 | Term | Definition |
| |
abase |
to humiliate, degrade |
| |
abate |
to reduce, lessen |
| |
abdicate |
to give up a position, usually one of leadership |
| |
abduct |
to kidnap, take by force |
| |
aberration |
something that differs from the norm |
| |
abet |
to aid, help, encourage |
| |
abhor |
to hate, detest |
| |
abide |
to put up with |
| |
abject |
wretched, pitiful |
| |
abjure |
to reject, renounce |
| |
abnegation |
denial of comfort to oneself |
| |
abort |
to give up on a half-finished project or effort |
| |
abridge |
to cut down, shorten |
| |
abrogate |
to abolish, usually by authority |
| |
abscond |
to sneak away and hide |
| |
absolution |
freedom from blame, guilt, sin |
| |
abstain |
to freely choose not to commit an action |
| |
abstruse |
hard to comprehend |
| |
accede |
to agree |
| |
accentuate |
to stress, highlight |
| |
accessible |
obtainable, reachable |
| |
acclaim |
high praise |
| |
accolade |
high praise, special distinction |
| |
accommodating |
helpful, polite |
| |
accord |
an agreement |
| |
accost |
to confront verbally |
| |
accretion |
slow growth in size or amount |
| |
acerbic |
biting, bitter in tone or taste |
| |
acquiesce |
to agree without protesting |
| |
acrimony |
bitterness, discord |
| |
acumen |
keen insight |
| |
acute |
sharp, severe; having keen insight |
| |
adamant |
impervious, immovable, unyielding |
| |
adept |
extremely skilled |
| |
adhere |
to stick to something |
| |
admonish |
to caution, criticize |
| |
adorn |
to decorate |
| |
adroit |
skillful, dexterous |
| |
adulation |
extreme praise |
| |
adumbrate |
to sketch out in a vague way |
| |
adverse |
antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous |
| |
advocate |
to argue in favor of something |
| |
aerial |
somehow related to the air |
| |
aesthetic |
artistic, related to the appreciation of beauty |
| |
affable |
friendly, amiable |
| |
affinity |
a spontaneous feeling of closeness |
| |
affluent |
rich, wealthy |
| |
affront |
an insult |
| |
aggrandize |
to increase or make greater |
| |
aggregate |
a whole or total, to gather into a mass |
