GRE Vocab

to reduce

abate

complete lack of restraint

abandon

showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh

abrasive

to give up a position/power

abdicate

"in fact" or actually, in reality

de facto

deviating from the norm

a person whose behavior differs from the accepted standard

aberrant

temporary suppression / suspension

EX) a good judge must hot his judgment in abeyance until the facts are shown

abeyance

up to date w latest news/ideas/info

abreast

shorten (writing) without losing the sense

abridge

act of cutting; natural separation of a leaf

to cut off

abscission

abscise

to depart secretly

abscond

moderate in appetite

abstemious

hard to understand; obscure

abstruse

very bad

abysmal

an economic market where the demand & supply of goods is NOT regulated

free market

an economic systems where production, allocation, consumption of goods is planned in advance

planned economy

an econ & political system where a country's industry/trade controlled by private owners rather than the govt

capitalism

to make more prominent/noticeable

accentuate

an official agreement/treaty

accord

sharply critical sarcastic ironic in mood/tone

acerbic

excessively interested in money/material things

acquisitive

using vigorous campaigning to bring about political/social change

activism

superior insight; quickness of judgment, esp in practical matters

acumen

• an intense & sudden onset

• showing a perceptive understanding/insight

acute (2 meanings)

to warn OR reprimand

admonish

skillful in using hands OR mind

adroit

excessive flattery/praise

adulation

to corrupt; make impure

adulterate

concerned with/ relating to beauty+art

aesthetic

friendly, easy to talk to

affable

pretentious; phony

behavior/speech/writing that's artificial and made to impress

affected

affectation

fondness; similarity

affinity

to make larger/greater

aggrandize

filled w horror OR shock

aghast

unconcerned with/ unrelated to history (tradition)

ahistorical

willingness; eagerness; speed

alacrity

medieval philosophy based on changing metal into gold; transformation

alchemy

cause to feel isolated

alienate

characteristic or/ containing allegory;

a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning

allegorical

to relieve; improve partially

alleviate

uninvolved/uninterested through distaste

aloof

social order dominated by by property-owning class OR materialism (smug attitude)

bourgeoisie

to entice by charm

allure

a group that share certain goals; work towards making them happen

lobby

to combine into a unified whole

EX) "6 cities were amalgamated into 1 city"

amalgamate

unclear in meaning

ambiguous

state of having conflicting emotional attitudes

ambivalence

something delicious

ambrosia

to improve

ameliorate

agreeable; cooperative

amenable

something that increases comfort

amenity

having friendly, pleasant manner

amiable

• cause someone to find something funny;

• entertain

amuse

a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists (so it doesn’t fit with everything else)

anachronism

medication that reduces pain

analgesic

comparable (similar noun btwn things)

analogous (analogy)

absence of govt; state of disorder

anarchy

irregular; deviating from the norm

anomalous (anomaly)

active opposition/hostility toward someone

antagonistic

comes before in time

antecedent

antedate

ancient past, esp period before Middle Ages

antiquity

16th-century movem reforming abuses in the Catholic Church --> est. new churches

Reformation

dislike

antipathy

indifference

apathy

the highest point

apex

confident composure; self-assurance

aplomb

person who defends something controversial

apologist

witty saying

apothegm

to calm

appease

a name or title

appellation

very appropriate/relevant

apposite

to inform

apprise

praise; approval

approbation

to confiscate to take something for own use without owner's permission

appropriate

based on random choice/personal whim, rather than any reason

arbitrary

understood by few; mysterious/secret

arcane

study of material evidence of past human life

archeology

extremely difficult; laborious

arduous

showing ability to speak fluently and coherently

articulate

item made by human craft

artifact

follower of Marxism

concept of class struggle in understanding society's inevitable dvlpm from bourgeois oppression under capitalism to a classless socialism

Marxist

natural

artless

one who is self-denying

the body is bad and must be subjugated to the soul

ascetic

asceticism

slander; false rumor

aspersion

showing confident, forceful personality

assertive

showing great care and perseverance

assiduous

surprise OR impress someone greatly

astonish

shock or greatly surprise

astound

a thing achieved, esp a skill/educational achievement

attainment

to weaken

attenuate

regard something as being caused by (someone/something)

attribute

bold; daring

audacious

make thing greater by adding to it; increase

augment

stern

austere

extreme plainness & simplicity of style/appearance

austerity

a period in Eur philosophy during the 18th century that emphasized reason

Age of Enlightenment

self-governing; independent

autonomous

theory that living things originate from other similar organisms. Diff btwn organism types due to modifications in successive generations

Theory of Evolution

strong dislike

aversion

prevent an undesirable occurrence

avert