English unit 2 vocabulary

Ambiguous

adjective adjective: ambiguous (of language) open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning. "the question is rather ambiguous" unclear or inexact because a choice between alternatives has not been made. "this whole society is morally ambiguous" synonyms: equivocal, ambivalent, open to debate/argument, arguable, debatable; More obscure, unclear, imprecise, vague, abstruse, doubtful, dubious, uncertain "an ambiguous explanation" antonyms: clear

Amiable

adjective adjective: amiable having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner. "an amiable, unassuming fellow" synonyms: friendly, affable, amicable, cordial; More warm, warmhearted, good-natured, nice, pleasant, agreeable, likable, genial, good-humored, charming, easy to get along with, companionable, sociable, personable; informalchummy, simpatico "you'll find that the folks in this department are genuinely amiable" antonyms: unfriendly, disagreeable

Amiss

adjective adjective: amiss 1. not quite right; inappropriate or out of place. "there was something amiss about his calculations" synonyms: wrong, awry, faulty, out of order, defective, flawed, unsatisfactory, incorrect, not right; More inappropriate, improper "an inspection revealed nothing amiss" antonyms: right, in order adverb adverb: amiss 1. wrongly or inappropriately. "how terrible was the danger of her loving amiss"

Attentive

adjective adjective: attentive paying close attention to something. "never before had she had such an attentive audience" synonyms: perceptive, observant, alert, acute, aware, heedful, vigilant; More intent, focused, undistracted, committed, studious, diligent, conscientious, earnest; wary, watchful; informalnot missing a trick, on the ball "a bright and attentive scholar" assiduously attending to the comfort or wishes of others; very polite or courteous. "the hotel has a pleasant atmosphere and attentive service" synonyms: conscientious, considerate, thoughtful, kind, caring, solicitous, understanding, sympathetic, obliging, accommodating, courteous, gallant, chivalrous; More dutiful, responsible "the most attentive of husbands" antonyms: inconsiderate

Aloof

adjective not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant. "they were courteous but faintly aloof" synonyms: distant, detached, unfriendly, antisocial, unsociable, avoidant, remote, unapproachable, formal, stiff, withdrawn, reserved, unforthcoming, uncommunicative, unsympathetic; informalstandoffish "part of their strategy is to remain aloof during the first stages of negotiation" conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste. "he stayed aloof from the bickering"

Aloft

adjective & adverb up in or into the air; overhead. "the congregation sways, hands aloft" synonyms: upward, up, high, in(to) the air, in(to) the sky, skyward, on high, overhead, heavenward, high (up), up above "they held the banner aloft" up the mast or into the rigging of a sailing vessel.

Askance

adverb adverb: askance; adverb: askant with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval. "the reformers looked askance at the mystical tradition" synonyms: suspiciously, skeptically, cynically, mistrustfully, distrustfully, doubtfully, dubiously; More disapprovingly, contemptuously, scornfully, disdainfully "they look askance at anything foreign" antonyms: approvingly

Asunder

adverbarchaicliterary adverb: asunder apart; divided. "those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder" synonyms: apart, up, in two; More to pieces, to shreds, to bits "the fabric of society may be torn asunder" into pieces. "the desk burst asunder"

Astronomical

informal (of an amount) extremely large. "he wanted an astronomical fee" synonyms: huge, enormous, very large, prodigious, monumental, colossal, vast, gigantic, massive; More

Assumption

noun 1. a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. "they made certain assumptions about the market" synonyms: supposition, presumption, belief, expectation, conjecture, speculation, surmise, guess, premise, hypothesis; More 2. the action of taking or beginning to take power or responsibility. "the assumption of an active role in regional settlements" synonyms: seizure, arrogation, appropriation, expropriation, commandeering, confiscation, hijacking, wresting More

Allusion

noun an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference. "an allusion to Shakespeare" synonyms: reference to, mention of, suggestion of, hint to, intimation of, comment on, remark on "the town's name is an allusion to its founding family" the practice of making allusions, especially as an artistic device.

Aspersion

noun noun: aspersion; plural noun: aspersions an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something. "I don't think anyone is casting aspersions on you" synonyms: vilify, disparage, denigrate, defame, run down, impugn, belittle, criticize, condemn, decry, denounce, pillory; More malign, slander, libel, discredit; informalpull apart, throw mud at, knock, badmouth, dis "in saying this, I do not mean to cast aspersions on the Senator"

Assay

noun noun: assay 1. the testing of a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality. "submission of plate for assay" synonyms: evaluation, assessment, appraisal, analysis, examination, test/tests, testing, inspection, scrutiny "this brand of herbal supplement will undergo independent assay" a procedure for measuring the biochemical or immunological activity of a sample. plural noun: assays "each assay was performed in duplicate" verb verb: assay; 3rd person present: assays; past tense: assayed; past participle: assayed; gerund or present participle: assaying 1. determine the content or quality of (a metal or ore). determine the biochemical or immunological activity of (a sample). "cell contents were assayed for enzyme activity" examine (something) in order to assess its nature. "stepping inside, I quickly assayed the clientele" synonyms: evaluate, assess, appraise, analyze, examine, test, inspect, scrutinize, probe "gold is assayed to determine its purity" 2. archaic attempt.

Assent

noun noun: assent 1. the expression of approval or agreement. "a loud murmur of assent" official agreement or sanction. "the governor has power to withhold his assent from a bill" synonyms: agreement, acceptance, approval, approbation, consent, acquiescence, compliance, concurrence; More sanction, endorsement, confirmation; permission, leave, blessing; informalthe go-ahead, the nod, the green light, the OK, the thumbs up "they are likely to give their assent" antonyms: dissent, refusal verb verb: assent; 3rd person present: assents; past tense: assented; past participle: assented; gerund or present participle: assenting 1. express approval or agreement, typically officially. "Roosevelt assented to the agreement" synonyms: agree to, accept, approve, consent to, acquiesce in, concur in, give one's blessing to; More sanction, endorse, confirm; informalgive the go-ahead to, give the nod to, give the green light to, give the OK to, OK, give the thumbs up to; formalaccede to

Assurance

noun noun: assurance; plural noun: assurances 1. a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise. "he gave an assurance that work would not recommence until Wednesday" synonyms: word of honor, word, promise, pledge, vow, avowal, oath, bond, undertaking, guarantee, commitment "you have my assurance" 2. confidence or certainty in one's own abilities. "she drove with assurance" synonyms: self-confidence, confidence, self-assurance, self-possession, nerve, poise, aplomb, levelheadedness; More calmness, composure, sangfroid, equanimity; informalcool, unflappability "her calm assurance" antonyms: self-doubt certainty about something. "the crowd's assurance of Joe's guilt" synonyms: guarantee, certainty, certitude, surety, confidence, expectation "there is no assurance of getting one's money back" antonyms: uncertainty

Atlas

noun noun: atlas; plural noun: atlases; plural noun: atlantes 1. a book of maps or charts. "I looked in the atlas to find a map of Italy" a book of illustrations or diagrams on any subject. "Atlas of Surgical Operations" 2. ANATOMY the topmost vertebra of the backbone, articulating with the occipital bone of the skull. 3. ARCHITECTURE a stone carving of a male figure, used as a column to support the entablature of a Greek or Greek-style building.

Amble

verb verb: amble; 3rd person present: ambles; past tense: ambled; past participle: ambled; gerund or present participle: ambling 1. walk or move at a slow, relaxed pace. "they ambled along the riverbank" synonyms: stroll, saunter, wander, ramble, promenade, walk, go for a walk, take a walk; More informalmosey, toddle, tootle; formalperambulate "ambling through the park" noun noun: amble; plural noun: ambles 1. a walk at a slow, relaxed pace, especially for pleasure. "a peaceful riverside amble"

Amend

verb verb: amend; 3rd person present: amends; past tense: amended; past participle: amended; gerund or present participle: amending make minor changes in (a text) in order to make it fairer, more accurate, or more up-to-date. "the rule was amended to apply only to nonmembers" synonyms: revise, alter, change, modify, qualify, adapt, adjust; More edit, copyedit, rewrite, redraft, rephrase, reword, rework, revamp "the membership application was recently amended" modify formally, as a legal document or legislative bill. "did she amend her original will later on?" make better; improve. "if you can amend or alter people's mindset" archaic put right. "a few things had gone wrong, but these had been amended"

Aspire

verb verb: aspire; 3rd person present: aspires; past tense: aspired; past participle: aspired; gerund or present participle: aspiring direct one's hopes or ambitions toward achieving something. "we never thought that we might aspire to those heights" synonyms: desire, hope for, dream of, long for, yearn for, set one's heart on, wish for, want, be desirous of; More aim for, seek, pursue, set one's sights on "Jen aspires to a career in veterinary medicine" would-be, aspirant, hopeful, budding; potential, prospective, future; ambitious, determined, upwardly mobile; informalwannabe "an aspiring journalist" literary rise high; tower. "above the domes of loftiest mosques, these pinnacles of death aspire"

Assail

verb verb: assail; 3rd person present: assails; past tense: assailed; past participle: assailed; gerund or present participle: assailing make a concerted or violent attack on. "the Scots army assailed Edward's army from the rear" synonyms: attack, assault, pounce on, set upon/about, fall on, charge, rush, storm; More informallay into, tear into, pitch into "the army moved in to assail the enemy" (of an unpleasant feeling or physical sensation) come upon (someone) suddenly and strongly. "she was assailed by doubts and regrets" synonyms: plague, torment, rack, beset, dog, trouble, disturb, worry, bedevil, nag, vex "she was assailed by doubts" criticize (someone) strongly. synonyms: criticize, censure, attack, condemn, pillory, revile; More informalknock, slam

Assuage

verb verb: assuage; 3rd person present: assuages; past tense: assuaged; past participle: assuaged; gerund or present participle: assuaging make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense. "the letter assuaged the fears of most members" synonyms: relieve, ease, alleviate, soothe, mitigate, allay, palliate, abate, suppress, subdue; More moderate, lessen, diminish, reduce "a pain that could never be assuaged" antonyms: aggravate satisfy (an appetite or desire). "an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge" synonyms: satisfy, gratify, appease, fulfill, indulge, relieve, slake, sate, satiate, quench, check "her hunger was quickly assuaged" antonyms: intensify

Atone

verb verb: atone; 3rd person present: atones; past tense: atoned; past participle: atoned; gerund or present participle: atoning make amends or reparation. "he was being helpful, to atone for his past mistakes" synonyms: make amends for, make reparation for, make restitution for, make up for, compensate for, pay for, recompense for, expiate, redress, make good, offset; do penance for "how shall I atone for my mistakes?"

Attain

verb verb: attain; 3rd person present: attains; past tense: attained; past participle: attained; gerund or present participle: attaining succeed in achieving (something that one desires and has worked for). "clarify your objectives and ways of attaining them" synonyms: achieve, accomplish, reach, obtain, gain, procure, secure, get, hook, net, win, earn, acquire; More realize, fulfill; informalclinch, bag, snag, wrap up "attempts to attain a promotion" reach (a specified age, size, or amount). "dolphins can attain remarkable speeds in water"

Attest

verb verb: attest; 3rd person present: attests; past tense: attested; past participle: attested; gerund or present participle: attesting provide or serve as clear evidence of. "his status is attested by his recent promotion" declare that something exists or is the case. "I can attest to his tremendous energy" be a witness to; certify formally. "the witnesses must attest and sign the will in the testator's presence" synonyms: certify, corroborate, confirm, verify, substantiate, authenticate, evidence, demonstrate, show, prove; More endorse, support, affirm, bear out, give credence to, vouch for; formalevince "I can attest to her fitness as a mother" antonyms: disprove