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
(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
(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
(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
(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