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