 | Term | Definition |
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abase |
"To lower in position, estimation, or the like; degrade." |
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abbess |
The lady superior of a nunnery. |
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abbey |
The group of buildings which collectively form the dwelling-place of a society of monks or nuns. |
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abbot |
The superior of a community of monks. |
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abdicate |
To give up (royal power or the like). |
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abdomen |
"In mammals, the visceral cavity between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor; the belly." |
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abdominal |
"Of, pertaining to, or situated on the abdomen." |
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abduction |
"A carrying away of a person against his will, or illegally." |
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abed |
In bed; on a bed. |
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aberration |
"Deviation from a right, customary, or prescribed course." |
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abet |
"To aid, promote, or encourage the commission of (an offense)." |
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abeyance |
A state of suspension or temporary inaction. |
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abhorrence |
The act of detesting extremely. |
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abhorrent |
Very repugnant; hateful. |
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abidance |
An abiding. |
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abject |
Sunk to a low condition. |
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abjure |
"To recant, renounce, repudiate under oath." |
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able-bodied |
Competent for physical service. |
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ablution |
"A washing or cleansing, especially of the body." |
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abnegate |
To renounce (a right or privilege). |
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abnormal |
Not conformed to the ordinary rule or standard. |
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abominable |
Very hateful. |
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abominate |
To hate violently. |
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abomination |
A very detestable act or practice. |
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aboriginal |
Primitive; unsophisticated. |
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aborigines |
The original of earliest known inhabitants of a country. |
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aboveboard adv. & |
"Without concealment, fraud, or trickery." |
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abrade |
To wear away the surface or some part of by friction. |
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abrasion |
That which is rubbed off. |
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abridge |
"To make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor particles." |
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abridgment |
A condensed form as of a book or play. |
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abrogate |
"To abolish, repeal." |
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abrupt |
"Beginning, ending, or changing suddenly or with a break." |
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abscess |
A Collection of pus in a cavity formed within some tissue of the body. |
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abscission |
"The act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation." |
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abscond |
"To depart suddenly and secretly, as for the purpose of escaping arrest." |
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absence |
The fact of not being present or available. |
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absent-minded |
Lacking in attention to immediate surroundings or business. |
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absolution |
"Forgiveness, or passing over of offenses." |
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absolve |
To free from sin or its penalties. |
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absorb |
"To drink in or suck up, as a sponge absorbs water." |
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absorption |
The act or process of absorbing. |
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abstain |
To keep oneself back (from doing or using something). |
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abstemious |
"Characterized by self denial or abstinence, as in the use of drink, food." |
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abstinence |
Self denial. |
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abstruse |
Dealing with matters difficult to be understood. |
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absurd |
Inconsistent with reason or common sense. |
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abundant |
Plentiful. |
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abusive |
Employing harsh words or ill treatment. |
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abut |
To touch at the end or boundary line. |
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abyss |
Bottomless gulf. |
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academic |
"Of or pertaining to an academy, college, or university." |
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academician |
"A member of an academy of literature, art, or science." |
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academy |
Any institution where the higher branches of learning are taught. |
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accede |
To agree. |
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accelerate |
To move faster. |
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accept |
To take when offered. |
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access |
A way of approach or entrance; passage. |
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accessible |
Approachable. |
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accession |
"Induction or elevation, as to dignity, office, or government." |
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accessory |
A person or thing that aids the principal agent. |
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acclaim |
To utter with a shout. |
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accommodate |
To furnish something as a kindness or favor. |
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accompaniment |
"A subordinate part or parts, enriching or supporting the leading part." |
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accompanist |
One who or that which accompanies. |
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accompany |
"To go with, or be associated with, as a companion." |
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accomplice |
An associate in wrong-doing. |
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accomplish |
To bring to pass. |
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accordion |
A portable free-reed musical instrument. |
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accost |
To speak to. |
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account |
"A record or statement of receipts and expenditures, or of business transactions." |
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accouter |
To dress. |
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accredit |
To give credit or authority to. |
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accumulate |
To become greater in quantity or number. |
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accuracy |
Exactness. |
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accurate |
Conforming exactly to truth or to a standard. |
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accursed |
"Doomed to evil, misery, or misfortune." |
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accusation |
"A charge of crime, misdemeanor, or error." |
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accusatory |
"Of, pertaining to, or involving an accusation." |
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accuse |
"To charge with wrong doing, misconduct, or error." |
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accustom |
To make familiar by use. |
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acerbity |
"Sourness, with bitterness and astringency." |
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acetate |
A salt of acetic acid. |
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acetic |
"Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of vinegar." |
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ache |
To be in pain or distress. |
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Achillean |
Invulnerable. |
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achromatic |
"Colorless," |
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acid |
A sour substance. |
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acidify |
To change into acid. |
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acknowledge |
To recognize; to admit the genuineness or validity of. |
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acknowledgment |
Recognition. |
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acme |
"The highest point, or summit." |
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acoustic |
Pertaining to the act or sense of hearing. |
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acquaint |
To make familiar or conversant. |
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acquiesce |
To comply; submit. |
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acquiescence |
Passive consent. |
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acquire |
To get as one's own. |
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acquisition |
"Anything gained, or made one's own, usually by effort or labor." |
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acquit |
"To free or clear, as from accusation." |
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acquittal |
A discharge from accusation by judicial action. |
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acquittance |
"Release or discharge from indebtedness, obligation, or responsibility." |
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acreage |
"Quantity or extent of land, especially of cultivated land." |
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acrid |
Harshly pungent or bitter. |
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acrimonious |
Full of bitterness. |
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acrimony |
Sharpness or bitterness of speech or temper. |
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actionable |
"Affording cause for instituting an action, as trespass, slanderous words." |
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actuality |
Any reality. |
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actuary |
"An officer, as of an insurance company, who calculates and states the risks and premiums." |
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actuate |
To move or incite to action. |
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acumen |
"Quickness of intellectual insight, or discernment; keenness of discrimination." |
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acute |
Having fine and penetrating discernment. |
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adamant |
Any substance of exceeding hardness or impenetrability. |
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addendum |
"Something added, or to be added." |
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addle |
To make inefficient or worthless; muddle. |
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adduce |
To bring forward or name for consideration. |
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adhere |
To stick fast or together. |
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adherence |
Attachment. |
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adherent |
Clinging or sticking fast. |
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adhesion |
The state of being attached or joined. |
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adieu |
Good-by; farewell. |
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adjacency |
The state of being adjacent. |
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adjacent |
That which is near or bordering upon. |
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adjudge |
To award or bestow by formal decision. |
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adjunct |
"Something joined to or connected with another thing, but holding a subordinate place." |
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adjuration |
A vehement appeal. |
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adjutant |
Auxiliary. |
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administrator |
One who manages affairs of any kind. |
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admissible |
Having the right or privilege of entry. |
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admittance |
"Entrance, or the right or permission to enter." |
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admonish |
To warn of a fault. |
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admonition |
Gentle reproof. |
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ado |
unnecessary activity or ceremony. |
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adoration |
Profound devotion. |
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adroit |
Having skill in the use of the bodily or mental powers. |
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adulterant |
An adulterating substance. |
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adulterate |
To make impure by the admixture of other or baser ingredients. |
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adumbrate |
To represent beforehand in outline or by emblem. |
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advent |
"The coming or arrival, as of any important change, event, state, or personage." |
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adverse |
Opposing or opposed. |
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adversity |
Misfortune. |
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advert |
To refer incidentally. |
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advertiser |
"One who advertises, especially in newspapers." |
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advisory |
Not mandatory. |
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advocacy |
The act of pleading a cause. |
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advocate |
"One who pleads the cause of another, as in a legal or ecclesiastical court." |
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aerial |
"Of, pertaining to, or like the air." |
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aeronaut |
"One who navigates the air, a balloonist." |
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aeronautics |
the art or practice of flying aircraft |
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aerostat |
A balloon or other apparatus floating in or sustained by the air. |
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aerostatics |
"The branch of pneumatics that treats of the equilibrium, pressure, and mechanical properties." |
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affable |
Easy to approach. |
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affect |
To act upon |
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affectation |
A studied or ostentatious pretense or attempt. |
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affiliate |
Some auxiliary person or thing. |
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affirmative |
Answering yes; to a question at issue. |
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affix |
To fasten. |
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affluence |
A profuse or abundant supply of riches. |
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affront |
An open insult or indignity. |
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afire adv. & |
"On fire, literally or figuratively." |
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afoot |
In progress. |
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aforesaid |
Said in a preceding part or before. |
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afresh |
"Once more, after rest or interval." |
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afterthought |
A thought that comes later than its appropriate or expected time. |
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agglomerate |
To pile or heap together. |
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aggrandize |
To cause to appear greatly. |
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aggravate |
"To make heavier, worse, or more burdensome." |
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aggravation |
"The fact of being made heavier or more heinous, as a crime , offense, misfortune, etc." |
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aggregate |
"The entire number, sum, mass, or quantity of something." |
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aggress |
To make the first attack. |
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aggression |
An unprovoked attack. |
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aggrieve |
To give grief or sorrow to. |
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aghast |
Struck with terror and amazement. |
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agile |
"Able to move or act quickly, physically, or mentally." |
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agitate |
To move or excite (the feelings or thoughts). |
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agrarian |
"Pertaining to land, especially agricultural land." |
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aide-de-camp |
An officer who receives and transmits the orders of the general. |
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ailment |
Slight sickness. |
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airy |
"Delicate, ethereal." |
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akin |
Of similar nature or qualities. |
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alabaster |
A white or delicately tinted fine-grained gypsum. |
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alacrity |
Cheerful willingness. |
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albeit |
Even though. |
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albino |
"A person with milky white skin and hair, and eyes with bright red pupil and usually pink iris." |
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album |
A book whose leaves are so made to form paper frames for holding photographs or the like. |
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alchemy |
"Chemistry of the middle ages, characterized by the pursuit of changing base metals to gold." |
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alcohol |
"A volatile, inflammable, colorless liquid of a penetrating odor and burning taste." |
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alcoholism |
A condition resulting from the inordinate or persistent use of alcoholic beverages. |
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alcove |
A covered recess connected with or at the side of a larger room. |
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alder |
"Any shrub or small tree of the genus Alumnus, of the oak family." |
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alderman |
"A member of a municipal legislative body, who usually exercises also certain judicial functions." |
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aldermanship |
"The dignity, condition, office, or term of office of an alderman." |
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alias |
An assumed name. |
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alien |
One who owes allegiance to a foreign government. |
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alienable |
"Capable of being aliened or alienated, as lands." |
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alienate |
To cause to turn away. |
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alienation |
Estrangement. |
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aliment |
That which nourishes. |
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alkali |
"Anything that will neutralize an acid, as lime, magnesia, etc." |
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allay |
To calm the violence or reduce the intensity of; mitigate. |
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allege |
"To assert to be true, especially in a formal manner, as in court." |
