abase

to humiliate or degrade

abeyance

temporary inactivity; suspensionn

abnegate

to give up something; to deny oneself something

abrogate

to get rid of; to abolish

abscission

the shedding of leaves, flowers, or fruits

abstemious

sparing; moderate

acerbic

harsh; biting

acidulous

sharp tasting; sour

acme

the highest point of something

acrimonious

bitter

adroit

skillful

adulation

excessive admiration

aegis

protection

affectation

an artificial way of behaving

affront

an insult or offense

alacrity

cheerful promptness

ambivalence

contradictory feelings toward something

ameliorated

made better

amortize

to gradually pay off or reduce

anachronism

something belonging to a different time period

anathema

something hated; a curse

anile

senile

anodyne

a pain-reliever

antedate

to come before

antediluvian

ancient; primitive

aplomb

confidence

apoplectic

enraged

apothegm

a short, wise remark

apotheosis

a perfect example

apropos

relevant

ascetic

practicing self-denial

asperity

bad temper

assiduous

hardworking; dedicated

attenuate

to reduce

austere

plain; strict; serious; cold

avaricious

greedy

aver

to state confidently; to declare

avuncular

like an uncle

baleful

threatening harm

beatific

extremely happy

bedlam

a state of uproar and confusion

beleaguered

weary, tired, bothered

belied

contradicted

bereft

deprived or robbed of something

bifurcated

split in two

blase

apathetic; unconcerned

bloviated

was wordy/windy when speaking

bonhomie

a pleasant and friendly mood

bowdlerize

to cut out all the offensive parts of a book

bumptious

assertive in a loud, arrogant way