Vocabulary Powerhouse - Letters A to G

Essential vocabulary words, definitions, and concepts covering letters A through G from the MBA Karo Vocabulary Powerhouse lecture notes.

Abate

To decrease; reduce.

Abdicate

To give up a position, right, or power.

Aberrant

Deviating from what is normal.

Abeyance

Temporary suppression or suspension.

Abject

Miserable; pitiful.

Abjure

To reject; abandon formally.

Ablution

Washing or cleansing, often in a religious context.

Abrogate

To abolish or annul formally.

Abscission

The act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant.

Abscond

To depart secretly.

Abstemious

Moderate in appetite.

Abstinence

The giving up of certain pleasures.

Abstruse

Difficult to understand; obscure.

Abysmal

Very bad; extreme in degree.

Accretion

Growth in size or increase in amount.

Accrue

To accumulate; grow by additions.

Adamant

Uncompromising; unyielding.

Adjunct

Something added, attached, or joined.

Admonish

To caution or reprimand.

Adulterate

To corrupt or make impure.

Aesthetic

Relating to beauty or the arts.

Affected

Pretentious; phony.

Affinity

Fondness; liking; similarity.

Aggrandize

To make larger or greater.

Aggregate

Amounting to a whole; total.

Alacrity

Cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed.

Alchemy

Medieval chemical philosophy based on changing metal into gold; a seemingly magical power or process of transmutation.

Allay

To lessen; ease; soothe.

Alleviate

To relieve; improve partially.

Alloy

A combination; a mixture of two or more metals.

Allure

The power to entice by charm.

Amalgamate

To combine into a unified whole.

Ambiguous

Unclear or doubtful in meaning.

Ambivalence

The state of having conflicting emotional attitudes.

Ambrosia

Something delicious; the food of the gods.

Ameliorate

To improve.

Amenable

Agreeable; cooperative; suited.

Amenity

Something that increases comfort.

Amulet

Ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits.

Anachronism

Something out of the proper time.

Analgesic

Medication that reduces or eliminates pain.

Analogous

Comparable.

Anarchy

Absence of government; state of disorder.

Anodyne

Something that calms or soothes pain.

Anomalous

Irregular; deviating from the norm.

Antecedent

Something that comes before.

Antediluvian

Prehistoric.

Antipathy

Dislike; hostility.

Apathy

Indifference.

Apex

The highest point.

Apogee

The point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the highest point.

Apothegm

A terse, witty saying.

Appease

To calm, pacify, placate.

Appellation

Name.

Apposite

Strikingly appropriate and relevant.

Apprise

To inform.

Approbation

Praise, approval.

Appropriate

To take possession of for one's own use; confiscate.

Apropos

Relevant.

Arabesque

Ornate design featuring intertwined curves; a ballet position in which one leg is extended in back while the other supports the weight of the body.

Archeology

The study of material evidence of past human life.

Ardor

Great emotion or passion.

Arduous

Extremely difficult; laborious.

Argot

A specialized vocabulary used by a group.

Arrest

To stop; to seize.

Artifact

Item made by human craft.

Artless

Guileless; natural.

Ascetic

One who practices self-denial.

Asperity

Severity; harshness; irritability.

Aspersion

Slander; false rumor.

Assiduous

Diligent; hard-working.

Assuage

To make less severe.

Astringent

Harsh; severe.

Asylum

Place of refuge or shelter.

Atavism

In biology, the reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence; individual or a part that reverts to a previous type.

Atonement

Reparation for a wrong or injury.

Attenuate

To weaken.

Audacious

Bold; daring.

Austere

Stern; unadorned; simple.

Autonomous

Self-governing; independent.

Avarice

Greed.

Aver

To affirm; declare to be true.

Avocation

Secondary occupation.

Avuncular

Like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant.

Axiomatic

Taken for granted; self-evident truth.

Bacchanalian

Pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity; pertaining to revelry.

Banal

Commonplace; trite.

Bane

A cause of great distress or annoyance; a source of harm.

Banter

Playful conversation.

Bard

Poet.

Bawdy

Obscene.

Beatify

To sanctify; to bless; to ascribe a virtue to.

Bedizen

To dress in a vulgar, showy manner.

Behemoth

Huge creature; anything very large and powerful.

Bellicose

Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.

Benign

Gentle and kindly; not harmful.

Beneficent

Kindly; doing good.

Bifurcate

To divide into two parts.

Blandishment

Flattery.

Blasé

Bored because of frequent indulgence; unconcerned.