Vocabulary

ALMANAC

calendar: an annual publication that includes a calendar for the year as well as astronomical information and details of anniversaries and events

ALLEVIATE

lessen something: to make something, for example, pain or hardship, more bearable or less severe

AGENDA

list of things to do: a formal list of things to be done in a particular order, especially a list of things to be discussed at a meeting

ACCOMMODATIONS

lodging: a room or building to live in

ALLEGIANCE

loyalty to ruler or state: a subject's or citizen's loyalty to a ruler or state, or the duty of obedience and loyalty owed by a subject or citizen

ABSURD

ludicrous: ridiculous because of being irrational, incongruous, or illogical

ACCENT

main emphasis: an aspect of a situation, issue, or state of affairs that is emphasized an accent on results

Abash

make somebody ashamed: to make somebody feel ashamed, embarrassed, or uncomfortable

AGGRAVATE

make something worse: to make something that is already bad or serious worse or more severe

ALIAS

name taken: an assumed name

AGILE

nimble: able to move quickly and with suppleness, skill, and control

Abdicate

to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, claim, responsibility, or the like, especially in a formal manner

ABSTINENCE

self-denial: restraint from indulging a desire for something, for example, sweets or alcohol

ALTRUISM

selflessness: an attitude or way of behaving marked by unselfish concern for the welfare of others

ADAMANT

set in opinion: very determined and not influenced by appeals to reconsider

ACUMEN

sharpness of mind: quick insight, or the ability to make quick accurate judgments of people or situations

Abjure

to renounce, repudiate, or retract, especially with formal solemnity; recant: to abjure one's errors.

ADDICTION

1. drug dependence: a state of physiological or psychological dependence on a drug liable to have a damaging effect 2. devotion: great interest in something to which a lot of time is devoted

ACCESSIBLE

1. easily reached: easy to enter or reach physically 2. easily understood: able to be appreciated or understood without specialist knowledge 3. approachable: not aloof and not difficult to talk to or meet with

ABSTRACTION

1. generalized concept: a generalized idea or theory developed from concrete examples of events 2. generalizing process: the formation of general ideas or concepts from concrete examples 3. preoccupation: a state in which somebody is deep in thought and not concentrating on his or her surroundings

ALIENATE

1. make somebody unfriendly: to cause somebody to change his or her previously friendly or supportive attitude and become unfriendly, unsympathetic, or hostile 2. make somebody feel disaffected: to make somebody feel that he or she does not belong to or share in something, or is isolated from it (often passive) The returning war veteran felt alienated from his family.

ABSTRACT

1. not concrete: not relating to concrete objects but expressing something that can only be appreciated intellectually 2. theoretical: based on general principles or theories rather than on specific instances

ADMONISH

1. rebuke somebody: to rebuke somebody mildly but earnestly 2. advise somebody: to advise somebody to do or, more often, not to do something

ALOOF

1. reserved or reticent 2. indifferent; disinterested

AMALGAMATION

1. result of combining things: something that is a combination of different things or results from their amalgamation 2. combining things: the process of amalgamating things into a unified whole

ABRUPT

1. sudden: sudden and unexpected 2. brusque: brief and making no effort to be friendly

ALLEGORY

1. symbolic work: a work in which the characters and events are to be understood as representing other things and symbolically expressing a deeper, often spiritual, moral, or political meaning 2. symbolic expression of meaning in story: the symbolic expression of a deeper meaning through a story or scene acted out by human, animal, or mythical characters

Abate

1. transitive and intransitive verb become less: to lessen or make something lessen gradually 2. transitive and intransitive verb end: to suppress or end a nuisance, act, or writ, or be suppressed or ended

ACRID

1. unpleasantly pungent: unpleasantly strong and bitter in smell or taste 2. bitter: sharp or bitter in tone or character

Abrasive

1. using friction: using friction and roughness of texture to smooth or clean a surface 2. harsh in manner: aggressively direct and insensitive

ACKNOWLEDGE

admit something: to admit or accept that something exists, is true, or is real

ACQUIESCENCE

agreement to something passively: agreement or compliance with something in a passive or reserved way

ACCORD

agreement: a treaty or settlement agreed to by two or more parties

AFFIRMATION

an assertion of truth

AGITATED

anxious and tense: anxious, nervous, or upset and unable to relax

ACCOST

approach and stop: to approach and stop somebody in order to speak, especially in an aggressive, insistent, or suggestive way

ACCLAMATION

approval: a public and enthusiastic display of approval

ALLEGE

assert without proof: to state or assert something, especially to accuse somebody of wrongdoing, without offering proof of it or with a view to proving it later

ACOLYTE

assistant: a follower or assistant

AFFECTATION

behavior intended to impress: feigned or unnatural behavior that is often meant to impress others

Abase

belittle somebody: to make somebody feel belittled or degraded

ACERBIC

bitter: bitter or sharp in tone, taste, or manner

ACRIMONY

bitterness: bitterness and resentment, especially in speech, attitude, or tone

ABYSS

chasm: a chasm or gorge so deep that its extent is not visible

AFFILIATE

combine organizations: to come, or bring a person or group, into a close relationship with another, usually larger, group

AJUDICATE

decide legally: to reach a judicial decision on something

AFTEREFFECT

delayed result: an effect, usually unpleasant, that follows its cause after an interval of time The aftereffects of his divorce are still visible in his face.

Abhor

detest something: to dislike or reject something very strongly

Aberration

deviation: a departure from what is normal or desirable an aberration in policy

ABSTRUSE

difficult to understand: obscure and not easily understood

AFFLICTION

distress: a condition of great physical or mental distress

ADORN

embellish: to add decoration or ornamentation to something

ADMIRABLE

excellent: deserving to be admired

ADULATION

excessively admiring behavior: excessive flattery or admiration

ACCOUNT

explanation: an explanation of something that has happened, especially one given to somebody in authority

AERATE

expose to air: to allow circulating air to reach or penetrate something

AFAR

far away: at, to, or from a great distance

ADDRESS

formal talk: a formal speech or report

AMBIGUOUS

having more than one meaning: having more than one possible meaning or interpretation

ALLURE

highly attractive quality: an attractive or tempting quality

ALLUSION

indirect reference: an indirect reference to somebody or something

ACREAGE

land measured in acres: land, or an area of land, measured in acres

ALLUDE

mention indirectly: to refer to something or somebody indirectly, without giving a precise name or explicit identification

ADVERSITY

misfortune: hardship and suffering

ABSTEMIOUS

moderate: not indulging in or characterized by excessive eating or drinking

ACCOMMODATE

oblige somebody: to adjust actions in response to somebody's needs

AFFRONT

open insult: an open insult or giving of offense to somebody

ADVERSARY

opponent: somebody who opposes somebody else in a conflict, contest, or debate

ACT

part of play: one of the main sections of a play or other dramatic performance

ABUNDANT

plentiful: present in great quantities

ADROIT

skillful: displaying physical or mental skill

ADEPT

skillful: highly proficient or expert

Abduct

snatch somebody away: to take somebody away by force or deception

AGNOSTIC

somebody denying something is knowable: somebody who doubts that a particular question has a single correct answer or that a complete understanding of something can be attained

AMATEUR

somebody doing something for pleasure: somebody who does or takes part in something for pleasure rather than for pay

ADVOCATE

somebody giving support: somebody who supports or speaks in favor of something

ACCOMPLICE

somebody helping a wrongdoer: somebody who knowingly helps somebody to commit a crime or misdeed

ADAPTATION

something adapted to fit need: something that has been modified for a purpose

AGONIZE

spend time worrying: to think about something intensely and anxiously, usually in great detail and for a long time, before making a decision to agonize over the choice of a vacation destination

ADHERE

stick firmly: to stick firmly to a surface or an object

AFFECTED

trying to impress: behaving in an unnatural way intended to impress others

AMBIVALENT

unsure: having mixed, uncertain, or conflicting feelings about something

ACUTE

very great or bad: extremely serious, severe, or painful

AFFLUENCE

wealthy: having an abundance of material wealth

ACCUSTOMED

accustomed to used to or familiar with something or somebody He's become accustomed to hard work.

AIRPLAY

broadcast of a recording: the playing on radio of a piece of recorded music

ACCENTUATE

draw attention to something: to make a feature of something more noticeable

ALACRITY

eager readiness: promptness or eager and speedy readiness

AFFABLE

easygoing: good-natured, friendly and easy to talk to

ADORE

love deeply: to love somebody intensely

AESTHETE

lover of beauty: somebody who has or affects a highly developed appreciation of beauty, especially in the arts

AISLE

passageway between seats: a passageway between areas of seating, especially in a church, theater, or passenger vehicle

ALGA

photosynthetic organism: (plural al•gae) a mainly aquatic photosynthetic organism that differs from plants in not having true leaves, roots, or stems and includes the seaweeds.

ACCLAIM

praise somebody lavishly: to praise somebody or something publicly with great enthusiasm

ABSOLVE

pronounce somebody blameless: to state publicly or officially that somebody is not guilty and not to be held responsible

ABSTAIN

refrain from something: to choose deliberately not to do something

ACOUSTIC

relating to sound: relating to, involving, or typical of sound, hearing, or the study of sound

Abhorrent

repugnant: arousing strong feelings of repugnance or disapproval

ACUITY

sharpness: keenness of hearing, sight, or intellect

ABRIDGE

shorten something: to shorten a text, for example, by cutting or summarizing it