abbreviate
v. make shorter; reduce to shorter form intended to represent full form, as for word or phrase |
aberrant
n. abnormal; markedly different from an accepted norm |
abet
v. aid, usually in doing something wrong; encourage |
abhor
v. fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate |
abnormal
a. unusual; not typical; not normal |
abode
n. act of waiting; delay; stay or continuance in a place |
abolish
v. cancel; put an end to; destroy completely |
abrasion
n. the process of scraping or wearing away; scratch; friction |
abrasive
a. rubbing away; tending to grind down |
abrogate
a. abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority |
accede
v. agree; give consent, often at insistence of another; concede |
accord
n. settlement or compromise of conflicting opinions; written agreement between two states |
acquire
v. gain through experience or effort; gain possession of; locate with tracking system |
adapt
v. make fit for; change to suit a new purpose |
advocate
v. speak, plead, or argue in favour of; plead for; push for something |
affable
a. easily approachable; warmly friendly |
affirm
v. offer someone emotional support or encouragement; confirm |
afoot
a. currently in progress; traveling by foot |
agglomeration
n. collection; heap; act or process of gathering into a mass |
allegiance
n. loyalty to a nation, sovereign, or cause; fidelity to any person or thing; devotion |
allot
v. parcel out in parts or portions; distribute to each individual concerned; assign as a share or lot |
aloof
a. apart; remote in manner; distant physically or emotionally; reserved and remote |
aluminum
n. silvery ductile metallic element |
amaze
v. astonish; surprise greatly; affect with wonder |
ambiguity
n. state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty |
amid
ad. in the middle of; among; surrounded by |
amiss
a. out of proper order; not in perfect shape; faulty |
ample
a. more than enough in size or scope or capacity; fairly large |
anarchy
n. absence of governing body; state of disorder; political disorder and confusion |
antagonize
v. provoke the hostility of; act in opposition to |
apocryphal
a. untrue; of questionable authorship or authenticity; erroneous; fictitious |
apparel
n. external clothing; vesture; garments; dress; small ornamental piece |
apparition
n. ghostly figure; sudden or unusual sight; appearance; state of being visible |
appeal
n. attraction; charm; attract; fascinate; challenge |
appliance
n. durable goods for home or office use; device or instrument for household use |
apprehend
v. take into custody; arrest a criminal; grasp mentally; perceive |
apprehension
n. fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future; act of seizing or capturing; understanding |
arbitrary
a. randomly chosen; determined by chance or impulse, and not by reason or principle |
arrange
v. put in proper order; dispose in the manner intended, or best suited for the purpose |
articulate
a. expressing oneself easily in clear and effective language |
ascertain
v. find out for certain; discover with certainty; make sure of |
aspiration
n. a hope or ambition of achieving something; the action or process of drawing breath |
assail
v. assault; attack with or as if with violent blows |
assay
v. analyze; evaluate; examine by trial or experiment; put to test |
asset
n. properties; advantage; useful or valuable quality |
assimilate
v. incorporate and absorb into mind; make similar; cause to resemble |
astonish
v. surprise or impress someone greatly; shock |
astounding
a. surprisingly impressive or notable; shocking |
atheist
n. nonbeliever; one who denies the existence of god |
attempt
n. action of trying at something |
attribute
n. essential quality; reputation; honor |
augment
v. make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity |
avail
v. turn to advantage of; be of service to; profit; promote |
avert
v. prevent; turn or cause to turn off or away |
avid
a. greedy; eager for; marked by keen interest and enthusiasm |
avocation
n. activity taken up in addition to one's regular work or profession, usually for enjoyment |
awe
n. mixed emotion of reverence, respect, dread, and wonder; fear, as of something evil |
azure
a. sky blue; light purplish blue |
ballad
n. popular kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing |
ballot
n. printed or written ticket used in voting; act of voting; whole number of votes cast at an election |
balmy
a. mild and pleasant; extremely foolish |
ban
n. official prohibition; decree that prohibits something |