| Term | Definition |
| amalgamate | mix combine unite societies |
| ambidextrous | able to use the left hand or the right equally well |
| ambiguous | doubtful uncertain |
| ambivalent | having both of two contrary meanings |
| ambrosial | extremely pleasing to taste |
| ameliorate | improve make better |
| amortize | end (a debt) by setting aside money |
| anguish | severe suffering |
| animosity | strong dislike |
| antidote | medicine used against a poison or a disease |
| antithetical | direct opposing |
| apartheid | brutal racial discrimination |
| aplomb | self-confidence |
| apostate | one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions |
| apotheosis | deification glorification to godliness |
| appease | make quiet or calm |
| apprehensive | grasping understanding fear unhappy feeling about future |
| apprise | give notice to inform |
| approbation | approval |
| apropos | appropriate to the situation apt |
| apt | well-suited quick-witted |
| arabesque | a complex ornate design |
| arboreal | of connected with trees |
| ardor | enthusiasm |
| arduous | steep difficult ascent laborious |
| argot | jargon slang |
| arrant | in the highest degree |
| arrogance | proud superior manner of behaviour |
| articulate | speak distinctly connect by joints |
| ascend | go or come up |
| ascertain | get to know |
| ascetic | practicing self-denial austere stark |
| ascribe | consider to be the origin of or belonging to |
| aseptic | surgically clean |
| asperity | roughness harshness ill temper irritability |
| aspersion | slander |
| assail | with attack violently |
| assiduous | diligent hard-working sedulous |
| assuage | make something (pain desire) less |
| asterisk | the mark * (e.g.. omitted letters) |
| astringent | substance that shrinks |
| astute | clever quick at seeing to get an advantage |
| atonement | repayment death of Jesus |
| attenuate | make thin. weaken enervate |
| attune | bring into harmony |
| audacious | daring foolishly bold impudent |
| augury | omen sign |
| august | majestic venerable |
| auspicious | favorable successful prosperous |
| austere | severely moral and strict simple and plain |
| auxiliary | helping supporting |
| aver | affirm assert prove justify |
| aversion | strong dislike |
| avid | eager greedy |
| avow | admit. Declare openly |
| baleful | harmful ominous causing evil |
| balk | obstacle purposely to get on the way of |
| baneful | causing harm or ruin pernicious destructive |
| barrage | artificial obstacle built across a river |
| barren | not good enough unable to have young ones without value |
| bask | in enjoy warmth and light |
| beatify | to bless make happy or ascribe a virtue to |
| bedizen | to adorn especially in a cheap showy manner |
| belabor | beat hard |
| bellicose | belligerent pugnacious warlike |
| belligerent | (person nation) waging war |
| benefactor | person who has given help |
| benevolence | wish or activity in doing good |
| benign | kind and gentle mild (climate) |
| bequest | arrangement to give something at death |
| berate | scold sharply |
| bereft | rob or dispossess of something (material) |
| bewilder | puzzle confuse |
| bigot | stubborn narrow-minded person |
| bilge | bulge the protuberance of a cask |
| blandishment | flattery coaxing |
| blandness | polite manner comforting uninteresting |
| blatant | noisy and rough |
| blithe | cheerful casual carefree |
| bogus | sham counterfeit not genuine |
| boisterous | loud noisy rough lacking restraint |
| bolster | give greatly needed support |
| boorish | crude offensive rude |
| brash | hasty rush cheeky saucy |
| brass | yellow metal (mixing copper and zinc) |
| brazen | made of brass |
| breach | opening broken place breaking |
| brittle | easily broken |
| broach | bring up announce begin to talk about |
| brook | to tolerate endure |
| buoyant | able to float light-hearted |
| burgeon | grow forth send out buds |
| burnish | to polish rub to a shine |
| cabal | a scheme or plot a group of plotters |
| cadge | to beg to get by begging |
| cajole | use flattery or deceit to persuade |
| calipers | metal supports attached to the legs measuring instrument |
| calumny | slander aspersion |
| candid | frank straight-forward |
| aloof | reserved , indifferent |