| A | B |
|---|
| aberration | a deviating from the right path or unusual course of action; a mental disorder, especially of a mirror or temporary nature |
| abstinence | the giving up of certain pleasures such as food or drink |
| abstract | theoretical, not applied or practical; not concrete; hard to understand |
| acclaim | loud applause; approval |
| acquiesce | to accept the conclusions or arrangements of others; to accede; to give consent by keeping silent |
| admonish | to advise against something; to warn; to scold gently; to urge strongly |
| advocate | to support; to be in favor of |
| aesthetic | showing an appreciation of beauty in nature or art; artistic |
| affinity | natural attraction to a person or liking for a thing; relation; connection |
| aggrandizement | an increase in rank or wealth; growth in power |
| alienate | to turn away the normal feelings of fondness toward anyone; to estrange |
| alleviate | to make easier to endure; to relieve; to diminish |
| aloof | indifferent; unsympathetic; not interested; apart |
| altruistic | thoughtful of the welfare of others |
| ambiguous | permitting more than one interpretation; not clearly defined |
| ambivalence | condition of having conflicting attitudes |
| ameliorate | to make better or more tolerable; to improve |
| analogous | similar in certain qualities; comparable |
| animosity | active dislike; ill will |
| anonymity | condition of being nameless or unknown |
| antagonism | hostility, active opposition |
| antithesis | direct opposite |
| apocryphal | of doubtful authenticity; counterfeit |
| arduous | hard to do; strenuous |
| articulate | able to put one's thoughts into words easily and clearly |
| assuage | to clam or soothe; to satisfy |
| atrophy | to waste away |
| augment | to increase or enlarge; to become greater in size |
| austere | stern in manner or appearance; strict in morals |
| authoritarian | a person who supports the principle of subjection to authority instead of individual freedom |
| autonomy | independence, self government |
| aversion | strong or fixed dislike, antipathy |
| belittle | to make something seem less important |
| bequeath | to leave money or property by a will; to pass along |
| bizarre | strikingly odd in appearance to style; grotesque |
| blithe | happy and cheerful; gay |
| bombastic | high-sounding; marked by use of language within much real meaning |
| buffoon | a clown; someone who amuses with tricks and jokes |
| cache | hiding place; something hidden in a hiding place |
| cacophony | discord; harsh sound |
| cajole | to persuade by pleasant words or false promises |
| callous | unfeeling; insensitive |
| capitulate | to surrender; to cease resisting |
| capricious | changeable; fickle |
| carping | complaining |
| catalyst | someone or something that brings about a change |
| catharsis | an emotional purification or relief |
| caustic | stinging; biting |
| celestial | having to do with the heavens; divine |
| censure | to blame; to criticize adversely |
