barrons GRE high freq (copy)

abate

to decrease; reduce

abdicate

to give up a position, right, or power

aberrant

deviating from what is normal

abeyance

temporary suppression or suspension

abject

miserable; pitiful

abjure

to reject; abandon formally

abscission

the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant

abscond

to depart secretly

abstemious

moderate in appetite

abstinence

the giving up of certain pleasures

abysmal

very bad

accretion

growth in size or increase in amount

accrue

to accumulate; grow by additions

adamant

uncompromising; unyielding

adjunct

something added, attached, or joined

admonish

to caution or reprimand

adulterate

to corrupt or make impure

aesthetic

relating to beauty or the arts

affected

pretentious; phony

affinity

fondness; liking; similarity

aggrandize

to make larger or greater

aggregate

amounting to a whole; total

alacrity

cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed

alchemy

medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold; a seemingly magical power or process of transmutation

allay

to lessen; ease; soothe

alleviate

to relieve; improve partially

alloy

a combination; a mixture of two or more metals

allure

the power to entice by charm

amalgamate

to combine into a unified whole

ambiguous

unclear or doubtful in meaning

ambivalence

the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes

ambrosia

something delicious; the food of the gods

ameliorate

to improve

amenable

agreeable; cooperative; suited

amenity

something that increases comfort

amulet

ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits

anachronism

something out of the proper time

analgesic

medication that reduces or eliminates pain

analogous

comparable

anarchy

absence of government; state of disorder

anodyne

something that calms or soothes pain

anomalous

irregular; deviating from the norm

antecedent

something that comes before

antediluvian

prehistoric

antipathy

dislike; hostility

apathy

indifference

apex

the highest point

apogee

the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the highest point

apothegm

a terse, witty saying

appease

to calm, pacify, placate

appellation

name

apposite

strikingly appropriate and relevant

apprise

to inform

approbation

praise, approval

appropriate

to take possession of for one's own use; confiscate

apropos

relevant

arabesque

ornate design featuring intertwined curves; a ballet position in which one leg is extended in back while the other supports the weight of the body

archeology

the study of material evidence of past human life

ardor

great emotion or passion

arduous

extremely difficult; laborious

argot

a specialized vocabulary used by a group

arrest

to stop; to seize

artifact

item made by human craft

artless

guileless; natural

ascetic

one who practices self-denial

asperity

severity; harshness; irritability

aspersion

slander; false rumor

assiduous

diligent; hard-working

assuage

to make less severe

astringent

harsh; severe

asylum

place of refuge or shelter

atavism

in biology, the reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence; individual or a part that exhibits atavism; return of a trait after a period of absence

attenuate

to weaken

audacious

bold; daring

austere

stern; unadorned; simple

autonomous

self-governing; independent

avarice

greed

aver

to affirm; declare to be true

avocation

secondary occupation

avuncular

like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant

axiomatic

taken for granted; self-evident truth

bacchanalian

pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity; pertaining to revelry

banal

commonplace; trite

banter

playful conversation

bard

poet

bawdy

obscene

beatify

to sanctify; to bless; to ascribe a virtue to

bedizen

to dress in a vulgar, showy manner

behemoth

huge creature; anything very large and powerful

belie

to contradict; misrepresent; give a false impression

beneficent

kindly; doing good

bifurcate

to divide into two parts

blandishment

flattery

blase

bored because of frequent indulgence; unconcerned

bolster

to give a boost to; prop up; support

bombastic

pompous; using inflated language

boorish

rude; insensitive

bovine

cowlike

brazen

bold; shameless

broach

to mention for the first time