English 11H - Vocabulary Quiz 1

Abdicate - verb give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations

Abstain: choose not to consume; refrain from voting

accede - verb take on duties or office; to agree or express agreement; submit or yield to another's wish or opinion

acquit - verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges; behave in a certain manner

acute - adj. having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course; of critical importance and consequence; extremely sharp or intense; having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; of an angle; less than 90 degrees; ending in a sharp point; noun a mark (') placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation

adage - noun a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people

admonish - verb take to task; admonish or counsel in terms of someone's behavior; warn strongly; put on guard

adulterate - adj. mixed with impurities; verb corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones

aesthetic - adj. concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste; aesthetically pleasing; relating to or dealing with the subject of aesthetics; noun (philosophy) a philosophical theory as to what is beautiful

allege - verb report or maintain

ambivalent - adj. uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow

amiable - adj. disposed to please; diffusing warmth and friendliness

amnesty - noun the formal act of liberating someone; a period during which offenders are exempt from punishment; a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense; verb grant a pardon to (a group of people)

ample - adj. affording an abundant supply; more than enough in size or scope or capacity; fairly large