abase (v)
to humiliate, degrade
abate (v)
to reduce, lessen
abdicate (v)
to give up a position, usually one of leadership
abduct (v)
to kidnap, take by force
aberration (n)
something that differs from the norm
abet (v)
to aid, help, encourage
abhor (v)
to hate, desert
abide (v,v)
(v) to put up with
(v) to remain
abject (adj)
wretched, pitiful
abjure (v)
to reject, renounce
abnegation (n)
denial of comfort to oneself
abort (v)
to give up on a half-finished project or effort
abridge (v, adj)
(v) to cut down, shorten
(adj) shortened
abrogate (v)
to abolish, usually by authority
abscond (v)
to sneak away and hide
absolution (n)
freedom from blame, guilt, sin
abstain (v)
to freely choose not to commit an action
abstruse (adj)
hard to comprehend
accede (v)
to agree
accentuate (v.)
to stress, highlight
accessible (adj.)
obtainable, reachable
acclaim (n.)
high praise
accolade (n.)
high praise, special distinction
accommodating (adj.)
helpful, obliging, polite
accord (n.)
an agreement
accost (v.)
to confront verbally
accretion (n.)
slow growth in size or amount
acerbic (adj.)
biting, bitter in tone or taste
acquiesce (v.)
to agree without protesting
acrimony (n.)
bitterness, discord
acumen (n.)
keen insight
acute (adj, adj)
1. (adj.) sharp, severe
2. (adj.) having keen insight
adamant (adj.)
impervious, immovable, unyielding
adept (adj.)
extremely skilled
adhere (v, v)
1. (v.) to stick to something
2. (v.) to follow devoutly
admonish (v.)
to caution, criticize, reprove
adorn (v.)
to decorate
adroit (adj.)
skillful, dexterous
adulation (n.)
extreme praise
adumbrate (v.)
to sketch out in a vague way
adverse (adj.)
antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous
advocate (v, n)
1. (v.) to argue in favor of something
2. (n.) a person who argues in favor of something
aerial (adj.)
somehow related to the air
aesthetic (adj.)
artistic, related to the appreciation of beauty
affable (adj.)
friendly, amiable
affinity (n.)
a spontaneous feeling of closeness
affluent (adj.)
rich, wealthy
affront (n.)
an insult
aggrandize (v.)
to increase or make greater
aggregate (n, v)
1. (n.) a whole or total
2. (v.) to gather into a mass
aggrieved (adj.)
distressed, wronged, injured
agile (adj.)
quick, nimble
agnostic (adj.)
believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven
agriculture (n.)
farming
aisle (n.)
a passageway between rows of seats
alacrity (n.)
eagerness, speed
alias (n.)
a false name or identity
allay (v.)
to soothe, ease
allege (v.)
to assert, usually without proof
alleviate (v.)
to relieve, make more bearable
allocate (v.)
to distribute, set aside
aloof (adj.)
reserved, distant
altercation (n.)
a dispute, fight
amalgamate (v.)
to bring together, unite
ambiguous (adj.)
uncertain, variably interpretable
ambivalent (adj.)
having opposing feelings
ameliorate (v.)
to improve
amenable (adj.)
willing, compliant
amenity (n.)
an item that increases comfort
amiable (adj.)
friendly
amicable (adj.)
friendly
amorous (adj.)
showing love, particularly sexual
amorphous (adj.)
without definite shape or type
anachronistic (adj.)
being out of correct chronological order
analgesic (n.)
something that reduces pain
analogous (adj.)
similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn
anarchist (n.)
one who wants to eliminate all government
anathema (n.)
a cursed, detested person
anecdote (n.)
a short, humorous account
anesthesia (n.)
loss of sensation
anguish (n.)
extreme sadness, torment
animated (adj.)
lively
annex (v.)
to incorporate territory or space
annul (v.)
to make void or invalid
anomaly (n.)
something that does not fit into the normal order
anonymous (adj.)
being unknown, unrecognized
antagonism (n.)
hostility
antecedent (n.)
something that came before
antediluvian (adj.)
ancient
anthology (n.)
a selected collection of writings, songs, etc.
antipathy (n.)
a strong dislike, repugnance
antiquated (adj.)
old, out of date
antiseptic (adj.)
clean, sterile
antithesis (n.)
the absolute opposite
anxiety (n.)
intense uneasiness
apathetic (adj.)
lacking concern, emotion
apocryphal (adj.)
fictitious, false, wrong
appalling (adj.)
inspiring shock, horror, disgust
appease (v.)
to calm, satisfy
appraise (v.)
to assess the worth or value of