abase v.# Lower; humiliate. Defeated, Queen Zenobia was forced to abase herself before the conquering Romans, who made her march in chains before the emperor in the procession celebrating his triumph. abasement, n. #abash v.#embarrass. He was not at all abashed by her open admiration.#abate v.# subside; decrease, lessen. Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate. abatement, n.#abbreviate v.#shorten. Because we were running out of time, the lecturer had to abbreviate her speech.#abdicate v.#renounce; give up. When Edward VIII abdicated the British throne to marry the woman he loved, he surprised the entire world.#abduction n.#kidnapping. The movie Ransom describes the attempts to rescue a multimillionaire's son after the child's abduction by kidnappers. abduct, v.#aberrant n.#abnormal or deviant. Given the aberrant nature of the data, we doubted the validity of the entire experiment. also n.#abet v.#aid, usually in doing something wrong; encourage. She was unwilling to abet him in the swindle he had planned.#abeyance n.#suspended action. The deal was held in abeyance until her arrival.#abhor v.#detest; hate. She abhorred all forms of bigotry. abhorrence, n.#abject adj.#wretched; lacking pride. On the streets of New York the homeless live in abject poverty, huddling in doorways to find shelter from the wind.#abjure v.#renounce upon oath. He abjured his allegiance to the king. abjuration, n.#ablution n.#washing. His daily ablutions were accompanied by loud noises that he humorously labeled "Opera in the Bath."#abnegation n.#repudiation; self-sacrifice. Though Rudolph and Duchess Flavia loved one another, their love was doomed, for she had to marry the king; their act of abnegation was necessary to preserve the kingdom.#abolish v.#cancel; put an end to. The president of the college refused to abolish the physical education requirement. abolition, n.#abominable adj.#detestable; extremely unpleasant; very bad. Mary liked John until she learned he was dating Susan; then she called him an abominable young man, with abominable taste in women.#aboriginal adj., n.# being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native. Her studies of the primitive art forms of the aboriginal Indians were widely reported in the scientific journals. aborigines, n.#abortive adj.#unsuccessful; fruitless. Attacked by armed troops, the Chinese students had to abandon their abortive attempt to democratize Beijing peacefully. abort, v.#abrade v.#wear away by friction; scrape; erode. Because the sharp rocks had abraded the skin on her legs, she dabbed iodine on the scrapes and abrasions.#abrasive adj.#rubbing away; tending to grind down. Just as abrasive cleaning powders can wear away a shiny finish, abrasive remarks can wear away a listener's patience. abrade, v.#abridge v.# condense or shorten. Because the publishers felt the public wanted a shorter version of War and Peace, they proceeded to abridge the novel. #abrogate adj.#abolish. He intended to abrogate the decree issued by his predecessor.#abscond v.#depart secretly and hide. The teller who absconded with the bonds went uncaptured until someone recognized him from his photograph on "America's Most Wanted."#absolute adj.#complete; totally unlimited; certain. Although the King of Siam was an absolute monarch, he did not want to behead his unfaithful wife without absolute evidence of her infidelity.#absolve v.#pardon (an offense). The father confessor absolved him of his sins. absolution, n.#absorb v.#assimilate or incorporate; suck or drink up; wholly engage. During the nineteenth century, America absorbed hordes of immigrants, turning them into productive citizens. Can Huggies diapers absorb more liquid than Pampers can? This question does not absorb me; instead, it bores me. absorption, n.#abstain v.#refrain; hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice. After considering the effect of alcohol on his athletic performance, he decided to abstain from drinking while he trained for the race. abstinence, n.#abstemious adj.# sparing in eating and drinking; temperate. Concerned whether her vegetarian son's abstemious diet provided him with sufficient protein, the worried mother pressed food on him.#abstinence n.#restraint from eating or drinking. The doctor recommended total abstinence from salted foods. abstain, v.#abstract adj.# theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational. To him, hunger was an abstract concept; he had never missed a meal.#abstruse adj.# obscure; profound; difficult to understand. Baffled by the abstruse philosophical texts assigned in class, Dave asked Lexy to explain Kant's Critique of Pure Reason.#abundant adj.#plentiful; possessing riches or resources. At his immigration interview, Ivan listed his abundant reasons for coming to America: the hope of religious freedom, the prospect of employment, the promise of a more abundant life.#abusive adj.#coarsely insulting; physically harmful. An abusive parent damages a child both mentally and physically.#abut v.#border upon; adjoin. Where our estates abut, we must build a fence.#abysmal adj.#bottomless. His arrogance is exceeded only by his abysmal ignorance. #abyss n.#enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit. Darth Vader seized the evil emperor and hurled him down into the abyss.#academic adj.#related to a school; not practical or directly useful. The dean's talk about reforming the college admissions system was only an academic discussion: we knew little, if anything, would change. #accede v.#agree. If I accede to this demand for blackmail, I am afraid that I will be the victim of future demands.#accelerate v.#move faster. In our science class, we learn how falling bodies accelerate.#accentuate v.#emphasize; stress. If you accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative, you may wind up with an overoptimistic view of the world.#accessible adj.# easy to approach; obtainable. We asked our guide whether the ruins were accessible on foot.#accessory n.#additional object; useful but not essential thing. She bought an attractive handbag as an accessory for her dress. also adj. #acclaim v.# applaud; announce with great approval. The NBC sportscasters acclaimed every American victory in the Olympics and decried every American defeat. also n.#acclimate v.#adjust to climate. One of the difficulties of our present air age is the need of travelers to acclimate themselves to their new and often strange environments.#acclivity n.#sharp upslope of a hill. The car would not go up the acclivity in high gear.#accolade n.# award of merit. In Hollywood, an "Oscar" is the highest accolade.#accommodate v.#oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt. Mitch always did everything possible to accommodate his elderly relatives, from driving them to medical appointments to helping them with paperwork. (secondary meaning)#accomplice n.#partner in crime. Because he had provided the criminal with the lethal weapon, he was arrested as an accomplice in the murder.#accord n.#agreement. She was in complete accord with the verdict.#accost v.#approach and speak first to a person. When the two young men accosted me, I was frightened because I thought they were going to attack me.#accoutre v.#equip. The fisherman was accoutred with the best that the sporting goods store could supply. accoutrements, n.#accretion n.#growth; increase. Over the years, Bob put on weight; because of this accretion of flesh, he went from size M to size XXL.#accrue v.#come about by addition. You must pay the interest that has accrued on your debt as well as the principal sum. accrual, n.#acerbity n.#bitterness of speech and temper. The meeting of the United Nations General Assembly was marked with such acerbity that informed sources held out little hope of reaching any useful settlement of the problem. acerbic, adj. #acetic adj.#vinegary. The salad had an exceedingly acetic flavor.#acidulous adj.#slightly sour; sharp, caustic. James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks. #acknowledge v.# recognize; admit. Although Iris acknowledged that the Beatles' tunes sounded pretty dated nowadays, she still preferred them to the hip-hop songs her brothers played.#acme n.#top; pinnacle. His success in this role marked the acme of his career as an actor.#acoustics n.#science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in. Carnegie Hall is liked by music lovers because of its fine acoustics.#acquiesce v.# assent; agree without protesting. Although she appeared to acquiesce to her employer's suggestions, I could tell she had reservations about the changes he wanted made. acquiescence, n.; acquiescent, adj. #acquire v.#obtain; get. Frederick Douglass was determined to acquire an education despite his master's efforts to prevent his doing so.#acquittal n.#deliverance from a charge. His acquittal by the jury surprised those who had thought him guilty. acquit, v.#acrid adj.# sharp; bitterly pungent. The acrid odor of burnt gunpowder filled the room after the pistol had been fired.#acrimonious adj.# bitter in words or manner. The candidate attacked his opponent in highly acrimonious terms. acrimony, n.#acrophobia n.#fear of heights. A born salesman, he could convince someone with a bad case of acrophobia to sign up for a life membership in a sky-diving club. #actuarial adj.#calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics. According to recent actuarial tables, life expectancy is greater today than it was a century ago.#actuate v.#motivate. I fail to understand what actuated you to reply to this letter so nastily.#acuity n.#sharpness. In time his youthful acuity of vision failed him, and he needed glasses.#acumen n.#mental keenness. His business acumen helped him to succeed where others had failed.#acute adj.#quickly perceptive; keen; brief and severe. The acute young doctor realized immediately that the gradual deterioration of her patient's once acute hearing was due to a chronic illness, not an acute one.#adage n.#wise saying; proverb. There is much truth in the old adage about fools and their money.#adamant adj.#hard; inflexible. Bronson played the part of a revenge-driven man, adamant in his determination to punish the criminals who destroyed his family. adamancy, n.#adapt v.#alter; modify. Some species of animals have become extinct because they could not adapt to a changing environment.#addendum n.#an addition or supplement. As an addendum to the minutes, let me point out that Susan moved to appoint Kathy and Arthur to the finance committee.#addiction n.#compulsive, habitual need. His addiction to drugs caused his friends much grief.#addle v.#muddle; drive crazy; become rotten. This idiotic plan is confusing enough to addle anyone. addled, adj. #address v.#direct a speech to; deal with or discuss. Due to address the convention in July, Brown planned to address the issue of low-income housing in his speech.#adept adj.#expert at. She was adept at the fine art of irritating people. also n.#adhere v.#stick fast. I will adhere to this opinion until proof that I am wrong is presented. adhesion, n.#adherent n.#supporter; follower. In the wake of the scandal, the senator's one-time adherents quickly deserted him.#adjacent adj.#adjoining; neighboring; close by. Philip's best friend Jason lived only four houses down the block, close but not immediately adjacent.#adjunct n.#something added on or attached (generally nonessential or inferior). Although I don't absolutely need a second computer, I plan to buy a laptop to serve as an adjunct to my desktop model.#admonish v.#warn; reprove. He admonished his listeners to change their wicked ways. admonition, n.#admonition n.#warning. After the student protesters repeatedly rejected the dean's admonitions, the administration issued an ultimatum: either the students would end the demonstration at once or the campus police would arrest the demonstrators.#adorn v.#decorate. Wall paintings and carved statues adorned the temple. adornment, n.#adroit adj.#skillful. His adroit handling of the delicate situation pleased his employers.#adulation n.# flattery; admiration. The rock star thrived on the adulation of his groupies and yes men. adulate, v.#adulterate v.#make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances. It is a crime to adulterate foods without informing the buyer; when consumers learned that Beech-Nut had adulterated their apple juice by mixing it with water, they protested vigorously.#advent n.#arrival. Most Americans were unaware of the advent of the Nuclear Age until the news of Hiroshima reached them.#adventitious adj.#accidental; casual. He found this adventitious meeting with his friend extremely fortunate.#adversary n.# opponent. The young wrestler struggled to defeat his adversary.#adverse adj.#unfavorable; hostile. The recession had a highly adverse effect on Father's investment portfolio: he lost so much money that he could no longer afford the butler and the upstairs maid. adversity, n.#adversity n.# poverty; misfortune. We must learn to meet adversity gracefully.#advocacy n.#support; active pleading on something's behalf. No threats could dissuade Bishop Desmond Tutu from his advocacy of the human rights of black South Africans. #advocate v.# urge; plead for. The abolitionists advocated freedom for the slaves. also n.#aerie n.#nest of a large bird of prey (eagle, hawk). The mother eagle swooped down on the unwitting rabbit and bore it off to her aerie high in the Rocky Mountains.#aesthetic adj.# artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautiful. The beauty of Tiffany's stained glass appealed to Esther's aesthetic sense. aesthete, n.#affable adj.# easily approachable; warmly friendly. Accustomed to cold, aloof supervisors, Nicholas was amazed at how affable his new employer was.#affected adj.#artificial; pretended; assumed in order to impress. His affected mannerisms-his "Harvard" accent, air of boredom, use of obscure foreign words-annoyed us: he acted as if he thought he was too good for his old high school friends. affectation, n.#affidavit n.#written statement made under oath. The court refused to accept his statement unless he presented it in the form of an affidavit.#affiliation n.#joining; associating with. His affiliation with the political party was of short duration for he soon disagreed with his colleagues.#affinity n.#kinship. She felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were her pains.#affirmation n.# positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath. Despite Tom's affirmations of innocence, Aunt Polly still suspected he had eaten the pie.#affix v.#fasten; attach; add on. First the registrar had to affix her signature to the license; then she had to affix her official seal. #affliction n.#state of distress; cause of suffering. Even in the midst of her affliction, Elizabeth tried to keep up the spirits of those around her.#affluence n.#abundance; wealth. Foreigners are amazed by the affluence and luxury of the American way of life.#affront n.#insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect. When Mrs. Proudie was not seated beside the Archdeacon at the head table, she took it as a personal affront and refused to speak to her hosts for a week. also v.#aftermath n.#consequences; outcome; upshot. People around the world wondered what the aftermath of China's violent suppression of the student protests would be.#agenda n.#items of business at a meeting. We had so much difficulty agreeing upon an agenda that there was very little time for the meeting.#agent n.#means or instrument; personal representative; person acting in an official capacity. "I will be the agent of America's destruction," proclaimed the beady-eyed villain, whose agent had gotten him the role. With his face, he could never have played the part of the hero, a heroic F.B.I. agent.#agglomeration n.#collection; heap. It took weeks to assort the agglomeration of miscellaneous items she had collected on her trip.#aggrandize v.#increase or intensify. The history of the past quarter century illustrates how a President may aggrandize his power to act aggressively in international affairs without considering the wishes of Congress.#aggregate v.# gather; accumulate. Before the Wall Street scandals, dealers in so-called junk bonds managed to aggregate great wealth in short periods of time. aggregation, n.#aggressor n.#attacker. Before you punish both boys for fighting, see whether you can determine which one was the aggressor.#aghast adj.#horrified. He was aghast at the nerve of the speaker who had insulted his host.#agility n.#nimbleness. The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience.#agitate v.#stir up; disturb. Her fiery remarks agitated the already angry mob.#agnostic n.#one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality. Agnostics say we can neither prove nor disprove the existence of god; we simply just can't know. also adj. #agrarian adj.#pertaining to land or its cultivation. Because its recent industrialization has transformed farmhands into factory workers, the country is gradually losing its agrarian traditions.#alacrity n.#cheerful promptness. Eager to get away to the mountains, Phil and Dave packed up their ski gear and climbed into the van with alacrity.#alchemy n.#medieval chemistry. The changing of baser metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy. alchemist, n.#alcove n.#nook; small, recessed section of a room. Though their apartment lacked a full-scale dining room, an alcove adjacent to the living room made an adequate breakfast nook for the young couple.#alias n.#an assumed name. John Smith's alias was Bob Jones. also ad v.#alienate v.#make hostile; separate. Her attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith in each other.#alimentary adj.#supplying nourishment. The alimentary canal in our bodies is so named because digestion of foods occurs there. When asked for the name of the digestive tract, Sherlock Holmes replied, "Alimentary, my dear Watson."#alimony n.#payments made to an ex-spouse after divorce. Because Tony had supported Tina through medical school, on their divorce he asked the court to award him $500 a month in alimony.#allay v.#calm; pacify. The crew tried to allay the fears of the passengers by announcing that the fire had been controlled.#allege v.#state without proof. Although it is alleged that she has worked for the enemy, she denies the allegation and, legally, we can take no action against her without proof. allegation, n.#allegiance n.#loyalty. Not even a term in prison could shake Lech Walesa's allegiance to Solidarity, the Polish trade union he had helped to found.#allegory n.#story in which characters are used as symbols; fable. Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the temptations and victories of man's soul. allegorical, adj. #alleviate v.# relieve. This should alleviate the pain; if it does not, we shall have to use stronger drugs.#alliteration n.#repetition of beginning sound in poetry. "The furrow followed free" is an example of alliteration.#allocate v.#assign. Even though the Red Cross had allocated a large sum for the relief of the sufferers of the disaster, many people perished.#alloy n.#a mixture as of metals. Alloys of gold are used more frequently than the pure metal.#alloy v.#mix; make less pure; lessen or moderate. Our delight at the Yankees' victory was alloyed by our concern for Dwight Gooden, who injured his pitching arm in the game. #allude v.#refer indirectly. Try not to mention divorce in Jack's presence because he will think you are alluding to his marital problems with Jill.#allure v.#entice; attract. Allured by the song of the sirens, the helmsman steered the ship toward the reef. also n.#allusion n.#indirect reference. When Amanda said to the ticket scalper, "One hundred bucks? What do you want, a pound of flesh?," she was making an allusion to Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.#aloft adv.#upward. The sailor climbed aloft into the rigging. To get into a loft bed, you have to climb aloft.#aloof adj.# apart; reserved. Shy by nature, she remained aloof while all the rest conversed. #altercation n.#noisy quarrel; heated dispute. In that hot- tempered household, no meal ever came to a peaceful conclusion; the inevitable altercation might even end in blows.#altruistic adj.# unselfishly generous; concerned for others. In providing tutorial assistance and college scholarships for hundreds of economically disadvantaged youths, Eugene Lang performed a truly altruistic deed. altruism, n.#amalgamate v.#combine; unite in one body. The unions will attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body.#amass v.#collect. The miser's aim is to amass and hoard as much gold as possible.#ambidextrous adj.#capable of using either hand with equal ease. A switch-hitter in baseball should be naturally ambidextrous.#ambience n.#environment; atmosphere. She went to the restaurant not for the food but for the ambience.#ambiguous adj.# unclear or doubtful in meaning. His ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which road to take. ambiguity, n.#ambivalence n.# the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes. Torn between loving her parents one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by the ambivalence of her feelings. ambivalent, adj. #amble n.#moving at an easy pace. When she first mounted the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a gentle amble. also v.#ambulatory adj.#able to walk; not bedridden. Juan was a highly ambulatory patient; not only did he refuse to be confined to bed, but he insisted on riding his skateboard up and down the halls.#ameliorate v.#improve. Many social workers have attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people living in the slums.#amenable adj.#readily managed; willing to be led. Although the ambassador was usually amenable to friendly suggestions, he balked when we hinted that he should waive his diplomatic immunity and pay his parking tickets.#amend v.#correct; change, generally for the better. Hoping to amend his condition, he left Vietnam for the United States.#amenities n.#convenient features; courtesies. In addition to the customary amenities for the business traveler-fax machines, modems, a health club-the hotel offers the services of a butler versed in the social amenities.#amiable adj.#agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly. In Little Women, Beth is the amiable daughter whose loving disposition endears her to all who know her.#amicable adj.#politely friendly; not quarrelsome. Beth's sister Jo is the hot-tempered tomboy who has a hard time maintaining amicable relations with those around her. Jo's quarrel with her friend Laurie finally reaches an amicable settlement, but not because Jo turns amiable overnight. #amiss adj.#wrong; faulty. Seeing her frown, he wondered if anything were amiss. also ad v.#amity n.#friendship. Student exchange programs such as the Experiment in International Living were established to promote international amity.#amnesia n.#Loss of memory. Because she was suffering from amnesia, the police could not get the young girl to identify herself.#amnesty n.#pardon. When his first child was born, the king granted amnesty to all in prison.#amoral adj.#nonmoral. The amoral individual lacks a code of ethics; he cannot tell right from wrong. The immoral person can tell right from wrong; he chooses to do something he knows is wrong.#amorous adj.#moved by sexual love; loving. "Love them and leave them" was the motto of the amorous Don Juan. #amorphous adj.# formless; lacking shape or definition. As soon as we have decided on our itinerary, we shall send you a copy; right now, our plans are still amorphous.#amphibian adj.#able to live both on land and in water. Frogs are classified as amphibian. also n.#amphitheater n.#oval building with tiers of seats. The spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators.#ample adj.#abundant. Bond had ample opportunity to escape. Why did he let us catch him?#amplify v.#broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger. Charlie Brown tried to amplify his remarks, but he was drowned out by jeers from the audience. Lucy was smarter: she used a loudspeaker to amplify her voice.#amputate v.#cut off part of body; prune. Though the doctors had to amputate his leg to prevent the spread of cancer, the young athlete refused to let the loss of a limb keep him from participating in sports.#amulet n.#charm; talisman. Around her neck she wore the amulet that the witch doctor had given her.#anachronistic adj.# having an error involving time in a story. The reference to clocks in Julius Caesar is anachronistic: clocks did not exist in Caesar's time. anachronism, n.#analgesic adj.#causing insensitivity to pain. The analgesic qualities of this lotion will provide temporary relief.#analogous adj.# comparable. She called our attention to the things that had been done in an analogous situation and recommended that we do the same.#analogy n.#similarity; parallelism. A well-known analogy compares the body's immune system with an army whose defending troops are the lymphocytes or white blood cells.#anarchist n.# person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority. Denying she was an anarchist, Katya maintained she wished only to make changes in our government, not to destroy it entirely. anarchy, n.#anarchy n.#absence of governing body; state of disorder. The assassination of the leaders led to a period of anarchy.#anathema n.#solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse. The Ayatolla Khomeini heaped anathema upon "the Great Satan," that is, the United States. To the Ayatolla, America and the West were anathema; he loathed the democratic nations, cursing them in his dying words. anathematize, v.#ancestry n.#family descent. David can trace his ancestry as far back as the seventeenth century, when one of his ancestors was a court trumpeter somewhere in Germany. ancestral, adj. #anchor v.#secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place. We set the post in concrete to anchor it in place. anchorage, n.#ancillary adj.#serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary. In an ancillary capacity, Doctor Watson was helpful; however, Holmes could not trust the good doctor to solve a perplexing case on his own. also n.#anecdote n.# short account of an amusing or interesting event. Rather than make concrete proposals for welfare reform, President Reagan told anecdotes about poor people who became wealthy despite their impoverished backgrounds.#anemia n.#condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles. The doctor ascribes her tiredness to anemia. anemic, adj. #anesthetic n.#substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness. His monotonous voice acted like an anesthetic; his audience was soon asleep. anesthesia, n.#anguish n.#acute pain; extreme suffering. Visiting the site of the explosion, the governor wept to see the anguish of the victims and their families.#angular adj.#sharp-cornered; stiff in manner. Mr. Spock's features, though angular, were curiously attractive, in a Vulcan way.#animated adj.#lively; spirited. Jim Carrey's facial expressions are highly animated: when he played Ace Ventura, he looked practically rubber-faced. #animosity n.# active enmity. He incurred the animosity of the ruling class because he advocated limitations of their power.#animus n.#hostile feeling or intent. The speaker's sarcastic comments about liberal do-gooders and elitist snobs revealed his deep-seated animus against his opponent.#annals n.#records; history. "In this year our good King Richard died," wrote the chronicler in the kingdom's annals.#annex v.#attach; take possession of. Mexico objected to the United States' attempts to annex the territory that later became the state of Texas.#annihilate v.#destroy. The enemy in its revenge tried to annihilate the entire population.#annotate v.#comment; make explanatory notes. In explanatory notes following each poem, the editor carefully annotated the poet's more esoteric references.#annuity n.#yearly allowance. The annuity he set up with the insurance company supplements his social security benefits so that he can live very comfortably without working.#annul v.#make void. The parents of the eloped couple tried to annul the marriage.#anoint v.#consecrate. The prophet Samuel anointed David with oil, crowning him king of Israel.#anomalous adj.#abnormal; irregular. He was placed in the anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures which he despised. #anomaly n.# irregularity. A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly.#anonymity n.#state of being nameless; anonymousness. The donor of the gift asked the college not to mention him by name; the dean readily agreed to respect his anonymity.#anonymous adj.#having no name. She tried to ascertain the identity of the writer of the anonymous letter.#antagonism n.# hostility; active resistance. Barry showed his antagonism toward his new stepmother by ignoring her whenever she tried talking to him. antagonistic, adj. #antecede v.#precede. The invention of the radiotelegraph anteceded the development of television by a quarter of a century.#antecedents n.#preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background. Susi Bechhofer's ignorance of her Jewish background had its antecedents in the chaos of World War II. Smuggled out of Germany and adopted by a Christian family, she knew nothing of her birth and antecedents until she was reunited with her family in 1989.#antediluvian adj.# antiquated; extremely ancient. Looking at his great-aunt's antique furniture, which must have been cluttering up her attic since the time of Noah's flood, the young heir exclaimed, "Heavens! How positively antediluvian!"#anthem n.#song of praise or patriotism. Let us now all join in singing the national anthem.#anthology n.#book of literary selections by various authors. This anthology of science fiction was compiled by the late Isaac Asimo v. anthologize, v.#anthropocentric adj.#regarding human beings as the center of the universe. Without considering any evidence that might challenge his anthropocentric viewpoint, Hector categorically maintained that dolphins could not be as intelligent as men. anthropocentrism, n.#anthropoid adj.#manlike. The gorilla is the strongest of the anthropoid animals. also n.#anthropologist n.#a student of the history and science of mankind. Anthropologists have discovered several relics of prehistoric man in this area.#anthropomorphic adj.#having human form or characteristics. Primitive religions often have deities with anthropomorphic characteristics. anthropomorphism, n.#anticlimax n.#Letdown in thought or emotion. After the fine performance in the first act, the rest of the play was an anticlimax. anticlimactic, adj. #antidote n.# medicine to counteract a poison or disease. When Marge's child accidentally swallowed some cleaning fluid, the local poison control hotline instructed Marge how to administer the antidote.#antipathy n.# aversion; dislike. Tom's extreme antipathy for disputes keeps him from getting into arguments with his temperamental wife. Noise in any form is antipathetic to him. Among his other antipathies are honking cars, boom boxes, and heavy metal rock.#antiquated adj.# old-fashioned; obsolete. Philip had grown so accustomed to editing his papers on word processors that he thought typewriters were too antiquated for him to use.#antiseptic n.#substance that prevents infection. It is advisable to apply an antiseptic to any wound, no matter how slight or insignificant. also adj. #antithesis n.#contrast; direct opposite of or to. This tyranny was the antithesis of all that he had hoped for, and he fought it with all his strength.#apathy n.# Lack of caring; indifference. A firm believer in democratic government, she could not understand the apathy of people who never bothered to vote. apathetic, adj. #ape v.#imitate or mimic. He was suspended for a week because he had aped the principal in front of the whole school.#aperture n.#opening; hole. She discovered a small aperture in the wall, through which the insects had entered the room.#apex n.#tip; summit; climax. At the apex of his career, the star was deluged with offers of leading roles; two years later, he was reduced to acting in mouthwash ads.#aphasia n.#Loss of speech due to injury or illness. After the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently.#aphorism n.#pithy maxim. An aphorism differs from an adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific. "The proper study of mankind is man" is an aphorism. "There's no smoke without a fire" is an adage. aphoristic, adj. #apiary n.#a place where bees are kept. Although he spent many hours daily in the apiary, he was very seldom stung by a bee.#aplomb n.#poise; assurance. Gwen's aplomb in handling potentially embarrassing moments was legendary around the office; when one of her clients broke a piece of her best crystal, she coolly picked up her own goblet and hurled it into the fireplace.#apocalyptic adj.#prophetic; pertaining to revelations. The crowd jeered at the street preacher's apocalyptic predictions of doom. The Apocalypse or Book of Revelations of Saint John prophesies the end of the world as we know it and foretells marvels and prodigies that signal the coming doom.#apocryphal adj.# untrue; made up. To impress his friends, Tom invented apocryphal tales of his adventures in the big city.#apogee n.#highest point. When the moon in its orbit is farthest away from the earth, it is at its apogee.#apolitical adj.#having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs. It was hard to remain apolitical during the Vietnam War; even people who generally ignored public issues felt they had to take political stands.#apologist n.#one who writes in defense of a cause or institution. Rather than act as an apologist for the current regime in Beijing and defend its brutal actions, the young diplomat decided to defect to the West.#apostate n.#one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs. Because he switched from one party to another, his former friends shunned him as an apostate. apostasy, n.#apotheosis n.#elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something. The apotheosis of a Roman emperor was designed to insure his eternal greatness: people would worship at his altar forever. The hero of the musical How to Succeed in Business...was the apotheosis of yuppieness: he was the perfect upwardly-bound young man on the make.#appall v.#dismay; shock. We were appalled by the horrifying conditions in the city's jails.#apparatus n.#equipment. Firefighters use specialized apparatus to fight fires. #apparition n.#ghost; phantom. On the castle battlements, an apparition materialized and spoke to Hamlet, warning him of his uncle's treachery. In Ghostbusters, hordes of apparitions materialized, only to be dematerialized by the specialized apparatus wielded by Bill Murray. #appease v.# pacify or soothe; relieve. Tom and Jody tried to appease the crying baby by offering him one toy after another, but he would not calm down until they appeased his hunger by giving him a bottle.#appellation n.#name; title. Macbeth was startled when the witches greeted him with an incorrect appellation. Why did they call him Thane of Cawdor, he wondered, when the holder of that title still lived?#append v.#attach. When you append a bibliography to a text, you have just created an appendix.#application n.#diligent attention. Pleased with how well Tom had whitewashed the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for his application to the task. apply, v. (secondary meaning)#apposite adj.#appropriate; fitting. He was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion.#appraise v.#estimate value of. It is difficult to appraise the value of old paintings; it is easier to call them priceless. appraisal, n.#appreciate v.#be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of. Little Orphan Annie truly appreciated the stocks Daddy Warbucks gave her, which appreciated in value considerably over the years.#apprehend v.#arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive. The police will apprehend the culprit and convict him before long.#apprehension n.# fear. His nervous glances at the passersby on the deserted street revealed his apprehension.#apprenticeship n.#time spent as a novice learning a trade from a skilled worker. As a child, Pip had thought it would be wonderful to work as Joe's apprentice; now he hated his apprenticeship and scorned the blacksmith's trade.#apprise v.#inform. When he was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, he decided to postpone his trip.#approbation n.#approval. She looked for some sign of approbation from her parents, hoping her good grades would please them.#appropriate v.#acquire; take possession of for one's own use. The ranch owners appropriated the lands that had originally been set aside for the Indians' use.#apropos prep.#with reference to; regarding. I find your remarks apropos of the present situation timely and pertinent. also adj. and adv.#aptitude n.#fitness; talent. The counselor gave him an aptitude test before advising him about the career he should follow.#aquatic adj.#pertaining to water. Paul enjoyed aquatic sports such as scuba diving and snorkeling.#aquiline adj.#curved, hooked. Cartoonists exaggerated the senator's aquiline nose, curving it until it looked like the beak of an eagle.#arable adj.# fit for growing crops. The first settlers wrote home glowing reports of the New World, praising its vast acres of arable land ready for the plow.#arbiter n.#a person with power to decide a dispute; judge. As an arbiter in labor disputes, she has won the confidence of the workers and the employers.#arbitrary adj.# capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical. Tom's arbitrary dismissal angered him; his boss had no reason to fire him. He threw an arbitrary assortment of clothes into his suitcase and headed off, not caring where he went. #arbitrator n.#judge. Because the negotiating teams had been unable to reach a contract settlement, an outside arbitrator was called upon to mediate the dispute between union and management. arbitration, n.#arboretum n.#place where different tree varieties are exhibited. Walking along the tree-lined paths of the arboretum, Rita noted poplars, firs, and some particularly fine sycamores.#arcade n.#a covered passageway, usually lined with shops. The arcade was popular with shoppers because it gave them protection from the summer sun and the winter rain.#arcane adj.#secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated. Secret brotherhoods surround themselves with arcane rituals and trappings to mystify outsiders. So do doctors. Consider the arcane terminology they use and the impression they try to give that what is arcane to us is obvious to them.#archaeology n.#study of artifacts and relics of early mankind. The professor of archaeology headed an expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of ancient ruins.#archaic adj.# antiquated. "Methinks," "thee," and "thou" are archaic words that are no longer part of our normal vocabulary.#archetype n.#prototype; primitive pattern. The Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the many spans that now connect Manhattan with Long Island and New Jersey.#archipelago n.#group of closely located islands. When Gauguin looked at the map and saw the archipelagoes in the South Seas, he longed to visit them.#archives n.#public records; place where public records are kept. These documents should be part of the archives so that historians may be able to evaluate them in the future.#ardent adj.# intense; passionate; zealous. Katya's ardor was contagious; soon all her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause. ardor, n.#arduous adj.# hard; strenuous. Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy.#aria n.#operatic solo. At her Metropolitan Opera audition, Marian Anderson sang an aria from Norma.#arid adj.#dry; barren. The cactus has adapted to survive in an arid environment.#aristocracy n.#hereditary nobility; privileged class. Americans have mixed feelings about hereditary aristocracy: we say all men are created equal, but we describe particularly outstanding people as natural aristocrats.#armada n.#fleet of warships. Queen Elizabeth's navy defeated the mighty armada that threatened the English coast.#aromatic adj.#fragrant. Medieval sailing vessels brought aromatic herbs from China to Europe.#arousal n.#awakening; provocation (of a response). On arousal, Papa was always grumpy as a bear. The children tiptoed around the house, fearing they would arouse his anger by waking him up.#arraign v.#charge in court; indict. After his indictment by the Grand Jury, the accused man was arraigned in the County Criminal Court.#array v.#marshal; draw up in order. His actions were bound to array public sentiment against him. also n.#array v.#clothe; adorn. She liked to watch her mother array herself in her finest clothes before going out for the evening. also n.#arrears n.#being in debt. He was in arrears with his payments on the car.#arrest v.#stop or slow down; catch someone's attention. Slipping, the trapeze artist plunged from the heights until a safety net luckily arrested his fall. This near-disaster arrested the crowd's attention.#arrogance n.# pride; haughtiness. Convinced that Emma thought she was better than anyone else in the class, Ed rebuked her for her arrogance.#arroyo n.#gully. Until the heavy rains of the past spring, this arroyo had been a dry bed.#arsenal n.#storage place for military equipment. People are forbidden to smoke in the arsenal for fear that a stray spark might set off the munitions stored there.#articulate adj.# effective; distinct. Her articulate presentation of the advertising campaign impressed her employers. also v.#artifact n.# object made by human beings, either handmade or mass-produced. Archaeologists debated the significance of the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia Minor but came to no conclusion about the culture they represented.#artifice n.#deception; trickery. The Trojan War proved to the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effective than military might.#artisan n.# manually skilled worker; craftsman, as opposed to artist. A noted artisan, Arturo was known for the fine craftsmanship of his inlaid cabinets.#artless adj.#without guile; open and honest. Sophisticated and cynical, Jack could not believe Jill was as artless and naive as she appeared to be.#ascendancy n.# controlling influence; domination. Leaders of religious cults maintain ascendancy over their followers by methods that can verge on brainwashing.#ascertain v.#find out for certain. Please ascertain her present address.#ascetic adj.# practicing self-denial; austere. The wealthy, self-indulgent young man felt oddly drawn to the strict, ascetic life led by members of some monastic orders. also n.#ascribe v.#refer; attribute; assign. I can ascribe no motive for her acts.#aseptic adj.#preventing infection; having a cleansing effect. Hospitals succeeded in lowering the mortality rate as soon as they introduced aseptic conditions. #ashen adj.#ash-colored. Her face was ashen with fear.#asinine adj.#stupid. "What an asinine comment!" said Bob contemptuously. "I've never heard such a stupid remark."#askance adj.#with a sideways or indirect look. Looking askance at her questioner, she displayed her scorn.#askew adj.#crookedly; slanted; at an angle. Judy constantly straightened the doilies on her furniture: she couldn't stand seeing them askew.#asperity n.#sharpness (of temper). These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been directed.#aspersion n.#slander; slur; derogatory remark. Unscrupulous politicians practice character assassination as a political tool, casting aspersions on their rivals.#aspirant n.#seeker after position or status. Although I am an aspirant for public office, I am not willing to accept the dictates of the party bosses. also adj. #aspire v.# seek to attain; long for. Because he aspired to a career in professional sports, Philip enrolled in a graduate program in sports management. aspiration, n.#assail v.#assault. He was assailed with questions after his lecture.#assay v.#analyze; evaluate. When they assayed the ore, they found that they had discovered a very rich vein. also n.#assent v.#agree; accept. It gives me great pleasure to assent to your request.#assert v.#declare or state with confidence; put oneself forward boldly. Malcolm asserted that if Reese quit acting like a wimp and asserted himself a bit more, he'd improve his chances of getting a date. assertion, n.#assessment n.#evaluation; judgment. Your high school record plays an important part in the admission committee's assessment of you as an applicant.#assiduous adj.# diligent. He was assiduous, working at this task for weeks before he felt satisfied with his results. assiduity, n.#assimilate v.#absorb; cause to become homogeneous. The manner in which the United States was able to assimilate the hordes of immigrants during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries will always be a source of pride to Americans. The immigrants eagerly assimilated new ideas and customs; they soaked them up, the way plants soak up water.#assuage v.# ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger). Jilted by Jane, Dick tried to assuage his heartache by indulging in ice cream. One gallon later, he had assuaged his appetite but not his grief.#assumption n.#something taken for granted; taking over or taking possession of. The young princess made the foolish assumption that the regent would not object to her assumption of power. assume, v.#assurance n.#promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence. When Guthrie gave Guinness his assurance that rehearsals were going well, he spoke with such assurance that Guinness felt relieved. assure, v.#asteroid n.#small planet. Most asteroids are found in the region of space located between Mars and Jupiter, commonly known as the asteroid belt.#astigmatism n.#eye defect that prevents proper focus. As soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from astigmatism, they took him to the optometrist for corrective glasses.#astral adj.#relating to the stars. She was amazed at the number of astral bodies the new telescope revealed.#astringent adj.#binding; causing contraction. The astringent quality of the unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult. also n.#astronomical adj.#enormously large or extensive. The government seems willing to spend astronomical sums on weapons development.#astute adj.# wise; shrewd; keen. John Jacob Astor made astute investments in land, shrewdly purchasing valuable plots throughout New York City.#asunder adv.#into parts; apart. A fierce quarrel split the partnership asunder: the two partners finally sundered their connections because their points of view were poles asunder.#asylum n.#place of refuge or shelter; protection. The refugees sought asylum from religious persecution in a new land.#asymmetric adj.#not identical on both sides of a dividing central line. Because one eyebrow was set markedly higher than the other, William's face had a particularly asymmetric appearance.#atavism n.#reversion to an earlier type; throwback. In his love for gardening, Martin seemed an atavism to his Tuscan forebears, who lavished great care on their small plots of soil.#atheistic adj.#denying the existence of God. His atheistic remarks shocked the religious worshippers.#atlas n.#a bound volume of maps, charts, or tables. Embarrassed at being unable to distinguish Slovenia from Slovakia, George W. finally consulted an atlas.#atone v.#make amends for; pay for. He knew no way in which he could atone for his brutal crime.#atrocity n.#brutal deed. In time of war, many atrocities are committed by invading armies.#atrophy v.# waste away. After three months in a cast, your calf muscles are bound to atrophy; you'll need physical therapy to get back in shape. also n.#attain v.#achieve or accomplish; gain. The scarecrow sought to attain one goal: he wished to obtain a brain.#attentive adj.#alert and watchful; considerate; thoughtful. Spellbound, the attentive audience watched the final game of the tennis match, never taking their eyes from the ball. A cold wind sprang up; Stan's attentive daughter slipped a sweater over his shoulders without distracting his attention from the game.#attenuate v.#make thin; weaken. By withdrawing their forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines.#attest v.#testify, bear witness. Having served as a member of the Grand Jury, I can attest that our system of indicting individuals is in need of improvement.#attribute n.#essential quality. His outstanding attribute was his kindness.#attribute v.# ascribe; explain. I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents.#attrition n.#gradual decrease in numbers; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment. In the 1960s urban churches suffered from attrition as members moved from the cities to the suburbs. Rather than fire staff members, church leaders followed a policy of attrition, allowing elderly workers to retire without replacing them.#atypical adj.#not normal. The child psychiatrist reassured Mrs. Keaton that playing doctor was not atypical behavior for a child of young Alex's age. "Yes," she replied, "but not charging for house calls!"#audacious adj.# daring; bold. Audiences cheered as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia made their audacious, death-defying leap to freedom, escaping Darth Vader's troops. audacity, n.#audit n.#examination of accounts. When the bank examiners arrived to hold their annual audit, they discovered the embezzlements of the chief cashier. also v.#auditory adj.#pertaining to the sense of hearing. Audrey suffered from auditory hallucinations: she thought Elvis was speaking to her from the Great Beyond.#augment v.# increase; add to. Armies augment their forces by calling up reinforcements; teachers augment their salaries by taking odd jobs.#augury n.#omen; prophecy. He interpreted the departure of the birds as an augury of evil. augur, v.#august adj.#impressive; majestic. Visiting the palace at Versailles, she was impressed by the august surroundings in which she found herself.#aureole n.#sun's corona; halo. Many medieval paintings depict saintly characters with aureoles around their heads.#auroral adj.#pertaining to the aurora borealis. The auroral display was particularly spectacular that evening.#auspicious adj.#favoring success. With favorable weather conditions, it was an auspicious moment to set sail. Thomas, however, had doubts about sailing: a paranoid, he became suspicious whenever conditions seemed auspicious.#austere adj.# forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented. The headmaster's austere demeanor tended to scare off the more timid students, who never visited his study willingly. The room reflected the man, austere and bare, like a monk's cell, with no touches of luxury to moderate its austerity. #authenticate v.#confirm as genuine. After a thorough chemical analysis of the pigments and canvas, the experts were prepared to authenticate the painting as an original Rembrandt.#authoritarian adj.# subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will. The leaders of the authoritarian regime ordered the suppression of the democratic protest movement. After years of submitting to the will of her authoritarian father, Elizabeth Barrett ran away from home with the poet Robert Browning.#authoritative adj.#having the weight of authority; peremptory and dictatorial. Impressed by the young researcher's well-documented presentation, we accepted her analysis of the experiment as authoritative. #autocratic adj.#having absolute, unchecked power; dictatorial. Someone accustomed to exercising authority may become autocratic if his or her power is unchecked. Dictators by definition are autocrats. Bosses who dictate behavior as well as letters can be autocrats too. #automaton n.#robot; person performing a task mechanically. The assembly line job called for no initiative or intelligence on Homer's part; on automatic pilot, he pushed button after button like an automaton.#autonomous adj.# self-governing. Although the University of California at Berkeley is just one part of the state university system, in many ways Cal Berkeley is autonomous, for it runs several programs that are not subject to outside control. autonomy, n.#autopsy n.#examination of a dead body; post-mortem. The medical examiner ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. also v.#auxiliary adj.#helper, additional or subsidiary. To prepare for the emergency, they built an auxiliary power station. also n.#avalanche n.#great mass of falling snow and ice. The park ranger warned the skiers to stay on the main trails, where they would be in no danger of being buried beneath a sudden avalanche.#avarice n.# greediness for wealth. King Midas is a perfect example of avarice, for he was so greedy that he wished everything he touched would turn to gold.#avenge v.#take vengeance for something (or on behalf of someone). Hamlet vowed he would avenge his father's murder and punish Claudius for his horrible crime.#aver v.#assert confidently; affirm. Despite overwhelming popular skepticism about his voyage, Columbus averred he would succeed in finding a direct sea route to the Far East. #averse adj.#reluctant; disinclined. The reporter was averse to revealing the sources of his information.#aversion n.# firm dislike. Bert had an aversion to yuppies; Alex had an aversion to punks. Their mutual aversion was so great that they refused to speak to one another. #avert v.# prevent; turn away. She averted her eyes from the dead cat on the highway.#aviary n.# enclosure for birds. The aviary at the zoo held nearly 300 birds.#avid adj.#greedy; eager for. Avid for pleasure, Abner partied with great avidity. avidity, n.#avocation n.#secondary or minor occupation. His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his avocation. #avow v.#declare openly. Lana avowed that she never meant to steal Debbie's boyfriend, but no one believed her avowal of innocence.#avuncular adj.#Like an uncle. Avuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew's shortcomings.#awe n.#solemn wonder. The tourists gazed with awe at the tremendous expanse of the Grand Canyon.#awry adv.#crooked; wrong; amiss. Noticing that the groom's tie was slightly awry, the bride reached over to set it straight. A careful organizer, she hated to have anything go awry with her plans.#axiom n.#self-evident truth requiring no proof. Before a student can begin to think along the lines of Euclidean geometry, he must accept certain principles or axioms.#azure adj.#sky blue. Azure skies are indicative of good weather.#