16. GRE Word List (Barron's 800 + Kaplan 400 + Manhattan 1000)

abase

(v) Degrade or humble; to lower in rank, status, or esteem

abdicate

to give up a position, right, or power

aberrant

deviating from what is normal

abeyance

temporary suppression or suspension

abhor

(v) detest, regard with disgust

abject

miserable; pitiful

abjure

to reject; abandon formally

ablution

act of cleansing

abnegation

renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation

abrasive

(adj) rough, suitable for grinding or polishing (such as sandpaper); causing irritation or annoyance

abreast

(adj) Side-by-side. The more common "abreast of" means keeping up with, staying aware of, or remaining equal in progress with.

abridge

(v) reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts throughout while retaining the main idea

abrogate

abolish

abscission

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

abscond

to depart secretly

abstain

(v) hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or unhealthy); decline to vote

abstemious

moderate in appetite

abstinence

the giving up of certain pleasures

abstruse

difficult to comprehend

abut

to touch, to be in contact with

abysmal

very bad, limitless

abyss

(n) A deep and vast space or cavity; anything profound or infinite

accede

(v) Agree, give consent; assume power (usually as "accede to")

accretion

growth in size or increase in amount

accrue

to accumulate; grow by additions

acerbic

bitter, sharp in taste

acidulous

(adj) Slightly acid or sour; sharp or caustic

acme

highest point, summit

acquiesce

to agree or comply in silence

activism

(n) the practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous action, often including protests and demonstrations

acumen

(n) Keen, quick, accurate insight or judgment

adamant

uncompromising; unyielding

addled

unable to think clearly; confused.

(of an egg) rotten.

adhere

(v) stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief

adjunct

something added to another thing but not an essential part of it

admonish

to caution or reprimand

adroit

skillful, accomplished, highly competent

adulterate

to corrupt or make impure

adumbrate

to sketch, outline in a shadowy way

adverse

(adj) opposing, harmful

advocate

(v, n) speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person who pleads for a cause or on behalf of another person (noun)

aerie

nook or nest built high in the air

aesthetic

relating to beauty or the arts

affable

(adj) warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable

affectation

(n) fake behavior (such as in speech or dress) adopted to give a certain impression

affected

pretentious; phony

affinity

fondness; liking; similarity

aggrandize

to make larger or greater

aggregate

amounting to a whole; total

akimbo

-with hands on the hips and elbows turned outwards.

-(with reference to limbs) flung out widely or haphazardly.

alacrity

cheerful willingness; eagerness; speed

albeit

(conj) Although, even though

alchemy

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

alienate

(v) cause to become unfriendly, hostile, or distant

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

aloof

(adj) Distant physically or emotionally; reserved; indifferent

altruism

unselfish concern for others welfare

amalgamate

to combine into a unified whole

ambiguous

unclear or doubtful in meaning

ambivalence

the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes

ambivalent

(adj) uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two contradictory things at once

ambrosia

something delicious; the food of the gods

ambulatory

itinerant, walking around

ameliorate

to improve

amenable

agreeable; cooperative; suited

amenity

something that increases comfort

amortize

to diminish by installment payments

amulet

ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits

anachronism

something out of the proper time

analgesia

(n) Pain relief; inability to feel pain

analgesic

medication that reduces or eliminates pain

analogous

comparable

anarchy

absence of government; state of disorder

ancillary

accessory, subordinate, helping

annul

(v) Make void or null, cancel, abolish (usually of laws or other established rules)

anodyne

something that calms or soothes pain

anoint

(v) rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as by ceremony that includes applying oil to someone

anomalous

irregular; deviating from the norm

anomaly

(n) deviation from what is common; inconsistency

antagonize

(v) make hostile or unfriendly

antecedent

something that comes before

antedate

(v) Be older than, precede in time; assign to an earlier date

antediluvian

prehistoric

anthropomorphic

attributing human qualities to non humans, having human qualities

antipathy

dislike; hostility

antithetical

(adj) Directly opposed, opposite; involving antithesis (the rhetorical act of placing two phrases opposite one another for contrast, as in love me or hate me)

apathy

indifference

apex

the highest point

aplomb

poise, confidence

apocryphal

(adj) of questionable authenticity; false

apogee

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

apostate

one who renounces a religious faith

apostle

(n) Pioneer of a reform movement (originally, an early follower of Jesus)

apothegm

a terse, witty saying

apotheosis

glorification, glorified ideal

appease

to calm, pacify, placate

appellation

name