GRE Vocab abase-aplomb

vocab words to know

abase

(v) lower, humiliate

abash

(v) embarrass

abdicate

(v) renounce, give, relinquish

aberrant

(adj) abnormal, deviant

abeyance

(n) suspended action, inactivity, cessation, suspension

abjure

(v) renounce, repudiate, retract

abnegation

(n) repudiation, self sacrifice, relinquishment

abominate

(v) loathe, hate

abrasive

(adj) caustic, corrosive, rubbing away, tending to grind down or abrade, causing irritation

abridge

(v) condense, shorten

abrogate

(adj) abolish, nullify

abscission

(n) removal by cutting off in surgery, separation section

abscond

(v) depart secretly and hide

abstain

(v) refrain, hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice

abstemious

(adj) sparing in eating and drinking, temperate

abstinence

(n) self-restraint, restraint from eating/drinking/having sex or indulging in other appetites

abstruse

(adj) obscure, profound

abut

(v) border upon, adjoin

accede

(v) agree, approve, assent

accessible

(adj) easy to approach, obtainable

accessory

(n) additional object, useful but not essential thing

acclivity

(n) sharp upslope of a hill, ascent

accolade

(n) award of merit, recognition of accomplishment

accord

(n) agreement, treaty

accost

(v) approach and speak first to a person

accouter

(v) equip, outfit

accretion

(n) growth, increase, addition

accrue

(v) accumulate, pile up, grow, collect

acerbity

(n) bitterness of speech and temper, harshness, severity

acidulous

(adj) slightly sour, sharp, caustic

acoustic

(n) science of sound

acquisce

(v) assent, agree without fuss, comply

acquittal

(n) deliverance from a charge

acrophobia

(n) fear of heights

actuarial

(adj) calculating, pertaining to insurance statistics

actuate

(v) motivate, impel incite

acuity

(n) sharpness, not stupid

acumen

(n) mental shrewdness, discernment, keen insight

adage

(n) wise saying, proverb

addendum

(n) an addition or a supplement

addle

(v) muddle, confuse, drive crazy, become rotten

adhere

(v) stick fast

adjunct

(n) something added on or attached

adjuration

(n) solemn urging, appeal

adroit

(adj) skillful

adulation

(n) flattery, admiration, overenthusiastic praise, sycophancy

adventitious

(adj) accidental, casual extrinsic

adversity

(n) poverty, misfortune, bad luck

advocate

(v) urge, plead for support

aerie

(n) nest of a large bird of prey

affable

(adj) easily approachable, warm, genial, friendly

affiliation

(n) joining, association, alliance

affluence

(n) abundance, wealth

agglomeration

(n) collection, heap, jumble, cluster

aggressor

(n) attacker

agnostic

(n) one who is skeptical of the existence of a god or any ultimate reality

alacrity

(n) cheerful promptness, eagerness, celerity, willingness, cheerfulness

alchemy

(n) medieval chemistry, sorcery

allay

(v) assuage, relieve, alleviate, calm, pacify

allege

(v) state without proof

allegory

(n) story in which characters are used as symbols, fable

alleviate

(v) relieve

altruistic

(adj) unselfishly generous, concerned for others

ambidextrous

(adj) capable of using either hand with equal ease

ambitious

(adj) unclear or doubtful in meaning, obscure, uncertain

ambivalence

(n) the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes

ambrosia

(n) food of the gods

ameliorate

(v) improve

amenable

(adj) readily managed, willing to be led

amenities

(n) comforts, conveniences, luxuries, niceties

amnesty

(n) pardon, forgiveness

amok

(adj) in a state of rage

amphitheater

(n) open oval building with tiers of seats

amplify

(v) broaden or clarify by expanding, intensify, make stronger

anachronism

(n) something or someone misplaced in time

analgesic

(adj) causing insensitivity to pain

anarchist

(n) person who seeks to overturn the established government, advocate of abolishing authority

anathema

(n) abomination, enemy

anathematize

(v) curse

ancillary

(adj) serving as an aid or accessory, auxiliary

animadversion

(n) critical remark, accusation, censure, criticism

animosity

(n) active enmity, strong dislike, hostility

anneal

(v) reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling, harden, temper

annihilate

(v) destroy almost entirely, vanquish, abolish

annotate

(v) comment, make explanatory notes

annuity

(n) yearly allowance

anodyne

(adj) soothing, calming, type of drug

anoint

(v) consecrate

anonymity

(n) state of being nameless, obscurity

antagonistic

(adj) hostile, opposed

antecede

(v) precede

antediluvian

(adj) antiquated, extremely ancient, prehistoric

anthropologist

(n) a student of the history and science of mankind

anthropomorphic

(adj) having human form or characteristics

anticlimax

(n) letdown in thought or emotion

antidote

(n) remedy to counteract a poison or disease, cure, solution

antipathy

(n) extreme aversion, dislike, distaste, enmity

antithesis

(n) contrast, direct opposite of or to

aphasia

(n) loss of speech due to injury or illness

aphorism

(n) adage, belief , proverb, pithy maxim