GRE BARRONS 800

ABATE

To reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.

ABDICATE

To renounce a throne, power, or responsibility.

ABERRANT

Departing from an accepted standard.

ABEYANCE

A state of temporary disuse or suspension.

ABJECT

Extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading.

ABJURE

To renounce a belief, cause, or claim formally.

ABSCISSION

The act of cutting off or removing.

ABSCOND

To leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid arrest.

ABSTEMIOUS

Not allowing oneself much food or drink; moderate.

ABSTINENCE

The fact or practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something.

ABYSMAL

Extremely bad; appalling.

ACCRETION

The process of growth or increase.

ACCRUE

To accumulate or receive payments over time.

ADAMANT

Refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind.

ADJUNCT

Something added to another thing but not an essential part.

ADMONISH

To warn or reprimand someone firmly.

ADULTERATE

To make (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance.

AESTHETIC

Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.

AFFECTED

Influenced or touched by an external factor.

AFFINITY

A natural liking for and understanding of someone or something.

AGGRANDIZE

To increase the power, status, or wealth of.

AGGREGATE

A whole formed by combining several elements.

ALACRITY

Brisk and cheerful readiness.

ALCHEMY

A seemingly magical process of transformation.

ALLAY

To diminish or put to rest (fear, suspicion, or worry).

ALLEVIATE

To make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.

ALLOY

A mixture of metals.

ALLURE

The quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive.

AMALGAMATE

To combine or unite to form one organization or structure.

AMBIGUOUS

Open to more than one interpretation; unclear.

AMBIVALENCE

The state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas.

AMBROSIA

The food of the gods; something extremely pleasing to taste.

AMELIORATE

To make something better or improve.

AMENABLE

Open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled.

AMENITY

A desirable or useful feature or facility.

AMULET

An ornament or small piece of jewelry thought to give protection against evil.

ANACHRONISM

A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists.

ANALGESIC

A drug or substance that relieves pain.

ANALOGOUS

Comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared.

ANARCHY

A state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority.

ANODYNE

A medicine that relieves pain.

ANOMALOUS

Deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.

ANOMIE

A lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group.

ANTECEDENT

A thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another.

ANTEDILUVIAN

Of or belonging to the period before the biblical flood.

ANTIPATHY

A deep-seated feeling of aversion.

APATHY

Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

APEX

The top or highest part of something.

APOGEE

The highest point in the development of something.

APOTHEGM

A succinct, instructive saying or formulation.

APPEASE

To pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands.

APPELLATION

A name or title.

APPOSITE

Clearly relevant; appropriate.

APPRISE

To inform or tell someone.

APPROBATION

Approval or praise.

APPROPRIATE

Suitable or proper in the circumstances.

APROPOS

Fitting; at the right time.

ARABESQUE

An ornamental design consisting of intertwined flowing lines.

ARCHEOLOGY

The study of human history through excavation and analysis of artifacts.

ARDOR

Enthusiasm or passion.

ARDUOUS

Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

ARGOT

The jargon or slang of a particular group.

ARREST

To seize someone by legal authority.

ARTIFACT

An object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest.

ARTLESS

Without guile or deception; innocent.

ASCETIC

Characterized by severe self-discipline and avoidance of indulgence.

ASPERITY

Harshness of tone or manner.

ASPERSION

An attack on the reputation or integrity of someone.

ASSIDUOUS

Showing great care and perseverance.

ASSUAGE

To make an unpleasant feeling less intense.

ASTRINGENT

Having a sharply constricting effect on tissue.

ASYLUM

The protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee.

ATAVISM

The reappearance of traits from an ancestral form.

ATTENUATE

To reduce the force, effect, or value of.

AUDACIOUS

Showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.

AUSTERE

Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.

AUTONOMOUS

Having the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs.

AVARICE

Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

AVER

To state or assert to be the case.

AVOCATION

A hobby or minor occupation.

AVUNCULAR

Relating to an uncle.

AXIOMATIC

Self-evident or unquestionable.

BACCHANALIAN

Characterized by or given to drunken revelry.

BANAL

So lacking in originality as to be obvious.

BANTER

The playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.

BARD

A poet, often one who recites epic and heroic poems.

BAWDY

Referencing sexual matters in a comical way.

BEATIFY

To declare a deceased person to be blessed.

BEDIZEN

To dress up or adorn in a showy manner.

BEHEMOTH

A huge or monstrous creature.

BELIE

To contradict or show something to be false.

BENEFICENT

Generous or doing good.

BIFURCATE

To divide into two branches or forks.

BIONICS

The study of mechanical systems that function like living organisms.

BLANDISHMENT

Flattering speech intended to persuade.

BLASE

Unimpressed or indifferent to something because one has seen it so often before.

BOLSTER

To support or strengthen.

BOMBASTIC

High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated.

BOORISH

Rude or unmannerly.

BOVINE

Relating to or resembling cattle.