Vocabulary Definitions and Meanings

abolish

If someone in authority abolishes a law or practice, they formally put an end to it.

abridge

If you abridge a book or play, you make it shorter by making cuts to the original.

abstract

When an idea is abstract, it is not based on a sensed material object but is rather based on a mental concept or is purely theoretical.

acclaim

When you acclaim the deeds of someone, you praise them highly and approve of them enthusiastically.

accommodate

When you accommodate the needs of another, you adapt or adjust to those needs to make things more convenient for that person.

accord

When you are in accord with someone, you are in agreement or harmony with them.

acquaintance

An acquaintance is someone that you know—but not well enough to be thought of as a friend.

adjacent

When something is adjacent to something else, it lies close to or neighbors it.

advent

The advent of something, such as a new kind of technology, marks the beginning of its arrival or appearance to the world at large.

adversary

An adversary is a person who goes against you in some way, such as an opponent in a contest or a personal enemy in a conflict.

adversity

If you undergo adversity in life, you struggle with trouble, bad luck, and difficult times.

aesthetic

The word aesthetic is used to talk about art, beauty, the study of beauty, and the appreciation of beautiful things.

affiliation

If you have an affiliation with a group or another person, you are officially involved or connected with them.

affirmation

An affirmation is a declaration or confirmation that something is true.

affliction

An affliction is something that causes pain and mental suffering, especially a medical condition.

allege

When you allege that someone has done something, you say or claim that they have done it without showing any proof.

ambiguous

If you describe something as ambiguous, you mean that it is unclear or confusing because it can be understood in multiple ways.

anguish

When you are suffering from anguish, you feel extreme pain or severe sorrow.

animated

When a person is animated, they are energetic, lively, and filled with excited activity.

anonymous

When someone wishes to remain anonymous, they do not reveal their name.

append

When you append something to something else, you attach or add it, such as extra information to the end of a book.

apprehensive

When you are apprehensive about a future event, you are nervous or fearful about it.

apprentice

An apprentice is someone who trains under a master in order to learn a trade or other skill.

aptitude

Someone's aptitude at a skill is their natural ability to perform it well; this word also refers to someone's ability to learn something new or become better at a skill.

arbitrary

If you describe a decision, rule, or plan as arbitrary, you think that it was decided without any thought, standard, or system to guide it; therefore, it can seem unfair.

arid

An arid landscape is dry and lacking in sufficient rainfall to support much life.

arrogant

Someone who is arrogant thinks very highly of themselves; as a result, they can be self-important and ********* they are better than others.

artifact

An artifact is a weapon, tool, or piece of art created by human beings that is historically and culturally interesting or valuable.

ascertain

When you ascertain the truth of something, you determine or find it out for sure.

aspiration

An aspiration is a personal goal or ambition that you want to achieve.

aspire

When you aspire to do something, you greatly desire to do it; therefore, you work hard to achieve it.

assent

When you give your assent, you agree with someone or accept what they have said.

assertive

When you act in an assertive fashion, you know what you want and strongly persist in getting it.

audible

Something that is audible is loud enough to be clearly heard.

authoritarian

An authoritarian system, such as a government or military school, demands that people obey all orders without question.

avert

When you avert your eyes, you turn them away; when you avert a disaster, you prevent it from happening—thereby also turning it away.

avid

If you are avid about something, you are excited about and eager to do it.

belligerent

A belligerent person or country is aggressive, very unfriendly, and likely to start a fight.

benevolent

Someone who is benevolent wishes others well, often by being kind, filled with goodwill, and charitable towards them.

benign

If you describe someone as benign, they are kind, gentle, and harmless.

bestow

When something is bestowed upon you—usually something valuable—you are given or presented it.

bleak

Something that is bleak is sad, depressing, and offers little hope; for instance, a bleak landscape is bare and unwelcoming, while bleak weather is cold and cheerless.

brevity

Brevity is communicating by using just a few words or by taking very little time to do so.

calligraphy

Calligraphy is the art of beautiful handwriting using special pens or brushes.

catastrophe

A catastrophe is a widespread terrible disaster that is often accompanied by many deaths.

cavernous

A cavernous space is very large and empty; it is both hollow and huge.

celestial

The word celestial refers either to the heavens or to the sky in general.

cerebral

The word cerebral refers to the brain and/or its intellectual capability.

chronicle

A chronicle is a record of historical events that arranges those events in the correct order in which they happened.

chronological

A chronological history arranges events in the order that they happened.

circumstantial

That which is circumstantial is not an essential or primary part of something; rather, it is merely incidental and perhaps insignificant to the situation at hand.

coincide

When two things coincide, they go along with each other, match, or happen at the same time.

collaborate

When people collaborate, they work together, usually to solve some problem or issue.

commandeer

When something is commandeered, it is taken or seized, usually by force.

commemorate

When you commemorate a person, you honor them or cause them to be remembered in some way.

commotion

A commotion is a noisy activity or loud disturbance.

communal

Communal property includes those goods or items that are shared in common by a community.

competent

If someone is competent in a job, they are able and skilled enough to do it well.

compilation

A compilation is a gathering together of various things from many sources.

composure

When someone exhibits composure, they remain calm—even in difficult times or conditions.

comprehend

When you comprehend an idea or information, you understand or grasp it.

concede

When you concede to something, you unwillingly admit it is true or give in to it.

conceit

Someone who possesses conceit has excessive self-pride—and thus thinks too highly of their abilities.

concentric

Concentric circles, gradually increasing in size, spread out from a common central point.

concise

A concise statement is short, clear, and gets right to the point.

concoct

When you concoct something, such as a story or recipe, you create it or mix things together in a new way.

concur

When you concur with another person, you agree with or have the same opinion as they do.

concurrent

Concurrent events happen at the same time.

condemnation

A condemnation of someone is strong disapproval for what they have done; it can result in a conviction of wrongdoing in court.

condole

If you condole with someone, you express sympathy or sorrow, usually on the death of someone dear.

conglomerate

A conglomerate is a large business or organization that consists of many different companies involved in numerous areas of expertise.

conjecture

A conjecture is a theory or guess that is based on information that is not certain or complete.

conscientious

When someone is conscientious in performing a task, they do it in a thorough and careful fashion to make sure that it is completely done.

consensus

When a group of people reaches a consensus, it has reached a general agreement about something.

consolidate

When two businesses consolidate, they combine to form a stronger, more solid company.

constituent

A constituent part of something makes up part of the whole thing.

constrain

When you are constrained, you are forced to do something or are kept from doing it.

contemplate

When you contemplate something, you either think about it deeply or gaze at it intently.

contrary

If you act in a contrary way, you oppose or go against an existing way of doing or thinking about something.

convene

People convene when they gather together or are called together by someone for a meeting.

conventional

A conventional way of thinking or behaving is the one most commonly accepted by social groups.

convergent

Two things that are convergent are meeting or coming together at one point in time or space.

cordial

A cordial greeting is warm, friendly, and polite.

cornucopia

A cornucopia is a large quantity and variety of something good and nourishing.

corrosion

Corrosion refers to the gradual rusting or decay of metal.

counterpart

A counterpart to something corresponds to it, is a copy of it, or is almost identical to it.

credible

If you act in a credible fashion, you are easy to believe or trust.

criteria

Criteria are standards that, if met, allow you to do something; for example, getting good grades and performing community service form standards that will help you get into college.

cultivate

When a farmer cultivates a field or garden, they prepare its soil, plow its land, plant seeds, and carefully tend to growing crops.

cumulative

A cumulative process builds, increases, or grows slowly over time.

customary

A customary practice is the usual or established way of acting.

cynical

A cynical person thinks that people in general are most often motivated by selfish concerns; therefore, they doubt, mistrust, and question what people do.

deceitful

Someone who is deceitful is tricky, false, or dishonest.

decipher

When you decipher a message or piece of writing, you work out what it says, even though it is very difficult to read or understand.

deficit

A deficit occurs when a person or government spends more money than has been received.

demean

When you demean another person, you put them down so that they become embarrassed and lowered in status or character.

denounce

If you denounce people or actions, you criticize them severely in public because you feel strongly that they are wrong or evil.

depict

When you depict something, you illustrate it with a picture or image and/or describe it using words.

deplorable

When someone's conduct is deplorable, it is shameful, very unacceptable, or really bad.

deprivation

Deprivation is a state during which people lack something, especially adequate food and shelter; deprivation can also describe something being taken away from someone.