small planet
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astral
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pertaining to the stars
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astray
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in the wrong direction
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astringent
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substance that contracts blood vessels or shrinks tissues
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astute
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shrewd; very smart
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asunder
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into separate parts
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asylum
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a safe place; a refuge
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atavistic
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going back to behavior found in a remote ancestor
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atheist
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one who denies God's existence
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atlas
|
book of maps
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atone
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to make up for; to repent
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atrocious
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cruel; brutal
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atrophy
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to waste away; to become useless
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attenuated
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decreased; weakened
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attest
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to confirm; to declare to be correct
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attribute (two meanings)
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to credit or assign to; a characteristic or trait
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attrition
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a wearing down or away; a decline
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atypical
|
abnormal; not usual
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au courant
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up-to-date; fully informed
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audacity
|
boldness; daring
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audible
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capable of being heard
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audit
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to examine accounts
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augment
|
to increase; to make greater
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augur
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to predict
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august
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majestic; worthy of respect; impressive
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aura
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a radiance; a glow
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aural
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pertaining to the sense of hearing
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auroral
|
rosy; pertaining to the dawn
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auspices
|
approval; support
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auspicious
|
favorable
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austere
|
severe; stern; self-disciplined
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authenticate
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to confirm; to make acceptable
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authoritative
|
dictatorial; having power
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autocratic
|
despotic; unlimited in authority
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automaton
|
self-operating machine; robot
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autonomy
|
self-rule
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autumnal
|
mature; declining
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auxiliary
|
giving assistance; subordinate
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avarice
|
greed
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avenge
|
to get even; to take revenge
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aver
|
to declare; to state firmly
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averse
|
reluctant; not willing
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aversion
|
intense dislike
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avert
|
to prevent; to turn away
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aviary
|
place where birds are kept
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avid
|
enthusiastic
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avocation
|
a hobby; not one's regular work
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avoirdupois
|
heaviness; weight
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avow
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to declare openly
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avuncular
|
like an uncle
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awe (in awe of)
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great admiration for or fear of
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awry
|
twisted to one side; in the wrong direction
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axiom
|
true statement; established principle
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azure
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blue
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