 | Term | Definition |
| |
abbreviate |
to make briefer, to shorten |
| |
abridge |
to shorten, to reduce |
| |
abstain |
to refrain, to hold back |
| |
acrimonious |
biting, harsh, caustic |
| |
adulation |
extreme admiration |
| |
adversity |
misfortune |
| |
affected |
false, artificial |
| |
alacrity |
promptness, speed |
| |
alleviate |
to make lighter or more bearable |
| |
ambivalent |
having two or more contradictory feelings or attitudes; uncertain |
| |
amicable |
friendly, peaceable |
| |
anachronistic |
out of the proper time |
| |
anomaly |
something different or irregular |
| |
antiseptic |
fighting infection; extremely clean |
| |
arable |
able to be cultivated for growing crops |
| |
arbitrary |
based on random or merely personal preference |
| |
ascetic |
practicing strict self-discipline for moral or spiritual reasons |
| |
astute |
observant, intelligent, and shrewd |
| |
audacious |
bold, daring, adventurous |
| |
auspicious |
promising good fortune; propitious |
| |
belated |
delayed past the proper time |
| |
benevolent |
wishing or doing good |
| |
bereft |
lacking or deprived of something |
| |
bourgeois |
middle-class or reflecting middle class values |
| |
camaraderie |
a spirit of friendship |
| |
capricious |
unpredictable, willful, whimsical |
| |
caustic |
burning, corrosive |
| |
circumlocution |
speaking in a roundabout way; wordiness |
| |
circumvent |
to get around |
| |
cloying |
overly sweet or sentimental |
| |
cognizant |
aware, mindful |
| |
collaborate |
to work together |
| |
competent |
having the skill and knowledge needed for a particular task; capable |
| |
composure |
calm, self-assurance |
| |
concise |
expressed briefly and simply; succinct |
| |
condolence |
pity for someone else's sorrow or loss; sympathy |
| |
conformity |
agreement with or adherence to custom or rule |
| |
consolation |
relief of comfort in sorrow or suffering |
| |
consummate |
to complete, finish or perfect |
| |
contemporary |
modern, current; from the same time |
| |
convoluted |
twisting, complicated, intricate |
| |
criterion |
a standard of measurement or judgment |
| |
curtail |
to shorten |
| |
debunk |
to expose as false or worthless |
| |
decry |
to criticize or condemn |
| |
delegate |
to give authority or responsibility |
| |
demure |
modest or shy |
| |
derivative |
taken from a particular source |
| |
destitute |
very poor |
| |
diffident |
hesitant, reserved, shy |
| |
digress |
to wander from the main path or the main |
