English Vocabulary A–C

 

A

abandon n. enthusiasm, exuberance, lack of inhibition

abate v. to reduce, lessen

abdicate v. to give up a position, usually one of leadership

abduct v. to kidnap, take by force

aberration n. something that differs from the norm

abet v. to assist, help, encourage

abhorrent adj. disgusting, detestable, repellent

abide v. 1. to put up with; 2. to remain

abject adj. wretched, miserable, degraded

abjure v. to reject, renounce

abnegation n. self-denial

abode n. a house, dwelling place

aboriginal adj. native, original, having lived in a place from the beginning

abridge v. to cut down, shorten

abrogate v. to abolish, usually by authority

abscond v. to sneak away and hide

absolution n. freedom from blame, guilt, sin

abstain v. to freely choose not to commit an action

abstemious adj. moderate or sparing in consumption or diet

abstruse adj. hard to comprehend

abysmal adj. 1. deep, limitless; 2. very bad, wretched

abyss n. a deep void or chasm

accentuate v. to stress, highlight

accessible adj. obtainable, reachable

acclaim n. high praise

accolade n. high praise; special distinction

accommodating adj. helpful, obliging, polite

accord n. an agreement

accost v. to confront verbally

accretion n. gradual growth in size or amount

acerbic adj. biting, bitter in tone or taste

acrimony n. bitterness, discord

actuate v. to activate, put into action or motion

acumen n. keen insight or perception

acute adj. 1. sharp, severe, intense; 2. brief, sudden

adamant adj. impervious, immovable, unyielding

adduce v. to cite as evidence or proof of

adept adj. highly skilled

adhere v. 1. to stick to something; 2. to follow devoutly

adjacent adj. nearby, next to, adjoining

adjudicate v. to settle an argument or dispute, especially a legal case

admonish v. to caution, criticize, reprove

adorn v. to decorate

adroit adj. skillful, clever

adulation n. extreme praise

adumbrate v. to sketch out in a vague way

advocate v. to argue in favor of something; n. a person who argues in favor of something

aesthetic adj. 1. artistic; 2. related to the appreciation of beauty

affable adj. friendly, amiable

aggrandize v. 1. to increase, make greater; 2. to exaggerate

agile adj. quick, nimble

agnostic adj. believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven; n. one who is agnostic

alacrity n. eagerness, speed

aleatory adj. depending on luck or chance

allay v. to sooth, ease

allege v. to assert, usually without proof

alleviate v. to relieve, make more bearable

allocate v. to distribute, set aside

aloof adj. reserved, distant

altercation n. a dispute, fight

altruistic adj. unselfish, concerned for the welfare of others

amalgamate v. to bring together, unite

ambiguous adj. uncertain, variably interpretable

ambivalent adj. having opposing feelings

ambulatory adj. walking, moving from place to place

ameliorate v. to improve, make more tolerable

amenable adj. willing, compliant

amiable adj. friendly, good-natured, likable

amicable adj. friendly, peaceable

amorphous adj. without definite shape or type

anachronistic adj. being out of correct chronological order

anathema n. a cursed, detested person

anecdote n. a short, humorous account

anesthesia n. loss of sensation

annex v. to take over additional territory or space; n. a room attached to a larger room or space

anomaly n. something that does not fit into the normal order

anonymous adj. unnamed, unrecognized

antagonism n. hostility

antipathy n. strong dislike, repugnance

antiseptic adj. clean, sterile

antithesis n. the absolute opposite

anxiety n. intense uneasiness

apathetic adj. lacking concern, emotion

apex n. the highest point of something

aplomb n. poise, composure

apocryphal adj. fictitious, false, wrong

appalling adj. inspiring shock, horror, disgust

appease v. to calm, satisfy

appraise v. to assess the worth or value of

approbation n. praise

arable adj. suitable for growing crops

arbiter n. one who can resolve a dispute, make a decision

arbitrary adj. based on factors that appear random

arbitration n. the process or act of resolving a dispute via a neutral third party

arcane adj. obscure, secret, known only by a few

archaic adj. 1. of or relating to an earlier time period; 2. outdated

archetypal adj. the most representative or typical example of something

ardent adj. passionate, enthusiastic

arduous adj. difficult, strenuous

arid adj. excessively dry

arrogate v. to take or claim without justification

artisan n. a craftsman

ascertain v. to perceive or learn

ascetic adj. practicing restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually religious; n. one who is ascetic

ascribe v. to assign, credit, attribute to

aspersion n. a curse, expression of ill will

assess v. to evaluate

assiduous adj. hardworking, diligent

assuage v. to ease, pacify

astute adj. very clever, crafty

asylum n. 1. a place of refuge, protection; a sanctuary; 2. an institution in which the insane are kept

atone v. to repent, make amends

attain v. to achieve, arrive at

attribute v. to credit, assign; n. a facet or trait

atypical adj. not typical, unusual

audacious adj. daring, bold, reckless

audible adj. able to be heard

augment v. to add to, expand

auspicious adj. favorable, indicative of good things

austere adj. 1. strict, stern; 2. bare, bleak

autonomous adj. independent, self-governing

auxiliary adj. supplementary, subsidiary, on the side

avarice n. greed

aversion n. a particular dislike for something

 

B

baleful adj. 1. sinister, ominous; 2. harmful

balk v. to stop short and refuse to proceed

ballad n. a love song or song that tells a narrative

banal adj. dull, trivial, trite, commonplace

bane n. source of harm or ruin

bard n. a poet, often a singer as well

bashful adj. shy, excessively timid

battery n. 1. a device that supplies power; 2. assault, beating

behemoth n. something of tremendous power or size

belated adj. late, delayed

belie v. to show something to be false or wrong

bellicose adj. prone to violence and aggression

belligerent adj. prone to aggression and conflict

bemused adj. confused, bewildered

benediction n. a blessing or prayer

benefactor n. a donor, one who gives money or gifts

benevolent adj. marked by goodness or doing good

benign adj. 1. mild, favorable; 2. harmless, unthreatening

bequeath v. to pass on, give

berate v. to scold vehemently

bereft adj. devoid of, without

bias n. a tendency, inclination, prejudice

bifurcate v. to divide into two parts, branches, or forks

bilious adj. bad-tempered, irritable

bilk v. to cheat or defraud

blandish v. to coax by using flattery

blasé adj. 1. indifferent, unconcerned; 2. sophisticated

blatant adj. noisy, conspicuously offensive or vulgar

blemish n. an imperfection, flaw

blight n. 1. a plague, disease; 2. something that destroys hope; v. to cause to deteriorate

bombastic adj. excessively confident; overblown, pompous

boonn. a gift or blessing

bourgeois adj. preoccupied with material or commercial interests; n. a middle-class person, capitalist

brazen adj. excessively bold, brash, shameless

brusque adj. short, abrupt, dismissive

bucolic adj. rustic, rural

buffet v. to strike with force; n. an arrangement of food set out on a table

burnish v. to polish, shine

buttress v. to support, hold up; n. something offering support

Byzantine adj. 1. complicated or intricate; 2. characterized by intrigue or deviousness

 

C

cacophony n. tremendous noise, disharmonious sound

cadence n. a rhythm, progression of sound

cajole v. to urge, coax

calamity n. an event with disastrous consequences

calibrate v. to set, standardize

callous adj. harsh, cold, unfeeling

calumny n. an attempt to spoil someone else’s reputation by spreading lies

camaraderie n. brotherhood, jovial unity

candor n. honesty, frankness

canvas n. a piece of cloth on which an artist paints

canvass v. to examine closely, inspect, scrutinize

capacious adj. very spacious

capitulate v. to surrender, give in

capricious adj. subject to whim, fickle

captivate v. to get the attention of, hold

carouse v. to party, celebrate

carp v. to annoy, pester

catalog n. a list or collection; v. to list, enter into a list

catalyst n. something that causes an event to happen

caucus n. a meeting, usually held by people working toward the same goal

caustic adj. 1. harsh, corrosive; 2. sarcastic

cavort v. to leap about, behave boisterously

celerity n. quickness, haste

censure n. harsh criticism; v. to rebuke formally

cerebral adj. related to the intellect

chaos n. absolute disorder, disorganization, confusion

charisma n. charm or magnetism of personality

charlatan n. a fraud or faker

chasm n. 1. a deep gorge or abyss; 2. a marked, often insurmountable division or separation

chastise v. to criticize severely

cherish v. to feel or show affection toward something

chide v. to scold mildly, voice disapproval

choreograph v. 1. to arrange the movements in a dance or ballet; 2. to orchestrate, plan out

chronic adj. continuing, recurrent, habitual

chronicle n. a written history; v. to write a history

circuitous adj. indirect, roundabout

circumlocution n. indirect and wordy language

circumscribe v. to mark off a boundary or limit

circumvent v. to get around, sidestep

clairvoyant adj. able to perceive things that normal people cannot; n. one who is clairvoyant

clamor n. loud noise; v. to insist loudly

clandestine adj. secret

clemency n. mercy

clergy n. members of Christian holy orders

cloying adj. sickeningly sweet

coagulate v. to thicken, clot

coalesce v. to fuse into a whole

cogent adj. intellectually convincing

cognizant adj. aware, mindful

coherent adj. logically consistent, intelligible

collateral adj. secondary or supporting; n. security for a loan

colloquial adj. characteristic of informal conversation

collude v. to conspire, act together secretly

colossal adj. enormous, gigantic

combustion n. the act or process of burning

comestible adj. edible; n. food (usually as “comestibles”)

commandeer v. to seize or confiscate, often for military use

commendation n. a notice of approval or recognition

commensurate adj. corresponding in size or amount

compelling adj. forceful, demanding attention

compensate v. to make appropriate payment for something

complacent adj. smugly ignorant of danger or threat

complement v. to complete, make perfect

compliant adj. ready to adapt oneself to another’s wishes

complicit adj. involved in or associated with a crime or wrongful act

comprehensive adj. including everything

concede v. to yield or acknowledge, often reluctantly

conciliatory adj. peace-making, calming, reconciling

concise adj. brief and direct in expression

concoct v. to fabricate, make up

concomitant adj. accompanying in a subordinate fashion

concord n. harmonious agreement

condolence n. an expression of sympathy in sorrow

condone v. to overlook deliberately, disregard

conduit n. a pipe or channel through which something passes

confection n. a sweet, fancy food

confidant n. a person entrusted with secrets

conflagration n. a great fire

confound v. to frustrate, confuse

congenial adj. pleasantly agreeable

congregation n. a gathering of people, especially for religious services

connive v. to plot, scheme

consecrate v. to dedicate something to a holy purpose

consensus n. an agreement of opinion

consign v. to give something over to another’s care

consolation n. an act of comforting

consonance n. harmony or consistency

conspicuous adj. obvious, attracting attention

constituent n. an essential part

construe v. to interpret or understand in a certain way

consummate v. 1. to complete a deal; 2. to complete a marriage ceremony through sexual intercourse; adj. 1. perfect or complete; 2. very skilled or proficient

consumption n. the act of consuming

contemporaneous adj. existing during the same time

contentious adj. having a tendency to quarrel or dispute

contravene v. to contradict, oppose, violate

contrite adj. penitent, eager to be forgiven

conundrum n. a puzzle, problem

convention n. 1. an assembly of people; 2. a rule, custom

convoluted adj. intricate or involved

copacetic adj. completely satisfactory or acceptable

copious adj. plentiful, abundant, large in number or amount

coquettish adj. flirtatious

cordial adj. warm, affectionate

coronation n. the act of crowning

corroborate v. to support with evidence

corrosive adj. having the tendency to erode or eat away

cosmopolitan adj. sophisticated, worldly

counsel n. advice; v. to give advice

coup n. 1. a brilliant, unexpected act; 2. the overthrow of a government and assumption of authority

coy adj. 1. flirtatiously shy; 2. noncommittal

craven adj. cowardly, fearful

credulity n. readiness to believe

crescendo n. a steady increase in intensity or volume

criteria n. the standards by which something is judged

culpable adj. deserving blame

cultivate v. to nurture, improve, refine

cunning adj. sly, clever at being deceitful

cupidity n. greed, strong desire

cursory adj. brief to the point of being superficial

curt adj. abrupt, brief, or concise to the point of rudeness

curtail v. to lessen, reduce