abase
(v.) to humiliate
abate
(v.) to reduce
abdicate
(v.) to give up a position, usually one of leadership
abduct
(v.) to kidnap
aberration
(n.) something that differs from the norm
abet
(v.) to help
abhor
(v.) to hate
abide
(v.) to put up with
(v.) to remain
abject
(adj.) pitiful
abjure
(v.) to reject
abnegation
(n.) denial of comfort to oneself
abort
(v.) to give halfway on something
abridge
(v.) to shorten
abrogate
(v.) to abolish, usually by authority
abscond
(v.) to sneak away and hide
absolution
(n.) freedom from blame, guilt, sin
abstain
(v.) to choose not to commit an action
abstruse
(adj.) hard to comprehend
accede
(v.) to agree
accentuate
(v.) to stress
accessible
(adj.) obtainable
acclaim
(n.) high praise
accolade
(n.) high praise
(n.) special distinction
accommodating
(adj.) helpful, obliging, polite
accord
(n.) an agreement
accost
(v.) to confront verbally
accretion
(n.) slow growth in size or amount
acerbic
(adj.) bitter
acquiesce
(v.) to agree without protesting
acrimony
(n.) bitterness
(n.) discord
acumen
(n. )keen insigh
acute
(adj.) sharp
(adj.) having keen insight
adamant
(adj.) unyielding
adept
(adj.) skilled
adhere
to follow devoutly
admonish
(v.) to caution
(v.) criticize
adorn
(v.) to decorate
adroit
(adj.) skillful
adulation
(n.) extreme praise
adumbrate
(v.) to sketch out in a vague way
adverse
(adj.) unfavorable, dangerous
advocate
(v.) to argue in favor of something
aerial
(adj.) related to the air
aesthetic
(adj.) artistic
affable
(adj.) friendly
affinity
(n.)a spontaneous feeling of closeness
affluent
(adj.) rich
affront
(n.) an insult
aggrandize
(v.) to increase
aggregate
(n.) a whole
(v.) to gather into a mass
aggrieved
(adj.) distressed
agile
(adj.) quick, nimble
agnostic
(adj.) questioning God's existence
agriculture
(n.) farming
aisle
(n.) a passageway between rows of seats
alacrity
(n.) eagerness, speed
alias
(n.) a false name or identity
allay
(v.) to soothe
allege
(v.) to assert, usually without proof
alleviate
(v.) to relieve
allocate
(v.) to distribute
(v) to set aside
aloof
(adj.) distant
altercation
(n.) a dispute
amalgamate
(v.) to bring together
ambiguous
(adj.) uncertain
ambivalent
(adj.) having opposing feelings
ameliorate
(v.) to improve
amenable
(adj.) willing
amenity
(n.) something that increases comfort
amiable
(adj.) friendly
amicable
(adj.) friendly
amorous
(adj.) showing love
amorphous
(adj.) without definite shape or type
anachronistic
(adj.) not in chronological order
analgesic
(n.) something that reduces pain
analogous
(adj.) similar to
anarchist
(n.) one who wants to eliminate all government
anathema
(n.) a cursed, detested person
anecdote
(n.) a short, humorous account
anesthesia
(n.) loss of sensation
anguish
(n.) torment
animated
(adj.) lively
annex
(v.) to incorporate territory or space
(n.) a room attached to a larger room or space
annul
(v.) to make void
anomaly
(n.) something that does not fit into the normal order
anonymous
(adj.) being unknown
antagonism
(n.) hostility
antecedent
(n.) something that came before
antediluvian
(adj.) ancient
anthology
(n.) a selected collection of writings, songs, etc
antipathy
(n.) a strong dislike
antiquated
(adj.) old
antiseptic
(adj.) clean
antithesis
(n.) the absolute opposite
anxiety
(n.) intense uneasiness
apathetic
(adj.) lacking emotion
apocryphal
(adj.) false
appalling
(adj.) inspiring shock, horror, disgust
appease
(v.) to satisfy
appraise
(v.) to assess the worth or value of