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