absolve
pardon (an offense)
abstract
theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
accessible
easy to approach
accomodate
provide lodgings; oblige or help someone
acknowledge
recognize or admit
acrimony
bitterness of words or manner
adverse
unfavorable; hostile
aesthetic
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful
affable
easily approachable; warmly friendly
affinity
kinship; attraction to
affluence
wealth; prosperity; abundance
alleviate
relieve; lessen
altruistic
unselfishly generous; concerned for others
ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning
ambivalence
having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes
amenable
readily managed; willing to give in; agreeable; submissive
ample
abundant
antagonism
hostility; active resistance
antiquated
obsolete; outdated
apathy
lack of caring; indifference
apprehension
fear; discernment; capture
apprenticeship
time spent as a novice learning a trade from a skilled worker
appropriate (adj)
fitting or suitable; pertinent
appropriate (v)
acquire; take possession of for one's own use; set aside for a special purpose
aristocracy
hereditary nobility; privileged class
arrogance
pride; haughtiness
aspire
seek to attain; long for
assert
state strongly or positively; insist on or demand recognition of
assumption
something taken for granted; taking over or taking possession of
attain
reach or accomplish; gain
authentic
genuine
autonomous
self-governing
aversion
firm dislike
beneficial
helpful; advantageous; useful
benevolent
charitable; generous
benign
kindly; favorable; not malignant
betray
be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly)
brittle
easily broken; difficult
buoyant
able to float; cheerful and optimistic
candor
frankness; open honesty
captivate
charm; fascinate
caricature
distortion; burlesque
censor
inspector overseeing public morals; official who prevents publication of offensive material
charlatan
quack; pretender to knowledge
chronicle
report; record (in chronological order)
circumspect
prudent; cautious
cite
quote; refer to; commend
cliche
phrase dulled in meaning by repetition
coalesce
combine; fuse
compliance
readiness to yield; conformity in fulfilling requirements
component
element; ingredient
compromise
adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of
condone
overlook voluntarily; forgive; supply tacit approval
confirm
corroborate; verify; support
conformity
agreement or compliance; actions in agreement with prevailing social customs
congenial
pleasant; friendly
consistency
harmony of parts; dependability; uniformity; degree of thickness
console
lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort
consolidation
unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger
contentious
quarrelsome
convention
social or moral custom; established practice
corrosion
destruction by chemical action
curtail
shorten; reduce
cynical
skeptical or distrustful of human motives
dawdle
loiter; waste time
defamation
harming a person's reputation
defiance
opposition; willingness to resist
degenerate
become worse; deteriorate
demean
degrade; humiliate
denounce
condemn; criticize
depict
portray
deplete
reduce; exhaust
deplore
regret strongly; express grief over
derision
ridicule; mockery
derivative
unoriginal; derived from another source
detached
emotionally removed; calm and objective; indifferent
deterrent
something that discourages; hindrance
didactic
teaching; instructional
digression
wandering away from the subject
discernible
distinguishable; perceivable
disclaimer
denial of a legal claim or right; disavowal
disclose
reveal
discord
lack of harmony; conflict
disinterested
unprejudiced
dismiss
put away from consideration; reject
disparage
belittle
disparate
basically different; unrelated
dispel
scatter; cause to vanish
disperse
scatter
dissent
disagree
dissipate
squander; waste; scatter
distinction
honor; contract; discrimination
divulge
reveal
docile
obedient; easily managed
doctrine
teachings, in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught
dogmatic
opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal
eclipse
darken; extinguish; surpass
elated
overjoyed; in high spirits
elusive
evasive; baffling; hard to grasp
embellish
adorn