 | Term | Definition |
| |
abase |
lower, degrade |
| |
abash |
embarrass |
| |
abjure |
renounce |
| |
abnegation |
self-sacrifice, renunciation |
| |
abominate |
detestable |
| |
abominate |
loathsome, hate |
| |
abrogate |
abolish |
| |
absolve |
pardon |
| |
abstemious |
sparing in eating & drinking |
| |
abstruse |
obscure, profound |
| |
abysmal |
bottomless |
| |
accede |
agree |
| |
acclaim |
applaud |
| |
acclivity |
sharp incline |
| |
accord |
agreement |
| |
accouter |
equip |
| |
accretion |
growth, increase |
| |
acerbity |
bitterness of speech |
| |
acquiesce |
assent |
| |
acrimonious |
bitterness |
| |
acrophobia |
fear of heights |
| |
actuarial |
calculating |
| |
actuate |
motivate |
| |
acuity |
sharpness |
| |
addle |
muddle |
| |
adherent |
supporter |
| |
adjunct |
something attached (inferior) |
| |
adjuration |
solemn urging |
| |
adroit |
skilful |
| |
adulation |
flattery |
| |
adventitious |
accidental, casual |
| |
adversity |
poverty |
| |
advert |
refer |
| |
aegis |
shield, defense |
| |
aerie |
nest of a large bird |
| |
affable |
easily approachable |
| |
affected |
artificial, pretend |
| |
affliction |
state of distress |
| |
affront |
insult, offense |
| |
agglomeration |
collection |
| |
aggrandize |
increase or intensify |
| |
agnostic |
one who is skeptical of God |
| |
agrarian |
pertaining to land |
| |
alacrity |
eagerness, cheerful promptness |
| |
alcove |
nook, recess |
| |
allay |
calm, pacify |
| |
allegory |
story in which characters are used as symbols, eg: fables |
| |
alliteration |
repetition of beginning sound |
| |
allude |
refer |
| |
allure |
entice, attract |
| |
allusion |
indirect reference |
| |
altruistic |
unselfish generosity |
| |
amalgamate |
combine |
| |
ambivalence |
state of having contradictory emotional attitudes |
| |
ameliorate |
improve |
| |
amenable |
readily manageable |
| |
amity |
friendship |
| |
amoral |
non-moral |
| |
amorous |
moved by sexual love |
| |
amorphous |
without shape |
| |
amok |
in a state of rage |
| |
anachronism |
something misplaced in time |
| |
analogous |
comparable |
| |
analogy |
similarity |
| |
anarchist |
person who seeks to overturn govt. |
| |
anathema |
solemn curse (anathematize) |
| |
anecdote |
short account of interesting event |
| |
animadversion |
critical remark |
| |
animosity |
active enemy |
| |
animus |
hostile feeling |
| |
anneal |
make less brittle |
| |
annotate |
comment |
| |
anodyne |
pain killer |
| |
anoint |
consecrate |
| |
anomalous |
abnormal |
| |
anomaly |
irregularity |
| |
antagonism |
hostility |
| |
antecede |
precede |
| |
antediluvian |
antiquated |
| |
anthology |
book of literary selections |
| |
anthropoid |
manlike |
| |
anthropomorphic |
having human form |
| |
anticlimax |
letdown in thought or emotion |
| |
antipathy |
aversion, dislike |
| |
antiquated |
obsolete |
| |
antithesis |
contrast |
| |
apathy |
lack of caring |
| |
aphasia |
loss of speech |
| |
aphorism |
a saying or maxim |
| |
apiary |
place where bees are kept |
| |
aplomb |
poise or assurance |
| |
apocryphal |
untrue, made up |
| |
apologist |
one who writes in defense of a cause |
| |
apostate |
one who abandons his religious faith or political belief |
| |
apothecary |
druggist |
| |
apothegm |
compact saying |
| |
apotheosis |
elevation to god-hood, perfect example |
| |
appease |
pacify |
| |
appellation |
name or title |
| |
apposite |
appropriate; fitting |
| |
apprise |
inform |
| |
approbation |
approval |
| |
appropriate |
acquire |
| |
appurtenances |
subordinate possessions |
| |
apropos |
with reference to; regarding |
| |
aquiline |
curved, hooked |
| |
arboretum |
place where different varieties of trees are studied |
| |
arcade |
covered passageway (lined with shops) |
| |
arcane |
secret |
| |
archaic |
antiquated |
| |
archetype |
prototype, primitive pattern |
| |
ardor |
heat, passion |
| |
arduous |
hard, strenuous |
| |
argot |
slang |
| |
aria |
operatic solo |
| |
arraign |
charge in court, indict |
| |
array |
draw up in order |
| |
array |
adorn |
| |
arroyo |
gully |
| |
articulate |
affective, distinct |
| |
artifice |
trickery, deception |
| |
artless |
without guile, open and honest |
| |
ascendancy |
controlling influence |
| |
ascetic |
practicing self-denial |
| |
ascribe |
refer, attribute |
| |
ashen |
ash colored |
| |
asinine |
stupid |
| |
askance |
indirect look |
| |
askew |
crookedly; slanted |
| |
asperity |
sharpness of temper |
| |
aspersion |
slanderous remark |
| |
assail |
assault |
| |
assay |
analyze, evaluate |
| |
assiduous |
diligent |
| |
assuage |
ease or lessen pain |
| |
astral |
relating to stars |
| |
astringent |
binding, harsh or severe, causing contraction |
| |
astute |
wise, shrewd |
| |
asunder |
apart, into parts |
| |
atavism |
resemblance to remote ancestors |
| |
atheistic |
denying the existence of god |
| |
atrophy |
wasting away |
| |
attribute |
essential quality |
| |
attribute |
gradual decrease in numbers |
| |
audacious |
daring, bold |
| |
augury |
omen, prophecy |
| |
austere |
forbiddingly stern, severely simple or unornamented |
| |
autocratic |
having absolute, unchecked power, dictatorial |
| |
automaton |
mechanism that imitates actions or humans |
| |
auxiliary |
providing or offering help, additional or subsidiary |
| |
avarice |
greediness for wealth |
| |
aver |
state confidently |
| |
avert |
prevent, turn away |
| |
aviary |
enclosure for birds |
| |
avid |
greedy, eager for |
| |
avocation |
secondary or minor occupation |
| |
avow |
declare openly |
| |
avuncular |
like an uncle |
| |
awl |
pointed tool for piercing |
| |
awry |
distorted, crooked |
| |
azure |
sky blue |
| |
babble |
chatter idly |
| |
bacchanalian |
drunken |
| |
badinage |
teasing conversion |
| |
bait |
harass, tease |
| |
baleful |
deadly, ominous, having a malign influence |
| |
balk |
stop short |
| |
balk |
foil |
| |
banal |
hackneyed, commonplace, trite, lacking originality |
| |
balmy |
mild, fragrant |
| |
bandy |
discuss lightly, heated (words) exchange |
| |
bantering |
good naturedly ridiculing |
| |
barefaced |
shameless, bold, unconcealed |
| |
baroque |
highly ornate |
| |
bastion |
stronghold |
| |
bate |
let down, restrain |
| |
bauble |
trifle, trinket |
| |
bawdy |
indecent, obscene |
| |
beatific |
blissful |
| |
beatitude |
blessedness, state of bliss, growing closer to god |
| |
bedizen |
dress with vulgar finery |
| |
bedraggle |
wet thoroughly |
| |
befuddle |
confuse thoroughly |
| |
beget |
father, produce, give rise to |
| |
begrudge |
resent |
| |
beguile |
mislead or delude, cheat, pastime |
| |
behemoth |
monstrous size or power |
| |
beholden |
obligated, indebted |
| |
behoove |
be suited to, be incumbent upon |
| |
belabor |
explain excessively, assail verbally |
| |
beleaguer |
besiege or attack, harass |
| |
belie |
contradict, give false impression |
| |
belittle |
depreciate, disparage |
| |
bellicose |
warlike |
| |
belligerent |
quarrelsome |
| |
bemoan |
lament, express disapproval of |
| |
bemused |
confused |
| |
benediction |
blessing |
| |
benevolent |
generous, charitable |
| |
benign |
not malignant, kindly, favorable |
| |
benison |
blessing |
| |
bequeath |
hand down, leave to some one by will |
| |
berate |
scold strongly |
| |
bereavement |
state of being deprived of something |
| |
bereft |
deprived of, lacking |
| |
beseech |
beg, plead |
| |
beset |
harass or trouble |
| |
besiege |
surround with armed forces, harass |
| |
besmirch |
soil, defile |
| |
betoken |
signify, indicate |
| |
betroth |
become engaged to, marry |
| |
bevy |
large group |
| |
bicameral |
two chambered, as a legislative body |
| |
bigotry |
stubborn intolerance |
| |
bilious |
suffering from indigestion, irritable |
| |
bilk |
swindle, cheat |
| |
bivouac |
temporary encampment |
| |
blanch |
bleach, whiten |
| |
bland |
soothing or mild, agreeable |
| |
bucolic |
rustic, pastoral |
| |
bugaboo |
bugbear, object of baseless terror |
| |
bulwark |
earthwork or other strong defense, person who defends |
| |
burgeon |
grow forth, send out buds |
| |
burlesque |
give an imitation that ridicules |
| |
burnish |
make shiny by rubbing or polishing |
| |
buttress |
support, prop up |
| |
cadence |
rhythmic rise and fall( of sound), beat |
| |
cajole |
coax, wheedle |
| |
callow |
immature, youthful, inexperienced |
| |
calumny |
malicious misrepresentation, slander |
| |
camaraderie |
good fellowship |
| |
canard |
unfound rumor, exaggerated report |
| |
candor |
frankness, open honesty |
| |
canker |
any evil, any ulcerous sore |
| |
canny |
thrifty, shrewd |
| |
cant |
insincere expression of piety, jargon of thieves |
| |
cantankerous |
ill humored, irritable |
| |
cantata |
story set to music |
| |
canto |
division of a long poem |
| |
capacious |
spacious |
| |
capitulate |
surrender |
| |
caprice |
whim |
| |
capricious |
fickle, unpredictable |
| |
captious |
faultfinding |
| |
carafe |
glass water bottle, decanter |
| |
carapace |
shell covering the back (turtle, crab) |
| |
careen |
lurch, sway from side to side |
| |
carillon |
set of bell capable of being played |
| |
carousal |
drunken revel |
| |
carping |
fault finding, petty criticism |
| |
carrion |
rotting flesh of dead body |
| |
castigation |
punishment, severe criticism |
| |
cataclysm |
deluge, upheaval |
| |
catcall |
shout of disapproval, boo |
| |
catechism |
book for religious instruction, instruction by question and answers |
| |
catharsis |
purging or cleaning of passageway |
| |
cathartic |
purgative |
| |
catholic |
universal |
| |
caucus |
private meeting of members |
| |
caulk |
make water tight |
| |
caustic |
burning, sarcastically biting |
| |
cauterize |
burn with hot iron |
| |
cavalcade |
procession |
| |
cavalier |
casual and offhand |
| |
cavil |
make frivolous objections |
| |
cede |
yield |
| |
celerity |
speed, rapidity |
| |
censorious |
critical |
| |
censure |
blame or criticize |
| |
cerebration |
thought |
| |
certitude |
certainty |
| |
cessation |
stoppage |
| |
cession |
yield |
| |
chafe |
warm by rubbing |
| |
chaff |
worthless product of an endeavor |
| |
chaffing |
bantering; joking |
| |
chagrin |
vexation |
| |
charisma |
divine gift, popular charm |
| |
chary |
cautious |
| |
chase |
ornament a metal surface by indent’g |
| |
chaste |
pure, modest, virginal |
| |
chasten |
discipline; punish in order to correct |
| |
chastise |
punish |
| |
chauvinist |
blindly devoted; zealous adherent |
| |
cherubic |
angelic; innocent looking |
| |
chicanery |
trickery; deception |
| |
chide |
scold |
| |
chimerical |
fantastically improbable; unrealistic |
| |
chisel |
tool for cutting |
| |
chisel |
swindle or cheat |
| |
chivalrous |
courteous; faithful; brave |
| |
choleric |
hot-tempered |
| |
chortle |
chuckle with delight |
| |
churlish |
boorish; rude |
| |
ciliated |
having minute hairs |
| |
cipher |
nonentity |
| |
cipher |
secret code |
| |
circlet |
small ring; band |
| |
circumlocution |
indirect expression |
| |
circumscribe |
limit; confine |
| |
circumspect |
prudent; cautious |
| |
clairvoyant |
having foresight; fortuneteller |
| |
clamber |
climb by crawling |
| |
clamor |
noise |
| |
clandestine |
secret |
| |
clangor |
loud, resounding noise |
| |
clarion |
shrill, trumpet like sound |
| |
clavicle |
collarbone |
| |
cleave |
split or sever; remain faithful to; cling to |
| |
cleft |
split |
| |
clemency |
disposition to be lenient |
| |
climactic |
relating to the highest point |
| |
clime |
region; climate |
| |
clique |
small exclusive group |
| |
cloister |
monastery or convent |
| |
cloying |
distasteful; excessively sweet or sentimental |
| |
coalesce |
combine; fuse |
| |
coda |
concluding section of a musical |
| |
coddle |
treat gently or pamper |
| |
codicil |
supplement to the body of a will |
| |
coercion |
use of force to get something |
| |
coeval |
living at the same time as; contemporary |
| |
cogent |
convincing |
| |
cogitate |
think over |
| |
cognate |
related linguistically; allied by blood |
| |
cognitive |
having to do with knowledge |
| |
cognizance |
knowledge |
| |
cohere |
stick together |
| |
cohesion |
tendency to keep together |
| |
cohort |
armed band |
| |
coiffure |
hair style |
| |
colander |
utensil with holes used for straining |
| |
collate |
examine in order to verify authenticity, arrange in order |
| |
collation |
light metal |
| |
colloquy |
informal discussion |
| |
collusion |
conspiring in a fraudulent scheme |
| |
comely |
attractive, agreeable |
| |
comestible |
something fit to be eaten |
| |
comeuppance |
rebuke, deserts |
| |
comity |
courtesy, civility |
| |
commandeer |
to draft for military purpose, to take for public use |
| |
commensurate |
equal in extent |
| |
commiserate |
feel or express pity or sympathy for |
| |
communal |
held in common, of a group of people |
| |
compact |
agreement, contract |
| |
compelling |
overpowering, irresistible effect |
| |
compendium |
brief, comprehensive summary |
| |
commodious |
spacious and comfortable |
| |
compilation |
listing of statistical information in tabular or book form |
| |
complacency |
self satisfaction, smugness |
| |
complaisant |
trying to please obliging |
| |
complement |
make perfect, complete, consummate |
| |
complementary |
serving to complete something |
| |
compliant |
yielding, conforming to requirements |
| |
complicity |
participation, involvement |
| |
comport |
behave, bear one’s self |
| |
compromise |
adjust or settle by making mutual concessions, endanger the interests or reputation of |
| |
compunction |
remorse |
| |
concave |
hallow |
| |
conceit |
vanity or self love, whimsical idea, extravagant metaphor |
| |
conception |
beginning, forming of an idea |
| |
concerted |
mutually agreed on, done together |
| |
concession |
an act of yielding |
| |
conciliatory |
reconciling, soothing |
| |
conclave |
private meeting |
| |
concoct |
prepare by combing, make up in concert |
| |
concomitant |
that which accompanies |
| |
concord |
harmony |
| |
condescend |
bestow courtesies with a superior air |
| |
condign |
adequate, deservedly severe |
| |
condole |
express sympathetic sorrow |
| |
condone |
overlook, forgive, give tact approval, excuse |
| |
conflagration |
great fire |
| |
conformity |
harmony, agreement |
| |
congeal |
freeze, coagulate |
| |
congenial |
pleasant, friendly |
| |
congenital |
existing at birth |
| |
compliance |
readiness to yield, conformity in fulfilling requirements |
| |
blasé |
bored with pleasure or dissipation |
| |
blighted |
suffering from disease or destroyed |
| |
blithe |
gay; joyous |
| |
blowhard |
talkative boaster |
| |
bludgeon |
club; heavy headed weapon |
| |
bluff |
rough but good natured |
| |
bluff |
pretense |
| |
bluster |
blow in heavy gusts |
| |
bode |
foreshadow |
| |
bohemian |
unconventional (in an artistic way) |
| |
bombastic |
pompous |
| |
boorish |
rude; insensitive |
| |
bouillon |
clear beef soup |
| |
bourgeois |
middle class; dully conventional |
| |
bowdlerize |
expurgate |
| |
braggadocio |
boasting |
| |
braggart |
boaster |
| |
bravado |
swagger; assumed air of defiance |
| |
brazen |
insolent |
| |
brevity |
conciseness |
| |
brindled |
tawny or grayish with spots |
| |
brocade |
rich figured fabric |
| |
brook |
tolerate |
| |
browbeat |
intimidate; bully |
| |
brusque |
blunt; abrupt |
| |
brooch |
ornamental clasp |
| |
boisterous |
violent; rough; noisy |
| |
conglomeration |
mass of material sticking together |
| |
congruence |
correspondence of parts, harmonious relationship |
</
