Untitled Flashcards Set

ashen

Deadly pale.

asterisk

The star-shaped symbol (*) used in writing.

astringent

Substance that shrinks.

atheism

The belief that there is no god.

atonement

Repayment for wrongdoing, as in the death of Jesus to make amends.

attune

Bring into harmony.

audacious

Daring; foolishly bold or impudent.

august

Majestic; venerable.

auspicious

Favorable; successful; prosperous.

austere

Severely moral and strict; simple and plain.

auxiliary

Helping; supporting.

aver

Affirm; assert; prove; justify.

aversion

Strong dislike.

avid

Eager; greedy.

avow

Admit; declare openly.

babble

To talk foolishly or like a small child.

bacchanalia

Orgy; wild-drunk party.

backlog

An accumulation or reserve.

badger

To nag or annoy.

balk

To deliberately hesitate or refuse to act.

baleful

Harmful; ominous; causing evil.

bereft

Rob or dispossess of something material.

berserk

In or into a violent rage or frenzy.

besiege

To overwhelm or surround.

besotted

Made silly or stupid by love.

bestial

Of or like a beast; brutal.

bewilder

To puzzle; confuse.

bigot

A stubborn, narrow-minded person.

bizarre

Odd; grotesque.

bland

Uninteresting; mild.

blast

An explosion; a gust of wind.

blatant

Boldly conspicuous or obtrusive.

blemish

To mar or spoil; a defect.

bogus

Sham; counterfeit; not genuine.

boisterous

Noisy and rough.

bolster

To give greatly needed support.

boorish

Crude; offensive; rude.

brainchild

A person's own idea.

brash

Hasty; rushed; cheeky.

brass

An alloy of copper and zinc.

bravado

Pretended courage or feigned confidence.

banal

Trite; commonplace.

barbaric

Primitive; uncivilized; cruel.

barrage

A heavy attack.

barren

Not good enough; unable to have young ones; without value.

brittle

Easily broken.

broach

To bring up; announce; begin to talk about.

bashful

Easily embarrassed.

bask

To enjoy warmth and light.

beacon

A light used for warning or guiding.

benediction

A wish or activity in doing good.

benefactor

A person who has given help.

benevolence

Goodwill; activity aimed at promoting goodness or well-being.

benign

Kind and gentle; mild (as in climate).

berate

To scold sharply.

bereave

To leave in a sad or lonely state, as by death.

cacophony

Harsh sound.

cajole

To use flattery or deceit to persuade.

callous

Hardened; unyielding.

camaraderie

Friendship.

camouflage

A disguise to conceal.

candid

Frank; straightforward.

canon

A basic law or principle by which something is judged.