Vocabulary Words Set A

Ad hoc

(adj) for a specific purpose;improvement; (adv) with respect to this Some of the men in our neighborhood have formed an ad hoc safety patrol to deter crime. For the film contest, we put an ad hoc movie together in under twenty-four hours. The collaboration among the teachers is an ad hoc project designed to improve student morale. Even though the ad hoc television station was designed for weather-related programs, it will show any content that provides the public with valuable information. The ad hoc nature of digital streaming allows independent filmmakers to easily get their movies in front of large audiences. Who would like to be a part of the ad hoc committee created to devise a solution for the crime problem in our city? To keep the police force on the streets, the mayor and the city council made an ad hoc decision to increase the salaries of law enforcement officers by ten percent. Since our proposal was rejected, we made a few ad hoc changes and resubmitted the plan. On election days, the school cafeteria becomes an ad hoc polling location. After the hospital administrator received the results of a patient survey, he appointed an ad hoc committee to study customer service within the medical facility.

Acerbic

(adj) harsh or corrosive in tone, bitter. After John heard his teacher's acerbic comments, he was not motivated to complete his project. The writer's acerbic tone did not sit well with people who had an issue with harsh criticism. While you may think your acerbic joke is funny and helpful, others may not appreciate your humor. My mother-in-law tries to hide the fact she does not like me by using acerbic comments. Even though many people enjoy Jim's wit, they are not always fans of his acerbic viewpoints. Mary's attempt to be clever is often overshadowed by her acerbic nature. Although I appreciate constructive criticism, I see no value in acerbic remarks. Our district manager does not hesitate to make acerbic comments to employees who are not doing their jobs. William tried to ignore his wife's acerbic statements about his career path. Even though I voted for the mayor, I was turned off by his acerbic speech regarding his opponents.

Adamant

(adj.) firm in purpose or opinion, unyielding, obdurate, implacable, inflexible; (n.) an extremely hard substanc Robert, a first year physics student, is adamant in his decision to peruse a career in engineering. He is so adamant in his beliefs that no one can change his mind! Unemployed residents are adamant about finding job openings. Mom, why are you adamant about me going to school everyday? The lazy bum is adamant about sleeping in until noon. You cannot convince me otherwise, because I am absolutely adamant in my decision for president! The criminal begged for probation, but the judge remained adamant for a life sentence. Please honey, I am adamant for the truth. Adamant about winning next year's 10K race, Laura followed a strict training plan. Dad was adamant that his daughter attend college.

Acrid

(adj.) harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper; bitter The acrid fumes from the plant made my eyes water. For some reason, the orange had an acrid taste I found quite bitter. Sulfur has an acrid smell that is quite similar to the odor of rotten eggs. Because the firemen wore masks, they did not have to deal with the acrid fumes coming from the burning building. The acrid smell of a decaying corpse is enough to make anyone vomit. When the student accidently mixed the wrong chemicals, an acrid scent filled the lab and sent people running into the halls. Is that acrid smell in your house a dead rat? Because I am bothered by the acrid odor of burning cigarettes, I do not allow people to smoke inside my home. The mortician works with the dead regularly and is used to the acrid smell of death. After taking the medicine, I had an acrid taste in my mouth that was very unpleasant.

Abstemious

(adj.) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking); characterized by abstinence and self-discipline Gerald was abstemious at dinner and only ate a little of the food on his plate. Because I was abstemious with alcohol when I was younger, I am still quite healthy in my later years. The best way to avoid becoming obese is by being abstemious and only eating what is necessary to survive. While Mr. Peterson was quite abstemious with his meals, he always put out a big feast when he had guests over for dinner. The buffet was huge and included healthy snacks for abstemious eaters and large entrees for the insatiable individuals. Although my husband is normally abstemious with his money, he will buy a ticket to a football game in a minute. The monks had an abstemious diet which consisted chiefly of chicken, bread, water, and cabbage. Even though Mrs. Washington was a very wealthy woman, she still lived an abstemious life and only spent money on the basic essentials. Because of his religion, Pierre is abstemious and does not eat meat. While one should observe an abstemious diet and not eat everything in sight, one should still eat nutritiously.

Adventitious

(adj.) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not congenital, not natural; foreign The weird-looking plant is adventitious and not native to this country. While the band was not popular in its native country, it did find adventitious celebrity in other countries. The marine biologist classified the fish as adventitious because it is not normally found in bodies of saltwater. During the surgery, the doctor removed an adventitious particle that did not belong inside of the patient's body. The adventitious skyscraper stood out amongst the town's historical buildings. When the doctor heard adventitious sounds coming from the patient's chest, he ordered a number of lab tests. Janice was detained at the airport when the x-ray scanner picked up adventitious materials on her body. As soon as Gail saw the adventitious man at her wedding, she knew a stranger had crashed her special day. It was easy for the nuns to recognize the adventitious student, the sole boy in the all-girls school. Since the adventitious plant normally grows in the desert, I have no idea how it sprung up in my moist backyard.

Adroit

(adj.) skillful, expert in the use of the hands or min The child was an adroit pianist at an early age. Because Leonard is adroit at mental calculations, he is able to effortlessly solve complicated math problems. Their rugby team consists of several adroit players. Even though Gwen had been taking violin lessons for years, she was still not very adroit at playing compositions. Sarah is considered to be an adroit plastic surgeon. Although Herman proved quite adroit at carpentry, he was never able to sell any of his pieces. The butler was adroit at running a large household. When it comes to managing your money, it is obvious you are not very adroit with financial matters! My cousin Lenny is an adroit fisherman. While Pierre was an adroit writer, he was a terrible speaker.

Acrimonious

(adj.) stinging, bitter in temper or tone, angry Your acrimonious arguments about religion only sever friendships. From crumbs in the butter to jelly in the peanut butter jar, it didn't take much for the acrimonious man to get into a temper. We could avoid this acrimonious situation altogether by agreeing to disagree on the issue. The commissioners manage to get into one acrimonious dispute after another, causing negotiations over city reforms to fall through. Why do we let acrimonious discussions get in the way of our friendship? Despite the acrimonious relationship I have with my boss, he respects my quality of work. You may give that acrimonious tone to your mother, but in the classroom, I demand the utmost respect. How acrimonious of you cheat during our relationship! To say that I steal is not only false, but it's resentful and acrimonious. A referee miscalling will certainly spark acrimonious tempers in living rooms around the world.

Adversity

(n) , misfortune, unfavorable happening, a difficult situation or condition Because of the five-year drought, the farmer experienced a long period of adversity. The disabled athlete did not let adversity stop her from competing in the Olympics. Great leaders are those who can turn adversity into success. The millionaire escaped his childhood of adversity to become one of the wealthiest men in the country. Although my teenage years were filled with adversity, they helped me become the strong woman I am today. Mark's unbreakable resolve helped him overcome adversity when he lost his job. After facing adversity at every turn for several months, the homeless man found a job and was able to get off the streets. Our football coach was a great man who taught us to never give up when challenged by adversity. Even though the dying woman's days are filled with adversity, she always manages a smile for everyone. Growing up in poverty was an adversity which taught me to appreciate the value of all things.

Adhere

(n.) a follower, supporter; (adj.) attached, sticking to When I tell you to sit down, adhere to my order! Students who do not adhere to my rules will be sent home. Restaurants that don't adhere to strict health codes can be shutdown. Adhere to the speed limit or you are at risk of being pulled over. Sorry if I don't adhere to your opinions, but I have views of my own. Bruce is going to adhere to a strict diet to lose weight. Because we have a signed contract, you must adhere to the terms. Adhere to my award winning recipe and you will have a delicious cake. Not everyone has to adhere to the way you raise your children! Because Johnny did not adhere to the homework directions, he earned a failing grade.

Acuity

(n.) sharpness (particularly of the mind or senses) In order for my daughter to get into the school's gifted program, she had to take a mental acuity test. A sniper's visual acuity has to be exceptional because he must be able to clearly see his targets. According to many people, smoking marijuana does not decrease your intellectual acuity. Owls make use of their excellent visual acuity to chase their prey at night. When Jane had an ear infection, her auditory acuity was so low she could barely hear anything. The sedative reduced my mental acuity to the point I could barely remember my own name. As the admissions board reviewed the college applications, the members focused on accepting only students with the highest academic acuity. Glaucoma has greatly lessened my grandmother's visual acuity. As soon as I put on my glasses, my optical acuity improved. The mouse's mental acuity increased after it had been injected with the serum for thirty days.

agape

(of the mouth) wide open, especially with surprise or wonder. Before you eat oysters, clams, or mussels, always check to be sure that the shells are firmly closed and not even a little bit agape. When I first saw the sunset in the Grand Canyon, I could only stand staring with my mouth agape. Even though the tornado left us standing agape in the midst of all our ruined possessions, we couldn't help feeling a huge sense of gratitude that none of us had been hurt. I didn't realize how hurtful my words had been until I saw Sherrie's expression, agape with shock. With its staring, glassy eye and its mouth agape, Penny couldn't bear to look at the trout on her plate, much less eat it. We watched in dread as the toddler, face crimson and mouth agape, geared up for a colossal tantrum. Despite the danger, Christopher was rooted to the spot as he watched the rabid dog staggering toward him, his jaws agape and slobbering. After everyone jumped and yelled "Surprise," Candace just stared at everyone, her mouth and eyes agape with astonishment. While her friends stood around her looking agape, Mary Ann threw her engagement ring as far as she could into the ocean. Dirk asked the taxidermist to pose the bear he had shot with its mouth agape and teeth bared, as if it were roaring.

Abase

(v) to humiliate, degrade My stepmother is an evil woman who likes to abase little children because she had a miserable childhood herself. Because Mark hated himself, he often tried to abase others by calling them names. I will not remain married to a man who tries to abase me in order to make me feel worthless! Although I need money badly, I will not abase myself by working for pennies. My jealous sister tried to abase me by making fun of my reading glasses. When my brother behaved badly, my mother would abase him by comparing him to a bad puppy. The gossip columnist tried to abase the singer's reputation by spreading lies about him. Even though John was angry at his wife for losing a thousand dollars, he chose not to abase her with cruel words. Although Alice bullies smaller kids at school, she does not abase her younger brother at home. I could not hold my tongue when the snobby customer in front of me tried to abase the salesperson by screaming at her.

Accentuate

(v.) - to emphasize, to highlight The bright colored eyeliner will accentuate Ann's beautiful eyes. When shopping, Kathryn always picks out blouses that accentuate her tiny waist. Harry tried to accentuate the positive aspects of moving into a smaller home. During the programming interview, make sure you accentuate your familiarity with coding languages. Children sometimes suffer from low self-esteem when their parents constantly accentuate their mistakes. In her dating profile, Ellen went out of her way to accentuate her best traits. The little girl wore a bright pink bow to accentuate her adorable ponytails. When Margaret was trying to sell her home, she hired an interior decorator to accentuate the spacious design of the property. The spray used by the forensics team will accentuate any blood specks that might be at the crime scene. When Alan is drunk, he tends to accentuate his words.

Abrogate

(v.) to abolish, usually by authority You cannot abrogate anyone's right to free speech! With thunderstorms rolling in this afternoon, we may abrogate today's outdoor protest. A good father would never abrogate his parental responsibilities. Our city needs to abrogate outdated laws. If you talk out loud in class, I will abrogate your right to choose where to sit. While the United States abolished slavery back in 1865, some countries have yet to abrogate it. More cities are beginning to abrogate smoking in public places because of second-hand smoke hazards. Animal lovers are protesting to abrogate the use of animals in science. Because we have a signed contract, you cannot abrogate your end of the agreement. As a police officer, I cannot abrogate my legal duty to enforce the law.

Acquiesce

(v.) to accept without protest; to agree or submit While I did not want to go to the show with Laura, her begging eventually caused me to acquiesce. The administration decided to acquiesce and let the students have a dance. Even though it was her favorite purse, Jana decided to acquiesce and hand it over to the mugger. Although Larry's every instinct told him to acquiesce and sign over his company, he decided to fight for his future. I would rather acquiesce to her demands than listen to her constantly scream! Right now, John's parents do not want him to enroll in an art school, but he believes they will acquiesce in time. Despite the fact he is losing the debate, Francois will never acquiesce. Though I do not want to complete the project, I may acquiesce if a promotion is involved. Do not acquiesce and sign that agreement until you have reviewed it first! Currently, the king is considering a declaration of war, but he may acquiesce after hearing from his council.

Acclimate

(v.) to adapt to a new climate, environment, or situation When you go up into the mountains, allow yourself a little time for your lungs to acclimate to the high elevation. It will take a while for me to acclimate to the three-hour time difference. Since Mark grew up in Florida, he doubted if he would ever acclimate to New York's weather conditions. The exchange student will be partnered with a peer leader to make it easier for her to acclimate to her new school. Before locking your dog in a crate, you should leave the door open and give him time to acclimate to his new environment. Hopefully Kurt will learn his new job duties quickly and will be able to easily acclimate into his new position. While the pool water may seem cold at first, soon your body will acclimate to the water temperature. Because Gina had never taken a cruise before, she had to acclimate to the ship's movement. After being a bachelor for over fifty years, George will need time to acclimate to married life. The best way to acclimate to a new exercise routine is by working out regularly.

Allay

(v.) to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve A good teacher will work hard to allay the concerns of a new student. Last night, I spent over an hour trying to allay my daughter's fears about the boogieman. Jim hoped a doctor's diagnosis would allay his worry about the rash on his arm. Even though the president has apologized for his lack of action during the crisis, his statement has done nothing to allay public anger. The man's solid alibi helped to allay the detective's suspicions about him. Hopefully, the company's soaring stock price will allay the concerns of nervous stockholders. By praying night and day, the people hoped to allay the anger of the gods. Walter tried to allay his wife's concerns about sending their daughter to an out-of-state college by pointing out the short travel distance by plane. After the terrorist attack, the president made a speech to try and allay the nation's fears. The manager's offer of a free meal did nothing to allay my anger towards the rude waitress.

Admonish

(v.) to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty I hope my boss does not admonish me for being late. Cops can admonish anyone who goes over the speed limit. Stewart is going to admonish the restaurant for poor customer service. Critics always admonish me for my pitchy singing. Instead of applauding Jake for that poorly written speech, admonish him. My drama teacher would admonish students for repeatedly forgetting the lines. Admonish Kimberly for leaving crumbs all over the place! How am I not going to admonish you for misbehaving at school? Dad is going to admonish you for not doing the chores.

Absolve

(v.) to clear from blame, responsibility, or guilt The jury's innocent verdict appears to absolve the defendant of any guilt. After the traffic accident, the drunk driver tried to absolve himself of responsibility for the wreck. The fact you did not shoot the storeowner during your gang's robbery does not absolve you of his death. If you wish to absolve yourself of your sins, you must first confess them and not repeat the same actions. The lack of funding does not absolve the city government from its guilt of not being prepared for the storm. When the president granted the prisoner a pardon, he felt the man's good deeds were enough to absolve him of his wrongdoings. Admitting you lied does not absolve you from the guilt of deceiving your spouse. While you can expect the court to be more lenient if you turn in the stolen money, you cannot expect that action to absolve you of all blame. To absolve Jake from the crime would be a huge injustice since he already admitted to his part in the burglary. The five-year warranty does not absolve the car manufacturer from the liability of selling a faulty vehicle.

Adulterate

(v.) to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value If you want to adulterate your alcoholic drink, you should add some water to it. The restaurant was fined for trying to adulterate the beef with cheap meats. The evil pharmacist was arrested after he tried to adulterate the cancer medicines for profit. As the parent of a young child, I often adulterate the apple juice in my house with water. Because I have worked hard to become a respected person, it would concern me greatly if someone tried to adulterate my reputation with lies. I am not paying for the draft beer because I watched the bartender adulterate it with water. The manufacturers of cheap olive oil often adulterate the liquid to increase their supply of the merchandise. Although the company swears it does not adulterate its products, it is obvious to everyone that the quality of the firm's goods has greatly decreased. During Sunday morning church service, it is my job to adulterate the wine so it is weak enough for everyone to safely drink. It is against the law to misbrand and adulterate drugs sold for medical reasons.

Abet

(v.) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy) The photo editing software is sure to abet my odds of winning the photo competition. Can you believe the community has decided to abet crime by not giving the police the names of suspected gang members? Giving the dog a treat is a way to abet his obedience. During the press conference, the president vowed severe consequences for any person or group who chose to abet the terrorists. Many states have passed repeat offender laws to show criminals they do not abet repeated cases of the same offense. To abet continued gaming, most casinos provide guests with frequent player rewards. The grandmother was arrested for trying to abet her grandson, a prison escapee. Isn't it rather ironic that a doctor would go out of his way to abet a suicide? Although Carol claims to support Jay's filmmaking efforts, she has done nothing to abet his goals. If you abet violence in your home, you should not be surprised if your children grow up to be abusers.

Accrue

(v.) to grow or accumulate over time; to happen as a natural result Even though a traditional savings count will accrue a small amount of interest every year, other types of investments are better hedges against inflation. The benefits of following a healthy lifestyle will accrue over time. If you don't want the tax penalties to accrue until they're unmanageable, you'd better work out a payment plan with the IRS. I enjoy using this credit card because the more I use it for purchases, the more mileage points I can accrue. I changed jobs because I didn't like losing sick leave every year instead of having them accrue and roll over. I thought I was getting a good deal, but as the hidden fees began to accrue I found I was actually paying more. At last, Brad felt that he had brought his company to a point where he could just stand back and accrue the profits. When Jim was first hired, his supervisor told him that the longer he stayed with the company, the more benefits he would accrue. We really have to clean out the storeroom because the more surplus junk we accrue, the less room we have for anything. Jeremy's only goal in life seems to be to accrue as much money as he can.

Abate

(v.) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit I hope this medicine will abate the pain in my leg. In time, his anger will abate, and he will forgive you. With any luck, the storm will abate soon so we can still have our picnic. The firemen sprayed water on the burning house to abate the structural damage. After my massage, I felt my stress level abate a great deal. Even though the unemployment rate continues to abate, voters are still unhappy with the president's economic plan. Because the paparazzi kept following the celebrity around town, the media coverage did not seem as though it would ever abate. I married my husband because I know my love for him will never abate. By adding an extra lane to the highway, we can abate the traffic congestion during rush hour. The diet pill is supposed to abate my appetite.

Abridge

(v.) to make shorter His agent told him that he needed to abridge some of the content of his novel so that it would be under 400 pages. Scott and Hillary agreed to abridge their story, leaving out some of the more frightening details so that their parents wouldn't be worried about them. When immigrants enter the county through illegal means, they find that the people in charge not only abridge their basic human rights, but they completely remove them. Editors of some classic literature seem to take a lot of liberties when they abridge the content so that people with lower reading levels can understand what they're reading. Victor has his secretary go through each day's mail so that she can abridge it into a manageable task by separating everything that can be handled by someone else. Mr. Gibson asked me to abridge my report to the committee so that there would be time for questions. If you abridge your testimony to include only the most important details, I think the jury will be more sympathetic to your case. Even though the translation of the material is complete, you still need to abridge the amount of information so that it doesn't overwhelm the students. Despite Jerry's efforts to abridge the amount of time he spends at the office, his friends always know where to find him when he's not at home. In writing a shorter edition of the history textbook, he was required to abridge some of the chapters on the presidents.

Aesthetic

1. Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty. 2. Of pleasing appearance. Our aesthetic enjoyment of the art show was increased by the presence of the open bar. Because Henry could see both the mountains and the ocean from his hotel room, he really enjoyed the aesthetic view. Would you mind giving me your aesthetic opinion of my new handbag? At the end of my two week painting workshop, the result was an aesthetic wonder of black and white that made my instructor speechless with pleasure. My husband's painting, on the other hand, was awful and did not have any aesthetic properties. Since Miriam has a strong aesthetic sense, we have decided to hire her as our landscaper. If you are turned off by the company's new logo, the odds are you cannot see its aesthetic appeal. To many plant lovers, the aesthetic view of a rose is priceless. Helen's living room is so crowded that no one can appreciate the aesthetic beauty of her designer furniture. Because Jonathan was captivated by the aesthetic value of the vase, he paid over a million dollars for the collectible item.

Advocate

A person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. Any good doctor will advocate healthy eating for his patients. Since Jason is an advocate of living a healthy life, I find it quite surprising he smokes cigarettes. As a teacher, I am a strong advocate for more parent involvement in schools. Colin joined the military because he wanted to be an advocate for freedom and justice. If you are trying to lose weight, I would like to advocate that you stop eating junk food. The outspoken singer is an advocate for gay and lesbian rights. Rather than complain about the laws of your country, you should advocate for them to be changed. Although Jean is a pro-choice advocate, she would never have an abortion herself. Maggie does not advocate the death penalty even though a man killed her son. Because my lawyer was such a fierce advocate for me, I won my court case.

Abnegation

A renunciation or surrender of a right, belief, idea, pleasure, etc. Her abnegation of ice cream and cookies is due to her Olympic team training. Because everyone knew Jane loved serving the public, they were shocked by her abnegation of the congressional seat. The school counselor hoped she could encourage her students to consider the abnegation of drug use. When Mark decided to protest chemical dumping, he used the abnegation of food and water as his method of protest. Frank's abnegation of responsibility for his son's behavior angered the judge. After growing up in a very religious household, Cara knew a great deal about the abnegation of materialistic items. Everyone expected the government's abnegation of responsibility for the long war. If you wish to be a monk, you must not have a problem with the abnegation of worldly possessions. The priest's abnegation of his faith was a shock to everyone in the community. When the atheist was questioned about his beliefs, he was quick to tell others about his abnegation of Christ.

Accolade

An award, an honor; approval, an acknowledgement, praise When the police officer was offered the plaque, he refused to accept an accolade for doing his job. Mrs. Smith is such a great teacher that she is always getting one accolade after another. During the monthly meeting, the company president will present an accolade to the employee of the month. The Medal of Honor is the highest accolade a soldier can win. Since the lone fireman rescued twenty children from a burning bus, he will more than likely receive an accolade from the president. The animal rescue group deserves an accolade for finding homes for over seven hundred abandoned pets last year. Because I am not well known at school, I know I will not receive the "most popular" accolade from my peers. The play has been sold-out for over eleven months and is certain to win at least one accolade at the awards show on Sunday. The quarterback said he did not care about winning an accolade as long as he had the support of his fans. Because the shy girl did not like being in the spotlight, she quickly accepted her accolade and walked off the stage.

Ablution

Act of cleansing Sylvia has a rare condition that makes her break out in a rash if she gets water on her skin, so her morning ablution consists of using cleansing cream and tissue. Some religions require believers to perform an ablution before prayer so that they are clean and worthy in the presence of their God. Although the injury wasn't severe, the nurse brought in sterile water for the doctor to perform an ablution so that it would be less likely to become infected. Once I have my cup of coffee and do my morning ablution, including brushing and flossing, I'm ready to start my day. Because each daughter's daily ablution seems to take forever, mornings in a house with four teenage girls and one bathroom are unbearable. Jerry explained to his friends that his parents had taught him to perform an ablution before he ate a meal or snack, but it had nothing to do with religion. In a ritual act of ablution before prayer, Rashad meditated while he washed his face, hands, upper forehead, and the tops of his feet. Since the cast made it impossible for Denise to shower or bathe in a tub, the doctor instructed to carry out her ablution in the form of a sponge bath. Dedicated practitioners of yoga swear by a bedtime ablution ritual to relax the body and encourage deeper sleep. Since doctors are required to perform an ablution before they examine each patient, dry, chapped hands are an occupational hazard.

Affront

An open insult or indignity. The crooked cop is an affront to all that is good about law enforcement. By not bowing to the queen, you have shown an affront to the entire royal family. The monks considered the loud party next door to be an affront to their religious beliefs. Because the old man considers children walking through his yard to be a personal affront, he often calls the police during the summer months. Many people find the idea of building a mall over an abandoned cemetery to be an affront to the dead and their families. Before the judge sentenced the teenage killer, he told him his heinous actions were an affront to all civilized people. The teacher took it as an affront when the rebellious student threw a piece of trash at her. Although I am not opposed to the production of rated R movies, I would consider watching one to be an affront to my religious values. The minorities at the event took the racist symbol as an affront to their ethnic backgrounds. When Jack heard the mean joke Cathy made about him, he took it as a personal affront.

Adversary

An opponent, enemy I will destroy my adversary during our battle. Since as long as I can remember, Caroline has been my evil adversary. Sometimes I think my math teacher is my adversary who loves to watch me fail. If you don't believe in yourself, then you are your worst adversary. When I grew up, I realized my mother was my best friend and not my adversary. The villain is the superhero's adversary. Because the dog sees me as an adversary, he is always chasing me. Do you know who your adversary will be in the wrestling match? After my adversary and I talked about our problems, we decided we wanted to be friends instead of enemies. To win the hand of the princess, the knight must defeat his adversary in battle.

Adulation

Excessive praise or flattery Although Jason was a famous celebrity, he was very uncomfortable with the adulation from his fans. It is obvious that most of the billionaire's adulation comes from people who are simply after his money. When the popular singer decided she could only walk on rose petals, everyone knew she had started to let the adulation of her fans gets to her. Fans of the latest vampire book trilogy show a lot of adulation to the books' writer. Because the adulation of his young fans often got out of hand, the heartthrob was unable to leave his hotel without a security team. The adulation and applause from the crowd made the former president smile. After going unnoticed for several years, the model finally graced a magazine cover and became a source of adulation for every man on the planet. My grandmother was a very religious woman who saved her greatest adulation for God. When Bill made the game winning shot, his teammates showered him with adulation. Even when the religious leader left the church, the clergy members continued to offer him adulation in their prayers.

Affable

Easy to converse with; friendly Instead of being such a jerk, you should try being more affable! Since he wanted to be voted the most affable boy at school, Jason always had a smile for everyone. People enjoy eating at that restaurant because the waitresses are always so affable. A most affable man, the candidate is always willing to shake hands with voters. Because Jenna was sometimes quite sarcastic, her friends often forgot how affable she could be. Although he looks great, I won't approach him because I do not believe he is very affable. Danielle is an affable girl who always wears a big grin on her face. Normally, people do not view police officers as affable people, but Officer Jones was very nice. Even though he was dying of cancer, Jamie never lost his affable personality. I would describe Santa Claus as a big affable man who gives toys to children.

Adept

Highly skilled; expert Mark is an adept juggler who can easily manager four balls in the air without dropping one. Although Stephanie seems to have a hard time in science, she is adept at solving math equations. Karen is an adept seamstress who can turn a pair of curtains into a beautiful evening gown. Even though I have a great job, I am not adept at keeping to a budget and often end up broke between paydays. The salesman was adept at charming customers into spending more than they had planned. If you want to become a police officer, you must become adept with a handgun. Jeremy is an adept tennis player who wins practically every match in which he plays. Because Sarah has been swimming since she was a baby, she is now an adept swimmer. The racecar driver is adept at driving at fast speeds. Since Matt rarely plays baseball, he is not adept in the sport.

Adage

Old saying (widely considered to be wise and true) He gets tired of all the same old sayings, so he is always trying to come up with a new adage. In my humble opinion, the good old American adage carries just as much wisdom as any ancient Chinese proverb. Among other things, Ben Franklin is famous for developing an adage to go with each of his philosophical ideals. Despite what that old adage says, I like to have my cake, eat it, and then have another piece. Some old sayings are good advice, but that adage you quoted in your speech is just plain silly. Although Carl likes to drop an adage here and there to make himself sound smart, underneath it all he really doesn't have much to say. If you read every famous adage that has lasted throughout history, you will find that many of them contradict each other. Murphy's Law is a good example of an adage that takes a pessimistic view of life. When you're thinking about buying a used car, remember the old adage, "Let the buyer beware!" Noah decided to open with his favorite old adage and make that the theme for his entire speech.

Abstinence

Refraining from some activity, such as drinking According to my religion, one should refrain from having sex and practice abstinence until marriage. Abstinence from smoking is now mandatory on commercial airlines. Because of strong family support, Frank has been able to maintain his abstinence from alcohol for over twelve years. The goal of the church's teen youth group is to promote abstinence from sex, drugs, and alcohol. When Gail was asked if the nicotine patch helped preserve her abstinence from smoking, she stated the item was very helpful. The nun's commitment to the church requires she maintain an abstinence from all things that are not sacred. Because I am a diabetic, I plan my menus with a focus on abstinence from sugar. Abstinence from sex is the only sure way to prevent unwanted pregnancies. On certain religious holidays, the people in my family eat only fish and maintain an abstinence from other meats. After two weeks of abstinence from unhealthy foods, Sophia started to feel fitter.

Accede

To agree to something At your insistence and to avoid a prolonged argument, I will accede to your contract terms. The company president made a wise decision to accede to consumer pressure and lower the prices of his goods. Perhaps the congressmen should accede to the president's demands so the budget crisis can be averted. Because Jack wants to make his wife happy on their anniversary, he will accede to wear a tuxedo for their dinner date. Do not accede too readily to his demands or he will think you are a wimp! Even though he needed money badly, Harry would not accede to the bank's loan agreement. Unless management is willing to accede to the employees' demands, then the bakery will close indefinitely. It would be a wonderful world if all countries would destroy their atomic resources and accede to a ban on nuclear weapons. While the military commander is unable to accede to his troop's request for a forty-eight hour leave, he can give them a twenty-four hour leave for rest and recuperation. Rather than risk losing my home, I made the decision to accede to the finance company's conditions.

Abound

To exist in great numbers At the beginning of the school year, computer deals abound on the Internet. Walking trails abound in the beautiful park in the middle of the city. During spring break, bikini-clad girls abound on the beaches. Local beers abound in the neighborhood pub that is rumored to have some of the best beverages in the world. While recreational activities abound at the resort, I am unfortunately sidelined with a broken ankle. In the celebrity crowd, it seems as though drunk driving incidents abound as food for tabloid journalists. Tales abound of crooked contractors who steal money from trusting senior citizens. In our small town, mysteries abound about the haunted house that sits on the hill. Inside of the luxury apartment complex, tennis courts and swimming pools abound. Since I love to try new foods, I hope food vendors will abound at the arts festival.

Affectation

Unnatural or artificial behavior, usually intended to impress Jake's proper manner of speaking was an affectation he put on when he was surrounded by the country club set. Because Miriam is always true to herself, she never feels the need to put on a fake affectation in front of others. My mother does not realize buying a pricey new dress to attend a party is an affectation to impress strangers. While I never try to impress my peers at school, my twin sister will take on an affectation on a regular basis to attract attention. Your habit of bragging excessively is an affectation that makes you unattractive as a person. Even though I enjoy making new friends, I am not the type of person who will assume an affectation to influence public opinion of me. The poor man's affectation of wealth did not fool any of the elite at the party. Since I wanted my fellow cheerleaders to like me, I had to put on an affectation of indifference when they made fun of my best friend. Although John carries himself with a soldierly affectation, he has never served in the armed forces. Are you really so kind or is your kindheartedness an affectation designed to get people to like you?

Acquittal

a judgment of not guilty After the defendant learned of his acquittal, he jumped for joy. Everyone was shocked by the killer's acquittal which allowed him to leave prison. When there is not enough evidence, a criminal case will usually end with an acquittal. The man's foreign diplomat status ensures he will receive an acquittal on any charge. Once the jury learned the defendant had a possible alibi, they had no choice but to announce an acquittal in the case. The victim's family was completely outraged by the defendant's acquittal. When the accused serial killer received an acquittal, the entire country was enraged. Although the defendant received an acquittal on the most serious charges, he still has to go to prison for one year on minor charges. The animal rights group was far from happy when the suspected puppy killer received an acquittal for the offense. Since I am innocent of all charges, I hope I will receive an acquittal after the jury hears the testimony.

akin

adj. Of similar nature or qualities. For Elizabeth, divorcing her ninth husband was akin to throwing out old shoes and buying a new pair. There are some people who believe asking for government assistance is akin to admitting one is a failure. In Lisa's mind, the death of her beloved dog was akin to the death of a dear relative. When the Oscar-winning actress checked into the hotel, she received treatment akin to the attention normally given to members of a royal family. As a loving parent, Anne believes her children's artwork is akin to museum masterpieces. To the nature lover, the sound of the birds chirping is akin to charming music. Gordon takes his cooking seriously and swears his skill is akin to mastering a scientific discipline. The drug czar viewed the running of his empire as akin to managing a multi-million dollar corporation. For me, being interviewed by the human resources team was akin to being interrogated by a team of police detectives. Attacking Christians for their beliefs is akin to the assaults that once took place on women accused of witchcraft.

Ailment

an illness, typically a minor one Unfortunately, the stomach ailment causes vomiting and chronic diarrhea. Recent celebrity suicides have highlighted depression as an actual ailment. Even after several diagnostic tests, the physician could not identify the cause of Lance's ailment. Fever and nausea are two symptoms that frequently accompany the ailment. Because of a respiratory ailment, my Uncle Wyatt died at a very early age. The drinking of contaminated water can cause a serious gastrointestinal ailment. Since Alice has a contagious ailment, she will not return to school until her body is free of infection. The doctor asked me to describe the symptoms of my ailment. If Ryan does not take his medication, his minor ailment may become a severe illness. Hal's ailment kept him bedridden and miserable.

Alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness. Having studied really hard last night, the student took the exam with alacrity. The boy jumped up and down with alacrity as he inched closer to the candy store. My alacrity for playing basketball with friends is much higher than writing a boring research paper. Six innings in with a home-run, the baseball player swung the bat each time with alacrity. Her alacrity to learn more about biology grew as she diligently studied the subject. Because Jessica lacked alacrity in reading, her desire to finish the book diminished. Though dad never finished high school, watching his son receive a diploma sparked an alacrity to get his GED. What broke my alacrity to lose weight was my irresistible craving for sweets. While he once had the desire to learn Chinese, his alacrity to master the language faded after realizing how difficult it really is. Waiting all her life for this moment, Susan Boyle sung 'I dream of dream' with alacrity, despite having an unwelcoming audience.

Abject

cast down in spirit or hope After his wife died, he was an abject man. Janice was in such an abject state that she tried to kill herself. While I am feeling a little sad at the moment, I do not plan on being abject for much longer. When Mark lost his job, he was abject for weeks and would not leave his house. The football player was abject after being cut from the team. Because Miranda has an abject personality, she rarely smiles. Although Gerald felt abject at his birthday party, he pretended to have a good time to please his friends. Abject and lost, Monica did not know what to do when her husband left her for another woman. After losing the championship game, the team was in an abject mood. The homeless man was abject because he had no place to live.

Abhorrent

causing or deserving strong dislike or hatred As I looked around the filthy apartment, I had to wonder who could live in such abhorrent conditions. Jack's abhorrent behavior caused him to get kicked out of the restaurant. Because I find violence abhorrent, I rarely watch action movies. The idea of being stuck in an office all day is abhorrent to a nature lover like myself. When the citizens learned about the abhorrent crime, they screamed for justice outside the police station. The soldier's abhorrent conduct earned him a dishonorable discharge from the army. To most Christians, the idea of having an abortion is an abhorrent one. The insects flew away from the bushes after smelling the abhorrent odor of the chemicals. As Mark is very concerned about his health, he looks upon smoking as an abhorrent habit. Sally divorced her husband after he began to treat her in an abhorrent manner.

Allege

claim or assert that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically without proof that this is the case In the lawsuit, the parents allege the school system failed to protect their daughter from bullies. How can you allege the airline injured your back when you have never been anywhere near an airport? During the divorce proceedings, Jane will allege her husband mistreated her so she can get custody of her children. The prosecutor will allege you were involved in your husband's murder because of the large insurance settlement you received. As I watched the politician's commercial, I realized he was attempting to allege his opponent was a racist. Now a number of women are trying to allege the wealthy actor sexually assaulted them. The millionaire's greedy children will allege he is insane in order to control his estate. Since my father does not like my new boyfriend, Erik, he called the police and attempted to allege Erik was a drug dealer. The prosecutor was shocked when he heard the defense attorney allege the victim's spouse was responsible for the crime and not the defendant. Without any evidence, the government can only allege the militants are behind the bombing.

Aberrant

deviating from what is normal or expected John's aberrant behavior is going to get him in a lot of trouble one of these days. When the astronomer looked into the telescope, he was shocked by the sight of a star moving in an aberrant path. If my aunt does not take her medication, she will have aberrant mood swings. Sarah's aberrant manners led to her being kicked out of the movie theater. My unusual uncle has an aberrant way of tying his shoelaces. Because my daughter has aberrant eating habits, she often eats dinner very late at night. When the plane blew up during takeoff, it was an aberrant outcome that no one expected. The drunken man's aberrant conduct drew the police officer's attention. Once my nephew started using drugs, he began to behave in an aberrant fashion. An aberrant growth of body cells is often a symptom of cancer.

Albeit

even though; although I am a huge fan of Madonna's music, albeit I do not own any of her albums. The movie, albeit rather brief in length, was quite engaging and starred my favorite actor. The day, albeit a bit cloudy, was perfect for a barbecue. Harold was already running late for his meeting, albeit it was only six o'clock. My favorite football team won the game, albeit not by their usual lead. Juan is a great worker, albeit he often arrives late to the office. Albeit short, the poem was very moving. Eileen's grandfather appeared on the newscast, albeit rather late in the evening. Albeit expensive, the house was huge and located in one of the best neighborhoods in the city. My mother had a unique idea, albeit a weird one.

aghast

filled with horror or shock The teacher was aghast at the large number of students who failed the easy test. When the magician did his disappearing trick, the speechless audience was aghast. Helen was aghast when she found the illegal drugs buried in her backyard. As the car moved rapidly towards me, I was aghast and could not move to safety. After Jenna learned her mother had spent her entire college fund, she became aghast and angry. Although I was aghast at the sight of the bloodied body in my house, I still managed to call the police. The thought of the federal government monitoring religious activities leaves many aghast. I was so aghast when my favorite celebrity walked passed me that I could not speak. While my friends thought the fake spider was funny, the plastic creature left me aghast and in tears. Herman really liked the house, but he was aghast at the property's three million dollar price tag.

Alleviate

make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe Take an aspirin to alleviate your headache. To alleviate hunger in our town, each employee of our company donated five cans of food. If you want to alleviate the situation, start by apologizing for your mistake. Scared of heights all her life, nothing would alleviate Ruth's fear of flying. One local factory will alleviate the town's job shortage by providing 250 more jobs. Drink plenty of water to alleviate dehydration. Visit your distant mother once in a while to alleviate your relationship with her. Listening to soothing music will not only alleviate stress, but it will help you connect to your inner peace. Additional interstate lanes will alleviate traffic congestion. Finding the lost boy alive would alleviate many concerns in the community.

Acumen

quick, keen, or accurate knowledge or insight John's business acumen, along with his computer skills, made him an asset to the software company. While you excel in the area of customer service, you do not possess the financial acumen necessary to become a branch manager. Although Sarah wants to become a state senator, she lacks the political acumen to win enough votes. You need more than acumen to become a successful car salesperson. Even though Henri was a fantastic chef, he was unable to run a profitable restaurant because he lacked business acumen. This board game will put your trading acumen to the test. The acumen displayed by our principal is the reason our school is one of the best in the nation. Since you have made so many unprofitable trades, your business acumen is in question! Attorneys with acumen are highly valued at any law firm. Over the past three years, the company president has displayed unshakable acumen.

Affliction

something that causes pain, suffering, or distress Although some people claim that she is lucky because she can't gain weight, she considers it an affliction. Despite her adolescent affliction of acne scarring, she is a beautiful woman, inside and out. If his only affliction is the inability to tell a lie, he will never make it in politics. A good percentage of all homeless people suffer from some untreated mental affliction. Alcoholism is a serious disease, but those who are affected by this affliction rarely get any sympathy from the general public. Throughout history, lower classes and many minorities have suffered because those in power considered them to be an affliction on society. Repetitive motion syndrome is a painful affliction that results from making the same movements in a continuing manner for long periods of time. She had never told anyone about her affliction because she didn't want any special treatment. I never knew very much about MS until my best friend started to experience some signs of the affliction. Because the symptoms of food poisoning and intestinal flu are very similar, we often don't know which affliction is making our lives so miserable.

Abeyance

temporary suppression or suspension Immediately following the terrorist attack, pilots had to observe a period of abeyance where they could not depart from the airport. Once the famine was over, the food rationing dictated by the government was put in abeyance. Until after the murder trial, the inheritance will be placed in abeyance. Trading on the stock market has temporarily been put in abeyance while the trade commission investigates financial misdeeds. Jane's cancer has returned after being in abeyance for nearly two years. Due to budget cuts, employer contributions to retirement accounts are being put in abeyance. Because of Justin's helpful testimony, the judge agreed to an abeyance of his sentence. Near the end of the legislative session, the congressmen put several topics of discussion on abeyance until the next meeting. Since the divorcing couple was unable to agree on a financial settlement, the judge placed the case in abeyance until an agreement could be reached. The vote is to be held in abeyance until all committee members are present.

Adumbrate

to create an outline or a faint shadow With assistance from the victim, the sketch artist will adumbrate a picture of the robbery suspect. The artist chose colors to adumbrate the trees in the forest so they would seem mysterious and shadowy. When my mother lit the candle in the darkness, it was nice to see the light adumbrate our shadows on the wall. The photographer dimmed the light so it would adumbrate the model and surround her with shadows. On Halloween, it is said that the moonlight will adumbrate a dark silhouette around every witch who walks the Earth. The dim stage lights adumbrate the actor and make him appear like a ghostly version of himself. When the sun rises, it will adumbrate the bridge and create a great photo opportunity. James will adumbrate his character ideas so the animator will know how to bring his cartoon to life. As the flashlight batteries grow weaker, the light will only adumbrate a dim glow. The purpose of the summary is to adumbrate the movie's plot.

Abjure

to give up a belief or an activity After the tyrant took over the country, the citizens had to abjure their political beliefs. In order to marry the peasant he loved, the prince made the decision to abjure his title. Because John ignored his parents' plea to abjure a life of crime, he ended up in prison by making bad choices. Although chocolate cake is Martha's favorite dessert, she has chosen to abjure it while on her diet. Because the lawyer felt his potential client was uncooperative, he decided to abjure the case and let another attorney handle it. Even though Tom made a promise to abjure from criminal acts, he continued to break the law. While the military leader claimed to abjure unnecessary violence, he was quick to send his soldiers off to battle. Because the heiress does not care about money, she will abjure her inheritance and request that it be donated to charity. We could not believe it when Father Lawrence made the choice to abjure his faith and leave the church. As part of my religious faith, I abjure meat and only eat vegetables and fruits.

Abdicate

to give up a position, right, or power The young prince became king after his older brother decided to abdicate the throne. Because the mother chose to abdicate her role as a parent, her children have become the terrors of the neighborhood. Of course, it is easier to abdicate your responsibilities than to be a good citizen. Since the dictator of that country will not simply abdicate his position, we must go to war to remove him from power. When his company's stock price dropped under a dollar, the CEO decided to abdicate his title and leave the firm. Because of a sex scandal, the president had no choice but to abdicate his office. It is obvious from the bad behavior of these children that their parents have chosen to abdicate their jobs as good role models. Angry at her husband, the wife decided to abdicate her household position of cook and cleaner for a whole week. Although my daughter is getting married to a wonderful man today, it is still very hard for me to abdicate my role as her protector. On her ninetieth birthday, the queen will abdicate her throne and let her oldest son become king.

Allude

to make an indirect reference suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at. "she had a way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name" mention without discussing at length. "we will allude briefly to the main points" The teacher asked the students to not allude to any online sources in their research papers. Even though the author claims his new work does not allude to his previous novel, it actually does contain a reference in the book's second chapter. For the dedicated searchers, there are clues hidden in the forest which allude to the treasure's location. In his upcoming speech, the president will allude to his economic stimulus plan. The mafia boss ordered his men to not allude to any criminal activity during their telephone conversations. Everyone is wondering if the singer will allude to her latest failed relationship in her new song. As a parent, I am not afraid to allude to a number of possible consequences when my daughter starts to misbehave. Because the pastor is concerned about the number of divorces among his clergy, he will allude to the importance of marriage during Sunday's sermon. In his opening statement, the prosecuting attorney is not allowed to allude to the defendant's former crimes. Eric was a boastful man who never missed an opportunity to allude to his own wealth.

Abstain

to refrain from something by one's choice Because of my health, I am going to abstain from the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Janet will abstain from smoking while she is pregnant. If you want to lose weight, you should abstain from large amounts of junk food. I will give my husband one hundred dollars if he can abstain from using profanity for a week. Since my sister has chosen to abstain from eating red meat, I will not be serving any beef dishes at my party. The pregnant woman could not abstain from licking the chocolate ice cream container. Although Taylor wants to abstain from gossiping, she is afraid her friends will encourage her to talk about other people. Marcus found it difficult to abstain from talking in class. Because I cannot abstain from eating meat, I would not make a good vegetarian. To avoid offending his voters, the politician will abstain from voting on the unpopular bill.

Abhor

to reject something very strongly; hate I abhor liars. We abhor violence against others and respect everyone, regardless of a person's race, color and creed. Work at a job that you love, not one that you abhor. She would abhor the thought of writing a 40-page research paper. If you abhor mathematics so much, why not switch majors? Sitting in the waiting room for 2 hours is something I abhor with a passion. Remember to sign the petition against tax increases if you abhor getting more money docked from your paycheck! Michelle would abhor being the bearer of most jokes. You abhor the dentist, but you love the doctor? Taking out the trash is a chore many kids abhor.