| A | B |
|---|
| abstinent: | voluntary forbearance |
| abstract: | difficult to understand |
| abstruse: | hidden, concealed, difficult |
| abysmal: | immeasurably low or wretched |
| accolade: | praise or honorable mention |
| accost: | to approach and speak |
| acerbic: | acid in temper, mood or tone |
| acrid: | sharp, bitter, foul smelling |
| acrimonious: | caustic in feeling or language |
| acumen: | keenness and depth of perception |
| acute: | characterized by sharpness or severity |
| adamant: | not yielding, firm |
| adherent: | follower of a leader or party |
| admonish: | to express disapproval kindly |
| adroit: | skill, cleverness or resourcefulness |
| adulation: | admiring excessively |
| adulterate: | to make impure |
| adverse: | opposed to one's interest |
| aesthetic: | concerned with beauty |
| affable: | pleasant and at ease with others |
| affectation: | putting on airs |
| affinity: | marked by community or kinship |
| affluent: | well off financially |
| agenda: | outline of tasks ahead |
| ameliorate: | make better, improve |
| amenable: | agreeable |
| amiable: | friendly |
| amnesty: | granting of a pardon |
| amoral: | lacking moral sensibility |
| amorous: | strongly moved by love |
| amorphous: | shapeless |
| anachronism: | chronological misplacement |
| analogy: | comparison based on a resemblance |
| averse: | having a feeling of distaste |
| dexterous: | mentally adroit and skillful |
| abhor: | loathe |
| dapper: | smartly dressed |
| anaerobic: | without air |
| ascorbic: | lack of vitamin C |
| sublime: | lifted up by joy |
| fathom: | understand |
| benthal: | deep |
| panoply: | magnificent/impressive array |
| agnostic: | without knowledge |
| agreement: | assent |
| scandent: | climbing plants |
| nadir: | a low point |
| prevatication: | lie |
| punctillious: | careful observance of form |
| maldroit: | clumsy, tactless, insensitive |
| boorish: | ill-mannered, insensitive |
| quotidian: | occurring every day |
| peak: | apex |
| Quisling: | Nazi sympathizer |
| alluvial: | pertaining to sedimentary deposits |
| Stradavari: | talented violin craftsman |
| nonchalant: | acting confidently |
| usury: | an illegal rate of interest |
| Archimedes: | principle of buoyancy |
| chagrin: | feeling of mortification |
| ken: | range of knowledge |
| secret writing: | cipher |
| churlish: | rustic, crude, vulgar |
| chicanery: | dishonest or sharp practice |
| Addison: | kidney specialist |
| xenophobia: | fear of foreigners |
| burnish: | make smooth, bright, glossy |
| cabal: | intrigue, plot |
| cache: | hiding place for goods |
| cacophony: | disagreeable sound |
| cajole: | flatter, coax |
| candid: | honest, truthful, sincere |
| capricious: | changeable, fickle |
| cascade: | waterfall |
| caustic: | burning, sarcastic, harsh |
| censor: | delete objectionable material |
| censure: | criticize or disapprove |
| charisma: | appeal, magnetism, presence |
| charlatan: | an impostor, fake |
| circumlocution: | lengthy expression |
| coalesce: | combine into a single body |
| coda: | closing notes of a musical passage |
| cognizant: | being informed or aware of |
| cohesion: | the act of holding together |
| collaborate: | work together, collaborate |
| colloquial: | casual, common, idiomatic |
| compatible: | harmonious |
| complacent: | self-satisfied, smug |
| compliant: | yielding, obedient |
| conciliatory: | making peace |
| condescend: | patronize |
| conjoin: | united, combine |
| conjure: | appeal to |
| connoisseur: | judge of good wine etc. |
| consecrate: | to sanctify |
| consensus: | unanimity |
| consummation: | completion, finish |
| contentious: | argumentative, quarrelsome |
| contrite: | regretful, sorrowful |
| contumacious: | insubordinate, rebellious, |
| concundrum: | a ? of a perplexing nature |
| corroborate: | strengthen, confirm |
| craven: | cowardly, fearful |
| culpable: | blameworthy |
| cynic: | knows all prices and the value of nothing |
| dais: | raised platform |
| dank: | uncomfortably damp |
| dearth: | scarcity, shortage |
| debacle: | disaster |
| debauchery: | over indulgence in sensuality |
| debilitate: | to weaken, deprive of strength |
| decorous: | characterized by good taste |
| defamation: | malicious attack on character |
| deference: | yielding in opinion to another |
| deign: | condescend |
| deleterious: | harmful to health |
| delineate: | outline, describe |
| demur: | take exception, object |
| depravity: | moral corruption |
| deride: | ridicule, scorn |
| derision: | ridicule, mockery |
| derogatory: | belittling, uncomplimentary |
| desecrate: | violating a holy place or sanctuary |
| desiccate: | to dry completly |
| destitute: | poor, poverty-stricken |
