A

Abase

Abase

to humiliate, degrade

Abate

to reduce, lessen

Abdicate

to give up a position, usually one of leadership

Abduct

to kidnap, take by force

Aberration

something that differs from the norm

Abet

to aid, help, encourage

Abhor

to hate, detest

Abide

to put up with, endure

Abject

wretched, pitiful

Abjure

to reject, renounce

Abnegation

denial of comfort to oneself

Abort

to give up on a half-finished project or effort

Abridge

to cut down, shorten

Abrogate

to abolish, usually by authority

Abscond

to sneak away and hide

Absolution

freedom from blame, guilt, sin

Abstain

to freely choose not to commit an action

Abstruse

hard to comprehend

Accede

to agree

Accolade

high praise, special distinction

Accord

(n.) an agreement

Accost

(v.) to confront verbally

Acerbic

(adj.) biting, bitter in tone or taste

Acquiesce

(v.) to agree without protesting

Acrimony

(n.) bitterness, discord

Acumen

(n.) keen insight

Acute

1. (adj.) sharp, severe 2.(adj.) having seen insight

Adamant

(adj.) impervious, immovable, unyielding

Adept

(adj.) extremely skilled

Admonish

(v.) to caution, criticise, reprove

Adroit

(adj.) skillful, dexterous

Adulation

(n.) extreme praise

Adumbrate

(v.) to sketch out in a vague way

Adverse

(adj.) antagonistic, unfavourable, dangerous

Affable

(adj.) friendly, amiable

Affront

(n.) an insult

Aggrandize

(v.) to increase or make greater

Aggregate

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

Alacrity

(n.) eagerness, speed

Alias

(n.) a false name or identity

Allay

(v.) to soothe, ease

Allege

(v.) to assert, usually without proof

Aloof

(adj.) reserved, distant

Altercation

(n.) a dispute, fight

Amalgamate

(v.) to bring together, unite

Ameliorate

(v.) to improve

Amenable

(adj.) willing, compliant

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

Anguish

(n.) extreme sadness, torment

Animated

(adj.) lively

Annex

1. (v.) to incorporate territory or space 2. (n.) a room attached to a larger room or space

Annul

(v.) to make void or invalid

Antagonism

(n.) hostility

Antecedent

(n.) something that came before

Antediluvian

(adj.) ancient

Antipathy

(n.) a strong dislike, repugnance

Antiquated

(adj.) old, out of date

Antiseptic

(adj.) clean, sterile

Antithesis

(n.) the absolute opposite

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

Apprehend

1. (v.) to seize, arrest 2. (v.) to perceive, understand, grasp

Approbation

(n.) praise

Arbiter

(n.) one who can resolve a dispute, make a decision

Arbitrary

(adj.) based on factors that appear random

Arbitration

(n.) the process or act of resolving a dispute

Arboreal

(adj.) of or relating to trees

Arcane

(adj.) obscure, secret, known only by a few

Archaic

(adj.) of or relating to an earlier period in time, outdated

Archetypal

(adj.) the most representative or typical example of something

Ardor

(n.) extreme vigour, energy, enthusiasm

Arrogate

(v.) to take without justification

Artifact

(n.) remaining piece from an extinct culture or place

Artisan

(n.) a craftsman

Ascertain

(v.) to perceive, learn

Ascetic

(adj.) practicing restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually religious

Ascribe

(v.) to assign, credit, attribute to

Aspersion

(n.) a curse, expression of ill-will

Assail

(v.) to attack

Assiduous

(adj.) hard-working, diligent

Assuage

(v.) to ease, pacify

Astute

(adj.) very clever, crafty

Asylum

1. (n.) a place of refuge, protection, a sanctuary 2. (n.) an institution in which the insane are kept

Atone

(v.) to repent, make amends

Atrophy

(v.) to wither away, decay

Atypical

(adj.) not typical, unusual

Audacious

(adj.) excessively bold