GreGmat Vocabulary Groups/Sets 1 - 37

aberrant

abnormal or deviant.

abet

encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular to commit a crime.

abide

to put up with; to tolerate.

abject

1. (of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree.

2. (of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing.

abjure

solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).

abreast

1. side by side and facing the same way.

2. alongside or level with something.

abscond

to run off and hide.

abstain

1. restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something.

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

abstract

consider (something) theoretically or separately from something else; extract or remove (something); used euphemistically to say that stolen something; (abstract oneself) withdraw.

accentuate

make more noticeable or prominent.

accessible

1. (of a place) able to be reached or entered.

2. (of a person, especially one in a position of authority) friendly and easy to talk to; approachable.

acclaim

praise enthusiastically and publicly.

accord

1. an official agreement or treaty.

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

acolyte

a person assisting a priest in a religious service or procession.

acquiesce

accept something reluctantly but without protest.

ad hoc

formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose only.

adverse

preventing success or development; harmful; unfavourable.

affinity

a natural liking for and understanding of someone or something.

affluent

abounding in goods or riches.

agitated

feeling or appearing troubled or nervous.

alienate

make (someone) feel isolated or estranged.

all-encompassing

including or covering everything or everyone.

allegorical

containing symbolic representation.

allude

refer to something indirectly or by suggestion.

allusive

using or containing suggestion rather than explicit mention.

aloof

not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant.

amend

1. make minor changes to (a text, piece of legislation, etc.) in order to make it fairer or more accurate, or to reflect changing circumstances.

2. improve the texture or fertility of (soil).

amorphous

without a clearly defined shape or form.

amplify

render larger, more extended, or more intense.

animus

1. hostility or ill feeling.

2. motivation to do something.

anoint

1. smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony.

2. nominate or choose (someone) as successor to or leading candidate for a position.

anomalous

deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.

antagonize

cause (someone) to become hostile or alienated.

antipathy

a deep-seated feeling of aversion.

apathy

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

aphorism

a concise statement of a principle or precept given in pointed words.

apogee

the highest point.

apologist

a person who offers an argument in defence of something controversial.

apprehension

1. anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.

2. understanding; grasp.

3. the action of arresting someone.

apprise

to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice.

appropriate

1. take (something) for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission.

2. devote (money or assets) to a special purpose.

3. suitable or proper in the circumstances.

apt

1.appropriate or suitable in the circumstances.

2. having a tendency to do something.

3. quick to learn.

archetype

1. a very typical example of a certain person or thing.

2. an original which has been imitated; a prototype.

ardent

very enthusiastic or passionate.

arresting

1. striking; eye-catching.

2. denoting a person or agency that seizes and detains someone by legal authority.

artful

1. skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose.

2. performed with cleverness; ingenious.

ascertain

find (something) out for certain; make sure of.

ascribe

regard something as being due to (a cause); assign.

assertive

having or showing a confident and forceful personality.

assuage

make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.

astringent

1. causing the contraction of skin cells and other body tissues.

2. (of taste or smell) slightly acidic or bitter.

3. sharp or severe in manner or style.

attribute

1. a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

2. regard something as being caused by someone or something.

auxiliary

providing supplementary or additional help and support.

avert

prevent the occurence of.

avid

enthusiastic; showing great interest in something or desire to do something.

axiomatic

self-evident or unquestionable.

banish

1. send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment.

2. get rid of (something unwanted).

baroque

highly ornate and extravagant in style.

barrage

1. bombard (someone) with questions, criticisms, complaints, etc.

2. an artificial barrier across a river or estuary to prevent flooding, aid irrigation or navigation, or to generate electricity by tidal power.

barren

1. (of land) too poor to produce much or any vegetation.

2. (of a place or building) bleak and lifeless.

base

1. use (something specified) as the foundation or starting point for something.

2. (adjective) without moral principles; ignoble.

bawdy

indecent; humorously obscene.

befuddled

cause to become unable to think clearly.

beguile

to deceive, charm, or enchant.

beholden

owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service.

belie

1. (of an appearance) fail to give a true impression of (something).

2. fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation).

belittle

dismiss (someone or something) as unimportant.

belligerent

hostile and aggressive.

benchmark

a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed.

beneficent

(of a person) generous or doing good.

benevolent

well meaning and kindly; (of an organization) serving a charitable rather than a profit-making purpose.

benign

1. gentle and kind.

2. not harmful to the environment.

berate

scold or criticize (someone) angrily.

bereft

1. deprived of or lacking (something).

2. (of a person) sad and lonely, especially through someone's death or departure.

betray

1. unintentionally reveal; be evidence of.

2. expose (one's country, a group, or a person) to danger by treacherously giving information to an enemy.

blighted

damaged, harmed, or destroyed.

blithe

showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.

bogus

not genuine or true (used in a disapproving manner when deception has been attempted).

boisterous

1. noisy, energetic, and cheerful.

2. (of weather or water) wild or stormy.

bolster

support or strengthen.

bombastic

high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated.

boon

a gift or blessing.

boorish

rough and bad-mannered; coarse.

bravado

a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate.

brazen

bold and without shame.

brevity

conciseness; quality of being brief in duration.

bridle

1. show one's resentment or anger, especially by throwing up one's head and drawing in one's chin.

2. put a bridle on (a horse).

bromide

a trite and unoriginal remark.

brook

to tolerate; to endure; to countenance.

bucolic

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.

buoyant

1. able or tending to keep afloat or rise to the top of a liquid or gas.

2. cheerful and optimistic.

3. (of an economy, business, or market) involving or engaged in much successful trade or activity.

burgeon

begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.

burnish

polish up; buff up; enhance or perfect (something such as a reputation or a skill).

buttress

1. provide (a building or structure) with buttresses.

2. increase the strength of or justification for; reinforce.

byzantine

(of a system or situation) excessively complicated, and typically involving a great deal of administrative detail.

cacophonous

involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

cajole

persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.

calamitous

involving calamity; catastrophic or disastrous.

callous

insensitive; indifferent; unsympathetic.

callow

(without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers.