Vocabulary Words

Front 1

A Capella

ah kuh-pel-uh

Back 1

without instrumental accompaniment.

Front 2

A la cart

Back 2

with a separate price for each dish offered on the menu

Hint 2

dinner à la carte.

Front 3

A priori

[ey pree-awr-ee,]

Back 3

not based on prior study or examination; nonanalytic

Hint 3

an a priori judgment.

Front 4

Aback

Back 4

toward the back. (adverb)

Unexpected, surprised (idiom)

Hint 4

I was taken aback by his harsh criticism. (idiom)

Front 5

Abacus

Back 5

Counting device

a slab forming the top of the capital of a column.

Hint 5

Front 6

Abandon

Back 6

to leave completely and finally; forsake utterly; desert:

Hint 6

to abandon one's farm; to abandon a child; to abandon a sinking ship.

Front 7

Abase

Back 7

1.to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation;humble; degrade.2.Archaic. to lower; put or bring down:

Hint 7

He abased his head.

The Lieutenant was abased to fireman.

Front 8

Abash

Back 8

to destroy the self-confidence, poise, or self-possession of; disconcert;make ashamed or embarrassed:

Hint 8

to abash someone by sneering.

Front 9

Abate

Back 9

to reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish:to abate a tax; to abate one's enthusiasm.

Hint 9

to abate a tax; to abate one's enthusiasm.

Front 10

Abatement

Back 10

1.the act or state of abating or the state of being abated; reduction;decrease; alleviation; mitigation.2.suppression or termination

Hint 10

abatement of a nuisance; noise abatement.

Front 11

Abbey

Back 11

the group of buildings comprising such a monastery or convent

Front 12

Abbreviate

Back 12

to reduce (anything) in length, duration, etc.; make briefer

Hint 12

to abbreviate a speech.

Front 13

Abdicate

Back 13

to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, claim, responsibility, or the like, especially in a formal manner

Hint 13

The aging founder of the firm decided to abdicate.

Front 14

Abdomen

Back 14

the part of the body of a mammal between the thorax and the pelvis; belly.

Front 15

Abduct

Back 15

to carry off or lead away (a person) illegally and in secret or by force,especially to kidnap.

Front 16

Aberrant

Back 16

deviating from the ordinary, usual, or normal type; exceptional;abnormal.

Front 17

Abet

Back 17

to encourage, support, or countenance by aid or approval, usually inwrongdoing

Hint 17

to abet a swindler; to abet a crime.

Front 18

Abeyance

Back 18

temporary inactivity, cessation, or suspension

Hint 18

Let's hold that problem in abeyance for a while.

Front 19

Abhor

Back 19

to regard with extreme repugnance or aversion; detest utterly; loathe;abominate.

Front 20

Abide

Back 20

to remain; continue; stay

to wait for; await:

to put up with; tolerate; stand:

Hint 20

Abide with me.

to abide the coming of the Lord.

I can't abide dishonesty!

Front 21

Abject

Back 21

utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating, or wretched contemptible; despicable; base-spirited

Hint 21

abject poverty

an abject coward

Front 22

Abjure

Back 22

to renounce, repudiate, or retract, especially with formal solemnity;recant

Hint 22

to abjure one's errors

Front 23

ablate

[a-bleyt]

Back 23

to remove or dissipate by melting, vaporization, erosion, etc.

Hint 23

to ablate a metal surface with intense heat.

Front 24

Ablution

[uh-bloo-shuh n]

Back 24

a cleansing with water or other liquid, especially as a religious ritual.

Front 25

Abode

Back 25

a place in which a person resides; residence; dwelling; habitation;home.

Hint 25

Welcome to my abode.

Front 26

Abolish

Back 26

to do away with; put an end to; annul; make void

Hint 26

to abolish slavery

Front 27

Abominable

{uh-bom-uh-nuh-buh l }

Back 27

repugnantly hateful; detestable; loathsome

Hint 27

an abominable crime.

Front 28

Aboriginal

Back 28

original or earliest known; native; indigenous

Hint 28

the aboriginal people of Tahiti.

Front 29

Abortive

Back 29

failing to succeed; unsuccessful

Hint 29

an abortive rebellion; an abortive scheme.

Front 30

Abound

Back 30

to occur or exist in great quantities or numbers

Hint 30

a stream in which trout abound.

Front 31

Abreast

Back 31

side by side and facing the same way.

Hint 31

"the path was wide enough for two people to walk abreast"

Front 32

Abridge

Back 32

shorten (a book, movie, speech, or other text) without losing the sense.

Hint 32

"the cassettes have been abridged from the original stories"

Front 33

Abroad

Back 33

1. in or to a foreign country or countries.

2. in different directions; over a wide area."millions of seeds are annually scattered abroad"

Hint 33

1. "we usually go abroad for a week in May"

2.

Front 34

Abrogate

Back 34

repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement).

Hint 34

"a proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike"

Front 35

Abrupt

Back 35

1. sudden and unexpected.

2. brief to the point of rudeness; curt.

Hint 35

1. "I was surprised by the abrupt change of subject"

2. "you were rather abrupt with that young man"

Front 36

Abscess

Back 36

a swollen area within body tissue, containing an accumulation of pus.

Hint 36

An abscess formed on his thumb because he left a splinter in.

Front 37

Abscond

Back 37

leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection of or arrest for an unlawful action such as theft.

Hint 37

"she absconded with the remaining thousand dollars"

Front 38

Absolve

Back 38

set or declare (someone) free from blame, guilt, or responsibility.

Hint 38

"the pardon absolved them of any crimes"

Front 39

Abstain

Back 39

1. restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something.

2. formally decline to vote either for or against a proposal or motion.

Hint 39

1. "most pregnant women abstain from drinking alcohol"

2. "forty-one voted with the opposition, and some sixty more abstained"

Front 40

Abstract

Back 40

1. existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.

2. a summary of the contents of a book, article, or formal speech.

Hint 40

1. "abstract concepts such as love or beauty"

2. "an abstract of his inaugural address"

Front 41

Abstruse

Back 41

difficult to understand; obscure.

Hint 41

"an abstruse philosophical inquiry"

Front 42

Abut

Back 42

1. (of an area of land or a building) be next to or have a common boundary with.

2. touch or lean upon.

Hint 42

1. "gardens abutting Prescott Street"

2. "masonry may crumble where a roof abuts it"

Front 43

Abysmal

Back 43

1. extremely bad; appalling.

2. Very Deep

Hint 43

1. "the quality of her work is abysmal"

Front 44

Abyss

Back 44

a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm.

Hint 44

"a rope led down into the dark abyss"

Front 45

Academy

Back 45

a place of study or training in a special field.

Hint 45

"The fire academy"

Front 46

Accede

Back 46

1. assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty.

2. assume an office or position.

Hint 46

1. "the authorities did not accede to the strikers' demands"

2. "he acceded to the post of director in September"

Front 47

Accentuate

Back 47

make more noticeable or prominent.

Hint 47

"his jacket unfortunately accentuated his paunch"

Front 48

Accession

Back 48

1. the attainment or acquisition of a position of rank or power, typically that of monarch or president.

2. record the addition of (a new item) to a library, museum, or other collection.

Hint 48

"the queen's accession to the throne"

Front 49

Accessory

Back 49

1. a thing that can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive

2. someone who gives assistance to the perpetrator of a crime, without directly committing it, sometimes without being present.

Hint 49

1. "a range of bathroom accessories"

2. "she was charged as an accessory to murder"

Front 50

Acclaim

Back 50

enthusiastic and public praise.

Hint 50

"she has won acclaim for her commitment to democracy"

Front 51

Acclimate

Back 51

become accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions.

Hint 51

"it will take a few days to get acclimated to the altitude"

Front 52

Acclivity

Back 52

An upward slope

Hint 52

so gradual is its acclivity that the summit can easily be reached by a man on horseback.

Front 53

Accolade

Back 53

an award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit.

Hint 53

The Medal of Honor is the highest accolade a soldier can win.

Front 54

Accommodate

Back 54

1. (of physical space, especially a building) provide lodging or sufficient space for.

2. fit in with the wishes or needs of.

Hint 54

1. "the cabins accommodate up to 6 people"

2. "any language must accommodate new concepts"

Front 55

Accomplice

Back 55

a person who helps another commit a crime.

Hint 55

Joe was charged as an accomplice to the bank robbery

Front 56

Accord

Back 56

give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition).

Hint 56

"the powers accorded to the head of state"

Front 57

Accost

Back 57

approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively.

Hint 57

"reporters accosted him in the street"

Front 58

Accouter

Back 58

clothe or equip, typically in something noticeable or impressive.

Hint 58

The doctor, fully accoutered, walked to the door.

Front 59

Accredit

Back 59

(of a person, organization, or course of study) officially recognized or authorized.

Hint 59

"Joe is an accredited investor"

Front 60

Accrete

Back 60

grow by gradual accumulation or coalescence.

Hint 60

"ice that had accreted grotesquely into stalactites"

Front 61

Accrue

Back 61

1. (of sums of money or benefits) be received by someone in regular or increasing amounts over time.

2. accumulate or receive (such payments or benefits).

Hint 61

1. "financial benefits will accrue from restructuring"

2. "interest is added to the account as it accrues"

Front 62

Accumulate

Back 62

gradually gather, acquire, or build up.

Hint 62

"her goal was to accumulate a huge fortune"

"the toxin accumulated in their bodies"

Front 63

Acerbic

Back 63

(especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright.

tasting sour or bitter.

Hint 63

"his acerbic wit"

Front 64

Acme

Back 64

the point at which someone or something is best, perfect, or most successful.

Hint 64

"physics is the acme of scientific knowledge"

Front 65

Acolyte

Back 65

a person assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession.

an assistant or follower.

Hint 65

It is the duty of acolytes to carry the candlesticks, to light the lamps of the church, to administer wine and water for the Eucharist.

Front 66

Acoustic

Back 66

1. relating to sound or the sense of hearing.

2. (of popular music or musical instruments) not having electrical amplification.

Hint 66

1. "dogs have a much greater acoustic range than humans"

2. She plays the acoustic guitar

Front 67

Acquaint

Back 67

make someone aware of or familiar with.

Hint 67

"new staff should be acquainted with fire exit routes"

Front 68

Acquaintance

Back 68

1. a person's knowledge or experience of something.

2. a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend.

Hint 68

1. "the students had little acquaintance with the language"

2. "a business acquaintance"

Front 69

Acquiesce

Back 69

accept something reluctantly but without protest.

Hint 69

"Sara acquiesced in his decision"

Front 70

Acquit

Back 70

1. free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty.

2. conduct oneself or perform in a specified way.

Hint 70

1. "she was acquitted on all counts"

2. "all the young women in the contest acquitted themselves well"