Unit 1-10

abate

to decrease

abdicate

to give up a position

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 of a plant

abscond

to depart secretly

abstemious

moderate in appetite

abstinence

the giving up of certain pleasures

abysmal

very bad

accretion

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 art

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

amrosia

something delicious; the food of the gods

ameliorate

to improve

amenable

agreeable; cooperative; suited

amenity

something that increases in 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