abrupt
a. broken off; very steep; having sudden transitions from one subject to another |
abstract
a. theoretical; not concrete; not applied or practical; difficult to understand |
abundantly
ad. in great numbers; in a plentiful or sufficient degree; plentifully |
abuse
n. improper use or handling; misuse |
adopt
v. accept; take on; raise; take into one's family |
adorn
v. enhance or decorate with or as if with ornaments |
adversary
n. opponent in contest; someone who offers opposition |
affect
v. have an emotional or cognitive impact upon |
affection
n. fondness; tender feeling toward another; fondness |
agile
a. moving quickly and lightly; mentally quick |
ailment
n. sickness; illness; affliction |
alert
n. warning serves; alarm; condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action |
ally
n. confederate; partner; collaborator |
almond
n. deciduous tree, native to Asia and northern Africa and having alternate, simple leaves, pink flowers, and leathery fruits |
aloft
ad. in or into a high place; high or higher up |
alter
v. modify; cause to change; make different; convert |
anathema
n. solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse |
anguish
n. agonizing physical or mental pain; extreme suffering |
anticipate
v. act in advance of; deal with ahead of time; predict |
antiquated
a. too old to be fashionable, suitable, or useful; obsolete; aged |
antique
n. any furniture old and valuable; out of fashion |
applaud
v. acclaim; express approval, especially by clapping the hands |
appoint
v. assign a job or role to someone; designate; nominate |
apprehensive
a. capable of apprehending; knowing; conscious; relating to the faculty of apprehension; sensible; feeling; perceptive |
approximate
v. come close or be similar to something in quality, nature, or quantity; come near |
apt
a. likely; exactly suitable; appropriate; quick to learn or understand |
archetype
n. prototype; original model or type after which other similar things are patterned |
arena
n. playing field where sports events take place; large structure for open-air sports or entertainments |
assault
n. a physical attack; onslaught |
assemble
v. put together; bring or call together into a group or whole |
assist
v. give help or support to, especially as a subordinate |
associate
v. connect or join together; combine |
assuage
v. ease or lessen pain; satisfy or appease |
atrophy
n. wasting away; decrease in size; reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease |
attain
v. achieve or accomplish; gain |
attend
v. be present at; go to; take care of; tend |
attentive
a. alert and watchful; considerate; thoughtful |
attire
n. clothes, especially fine or formal ones; dress |
awkward
a. difficult to handle or manage |
babble
v. talk foolishly or idly; utter meaningless confusion of words or sounds |
baffle
v. frustrate as by confusing or perplexing; impede force or movement of |
baggage
n. trunks, bags, parcels, and suitcases in which one carries one's belongings while traveling; luggage |
basin
n. bowl-shaped vessel, usually used for holding food or liquids |
benefit
n. advantage; something that aids or promotes well-being ; welfare; gain |
bestow
v. give as gift; present |
biennial
a. every two years; lasting or living for two years |
blemish
v. mark with deformity; injure or impair, as anything which is excellent; make defective, either the body or mind |
blockade
n. shutting up of a place by troops or ships; obstruction to passage |
blossom
n. reproductive organ of plants, especially one having showy or colorful parts |
bluff
n. pretense of strength; mislead or deceive |
blunder
n. serious mistake typically caused by ignorance or confusion |
blunt
a. having a dull edge or end; not sharp; lacking in feeling; insensitive |
bluster
v. blow in heavy gusts; speak in a loudly arrogant or bullying manner |
boggle
v. hesitate as if in fear or doubt; shy away or be overcome with fright or astonishment |
bonanza
n. boom; rich mine, vein, or pocket of ore; sudden opportunity to make money |
bonus
n. an extra dividend to the shareholders; money paid in addition to a stated compensation |
boycott
v. refrain from buying or using |
brawl
n. fight; noisy quarrel or fight; loud party |
breach
n. breaking of contract or duty |
breadth
n. measure or dimension from side to side; width; extent |
brittle
a. easily broken; having little elasticity |
calculate
v. compute; determine; estimate |