- A - abase :lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect abash :embarrass abate :subside or moderate abbreviate :shorten abdicate :renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility) aberrant :abnormal or deviant aberration :deviation from the normal; mental disorder abet(n) :assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage abeyance(n) :suspended action abhor :detest; hate abject :(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology abjure :renounce upon oath ablution :washing abnegation :renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation abolish :cancel; put an end to abominate :loathe; hate abominable :detestable; extremely unpleasant aboriginal :being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine abortive :unsuccessful; fruitless abrasive :rubbing away; tending to grind down abridge :condense or shorten abrogate :abolish abscission(n) :cutting off; separation abscond :depart secretly and hide absolute :complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism absolve :pardon (an offense) abstain :refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote; abstemious :sparing in eating and drinking; temperate abstinence :restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote abstract :theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational abstruse :obscure; profound; difficult to understand abusive :coarsely insulting; physically harmful abut(n) :border upon; adjoin abysmal :bottomless abyss :enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit academic :related to a school; not practical or directly useful accede :agree accelerate :move faster accessible :easy to approach; obtainable accessory :additional object; useful but not essential thing acclaim :applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise acclimate :adjust to climate or environment; adapt acclivity(n) :sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity accolade :award of merit; strong praise and approval accommodate :oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging accomplice :partner in crime accord :agreement accost :approach and speak first to a person accoutre(n) :equip; N. accoutrement accretion :growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete accrue :come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual acerbity(n) :bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone) acetic(n) :vinegary acidulous(n) :slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic acknowledge : recognize; admit acme(n) :peak; pinnacle; highest point acoustics :science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in acquiesce :assent; agree passively; comply without protest acquittal :deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner acrid(n) :bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent acrimonious(n) :stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior acrophobia :fear of heights actuarial :calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics actuary :someone who advises insurance companies actuate(n) :motivate; activate; cause to act acuity :sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing) acumen :mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen acute :(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain adage(n) :wise saying; proverb adamant :hard; inflexible adapt :make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel. addendum(n) :addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book) addiction :compulsive habitual need addle(n) :make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg) address :direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech adept :expert at; very skilled adhere :stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality adherent :supporter; follower adjacent :adjoining; neighboring; close by adjourn :suspend until a later time; move from one place to another adjunct :something attached to but holding an inferior position adjuration :solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly adjutant(n) :staff officer assisting the commander; assistant admonish :warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove adore :love deeply and respect highly adorn :decorate adroit :skillful (in using mind or hand) adulation :flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved adulterate :make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances advent :arrival adventitious :accidental; casual; happening by chance adversary :opponent; enemy adverse :going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile adversity :great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event advert(n) :refer advocacy :support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something advocate :speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for aegis(n) :shield; protection; defense aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)(n) :nest of a large bird of prey aesthetic :artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics affable :easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly affected :artificial; pretended affidavit :written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law) affiliation :joining; associating with affinity :feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages affirmation :positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination affliction :state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on affluence :abundance; wealth affront :insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally agape(n) :openmouthed agenda(n) :items of business at a meeting agglomeration(n) :collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap aggrandize :make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement aggregate :sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars aghast :filled with great surprise or fear; horrified agility :nimbleness; ability to move quickly agitate :stir up; disturb agnostic :one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality agog(n) :highly excited; intensely curious agrarian :pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform alacrity :cheerful promptness without reluctance alchemy :medieval chemistry alcove(n) :nook; recess alias :an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias alienate :make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of alimentary :supplying nourishment alimony(n) :payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce allay :calm; pacify allege :state without proof allegiance :loyalty allegory(n) :story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable alleviate :relieve (pain) alliteration :repetition of beginning sound in poetry allocate :assign; set apart for a particular purpose (s earmark set aside (money or time) for a particular purpose) alloy :mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness allude :refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference allure :entice; attract; tempt alluvial :pertaining to soil deposits left by running water aloof(n) :apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved; ADV. aloft(n) :upward; high up in the air altercation :noisy quarrel altruistic :unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism amalgamate(n) :(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body amalgam(n) :combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth amass(n) :collect (gradually, in a very large amount) amazon :female warrior ambidextrous :capable of using either hand with equal ease ambience :environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature ambiguous :unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation ambivalence :the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions amble :walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly ambrosia(n) :food of the gods (s nectar drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees) ambulatory :able to walk ameliorate :improve amenable :obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests amend :correct; change ; generally for the better amenities :convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies amiable :agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly amicable :peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement amiss(n) :wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV. amity :friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations amnesia :loss of memory amnesty :pardon (allowed by government to political criminals) amoral :nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong amorous :moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances amorphous :formless; lacking shape or definition amphibian :able to live both on land and in water; N. amphitheater :oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena ample(n) :enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space amplify :increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks with a graph amputate :cut off part of body; prune (a limb) amok(amuck)(n) :in a state of rage; Ex. run amok amulet(n) :charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck anachronism :an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic analgesic(n) :causing insensitivity to pain; N. (s analgesia condition of being unable to feel pain) analogous :comparable; similar analogy :similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things anarchist :person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority anarchy :absence of governing body; state of disorder anathema(n) :solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize ancestry :family descent; ADJ. ancestral anchor :secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage ancillary :serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N. anecdote :short story of an amusing or interesting event anemia :condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic anesthetic :substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia anguish :acute pain; extreme suffering angular :sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner animadversion :critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval animated :lively; spirited animosity :active enmity animus hostile(n):feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition annals :records arranged in yearly parts; history anneal :reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass) annex :attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one annihilate :destroy annotate comment;:make explanatory notes annuity :yearly allowance annul :make void (s elope :run away secretly with the intention of getting married) anodyne :drug that relieves pain or trouble; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement anoint :consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony) anomalous :abnormal; irregular anomaly :irregularity anonymity :state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous antagonism :hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist (s protagonist leader or noticeable supporter of an idea; chief character in a play or story) antecede :precede antecedents :preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background antediluvian :antiquated; extremely ancient anthem :song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem anthology :book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus anthropoid :manlike; resembling a human being; N. anthropologist :student of the history and science of humankind anthropomorphic :having human form or characteristics anticlimax :letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting antidote :remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles antipathy :aversion; dislike or opposition antiquated :obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated antique :made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was made in an earlier period and that is rare or valuable antiquity :quality of being very old; ancient times; antiseptic :substance that prevents infection in a wound; ADJ. antithesis :contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical antler :bony growth on the head of a deer anvil(n) :iron block used in hammering out metals apathy :lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic ape(n) :imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner) aperture(n) :opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light apex(n) :tip; summit; climax; highest point aphasia :loss of speech due to injury or illness aphorism :pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic apiary(n) :a place where bees are kept apiculture :bee-keeping apiarist :person who keeps bees aplomb(n) :poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence (s poise : good judgment with composure; balance; V place in a carefully balanced position) apocalyptic :prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse apocryphal(n) :(of a story) widely believed but untrue apogee :highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee apolitical(n) :having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs apologist(n) :one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia apoplexy(n) :stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain apostate(n) :one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy apothecary(n) :druggist; pharmacist apothegm(apophthegm)(n) :pithy, compact saying apotheosis(n) :elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something appall :dismay; shock deeply apparition :ghost; phantom appease :pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement appellation(n) :name; title append(n) :attach application(n) :diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself apposite :appropriate; fitting appraise :estimate value of; N. appraisal appreciate :be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference apprehend :arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension apprehensive(n) :fearful; discerning apprise :inform approbation :approval appropriate :acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate appurtenances(n) :subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing apropos(n) :with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation; ADJ. ADV. aptitude :fitness; talent aquiline(n) :curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose arable (n) :fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land arbiter :person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware arbitrary :unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler arbitrate :act as judge (at the request of both sides) arboretum(n) :place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited arboreal :of or living in trees arcade :a covered passageway usually lined with shops arcane :esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener archaeology :study of artifacts and relics of early mankind archaic(n) :antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N. archetype(n) :prototype; primitive pattern arch- :chief; first; Ex. archbishop archipelago(n) :group of closely located islands archives(n) :public records; place where public records are kept ardor :heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent arduous(n) :hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work argot (n) :slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people aria :operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio arid (n) :(of land) dry; barren; unproductive aristocracy :hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat armada :fleet of warships aromatic :fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell arraign :charge in court; indict array (n) :marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array arrears :being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done arrhythmic(n) :lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia arrogance :pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people) arroyo (n) :gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater artery :blood-vessel; CF. vein articulate :effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints arsenal :storage place for military equipment artifacts :object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced artifice(n) :deception; trickery artisan :a manually skilled worker artless(n) :without guile; open and honest ascendancy :controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant ascertain :find out for certain; make certain ascetic :practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism ascribe :refer; attribute; assign aseptic :preventing infection; having a cleansing effect ashen (n) :ash-colored; deadly pale asinine(n) :stupid; Ex. asinine remarks askance(n) :with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at askew (n) :crookedly; slanted; at an angle asperity :sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter aspersion :slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on aspirant :seeker after position or status aspire :seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership assail :assault assay (n) :analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore) assent :agree; accept; N. assessment assert (n) :state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence assiduous :diligent assimilate :absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking) assuage :make less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger) assumption :something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume (s regent :a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent) assurance :firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance in fron of his class; V. assure; tell firmly with confidence; ensure; make (something) certain to heappen; make (someone) feel sure; give confidence to; ADJ. assured: self-assured; confident in one's own ability; showing certainty asteroid :small planet astigmatism(n) :eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism astral (n) :relating to the stars astringent :binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism astronomical :enormously large or extensive astute :wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage asunder(n) :into parts; apart; V. sunder asylum :place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political) asymmetric :not identical on both sides of a dividing central line atavism(n) :resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic atheistic :denying the existence of God; N. atheism atone :make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for atrocity :brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious atrophy :wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use) attentive :alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration attenuate :make thin; weaken attest :testify; bear witness attribute :essential quality; V: ascribe; explain attrition :rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition atypical(n) :not normal; not typical audacious :daring; bold; N. audacity audit :examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V. augment :increase; add to augury (n) :omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future) august :impressive; majestic aureole(n) :sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light auroral(n) :pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis auspicious :favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices austere :forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity authenticate :prove genuine authoritarian :subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father authoritative :having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive autocratic :having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy automaton :mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself autonomous :self-governing; N. autonomy autopsy :examination of a dead body; postmortem; V. auxiliary :offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant avalanche :great mass of falling snow and ice avarice :greediness for wealth avenge :take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy. aver :state confidently; declare as true averse :reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work aversion :firm dislike avert :prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight. aviary :enclosure for birds; large cage avid (n) :greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity avocation :secondary or minor occupation avow :declare openly; N. avowal avuncular :of or like an uncle awe :solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome awful :terrible; very bad awl(n) :pointed tool used for piercing awry(n) :distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry. axiom :self-evident truth requiring no proof azure(n) :sky blue UP

- B - babble :chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous sounds like water running gently over rounded stone; N. bacchanalian(n) :drunken bacchanal :noisy party with a lot of drinking Bacchanalia :the ancient Roman festival in honor of Bacchus badger(n) :pester; annoy continually with demands; persuade by asking again and again; Ex. The children badgered me into taking them into the cinema; N: a kind of mountain animal badinage(n) :teasing conversation; banter; joking talk baffle :frustrate; perplex bait(n) :harass; tease; torment; Ex. badger baiting; N: food or other lure used to catch fish or trap animals baleful(n) :evil; malignant in intent or effect; deadly; having a malign influence; portending evil; ominous; threatening; Ex. baleful look balk(n) :stop short, as if faced with an obstacle, and refuse to continue; foil; stop or get in the way of; frustrate ballast(n) :heavy substance used to add stability or weight; V. supply with ballast balm(n) :something that relieves pain; oily liquid with a pleasant smell from trees(s pang: sudden sharp feeling of pain) balmy(n) :soft and mild (of air); fragrant banal :hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality; clich\'ed bandy(n) :discuss lightly or glibly; discuss in a frivolous manner; exchange (words) heatedly; quarrel; Ex. bandy words with bane :posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poisonous bantering :joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter barb :sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other object; openly cutting remark bard(n) :poet barefaced(n) :shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; unconcealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie (s unregenerate: making no attempt to change one's bad practices) baroque(n) :highly ornate barrage :barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism barrister :counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar(s solicitor: lawyer in the lower court of law) barterer :trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money bask(n) :luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth s luxuriate :take pleasure in great comfort bastion(n) :stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism bate(n) :let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate bauble(n) :trinket; cheap jewel; trifle bawdy(n) :indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd beatific(n) :giving or showing bliss; blissful bliss :complete happiness; ADJ. blissful beatitude(n) :blessedness; state of great happiness(s mystic: of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism) bedizen(n) :dress with vulgar finery(s finery: beautiful clothes for a special occasion) bedraggle(n) :wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled beeline(n) :direct quick route befuddle(n) :confuse thoroughly(s fuddle: make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused) beget :father; become the father of; produce; give rise to begrudge(n) :envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn't begrudge him his success.(s grudge: deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V.) beguile(n) :deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile behemoth(n) :huge creature; something of monstrous size or power beholden(n) :obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude behoove(behove)(n) :be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do. belabor(n) :harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically belated(n) :delayed beleaguer(n) :besiege or attack (with an army); harass; beset belie(n) :contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile belies her true feeling of displeasure. belittle :disparage; depreciate bellicose :warlike belligerent :quarrelsome bemoan(n) :lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of bemused(n) :confused; lost in thought; preoccupied benediction :blessing benefactor :gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose beneficent :kindly; doing good beneficial :helpful; useful; advantageous beneficiary :person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will benefit(n) :advantage; anything that brings helpl, advantage, or profit; money provided by the government to the people; fund-raising public entertainment; Ex. unemployment benefit; V: receive benefits; be beneficial to; give benefits benevolent :generous; charitable; having a wish to do good benign :kindly; favorable; not malignant (disease); Ex. benign tumor benison :blessing bent :determined; Ex. bent on advancing in the business; N: natural talent or inclination bequeath :leave to someone by means of a will; hand down in his will; N. bequest berate(n) :scold strongly bereavement(n) :state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft bereaved(n) :deprived of (someone beloved through death) bereft(n) :deprived of (something valuable); lacking berserk(n) :mad with violent anger; frenzied; madly excited beseech :beg; plead with beset(n) :harass or trouble from all directions; hem in (s hem: surround tightly so that movement is impossible; Ex. hem in; N.) besiege :surround with armed forces; harass (with requests); annoy continually besmirch(n) :soil; defile; make dirty bestial(n) :beastlike; brutal; inhuman; very cruel bestow :confer, to give betoken(n) :signify; indicate; be a sign of(s token: outward sign; Ex. a token of our gratitude) betray(n) :be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly); Ex. Her trembling hands betray her anxiety. betroth(n) :become engaged to marry bevy(n) :large group; Ex. a bevy of starlets bicameral :two-chambered as a legislative body bicker :quarrel biennial :every two years bifurcated(n) :divided into two branches; forked bigotry(n) :stubborn intolerance bigot :one who is intolerant (in matters of religion or politics) intolerant :not willing to accept ways of thinking different from one's own; CF. tolerant; CF. tolerate bilious(n) :suffering from indigestion; sick from having too much bile; irritable; easily irritated bilk(n) :swindle; cheat billowing(n) :swelling out in waves; surging billow :large wave of water; a great swell or surge (of smoke); V: surge, swell, roll in billows(s swell: long wave of water that moves continuously without breaking; V.) bivouac(n) :temporary encampment; camp without tents; V. bizarre :fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional blanch(n) :bleach; whiten; make white or pale bland(n) :soothing or mild (food); agreeable; causing no trouble or offence blandishment(n) :flattery blare(n) :loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light(s screech: unpleasant high sharp sound; shriek; V. ,,dazzle: make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder ) blas\'e(n) :bored with pleasure or dissipation; uninterested or bored blasphemy(n) :irreverence; sacrilege; cursing; bad language about God or holy things; V. blasphem; ADJ. blasphemous; CF. sacrilege blatant(n) :extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy bleak(n) :cold or cheerless; frigid; unlikely to be favorable; depressing blighted(n) :suffering from a disease; destroyed blight :plant disease; V: infect with blight; ruin; destroy blithe(blithesome)(n) :gay; joyous bloated(n) :(unpleasantly) swollen or puffed as with water or air blowhard(n) :talkative boaster; braggart bludgeon(n) :club; heavy-headed weapon; V. bluff(n) :pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff; ADJ: rough but good-natured blunder :error; stupid mistake blurt(n) :utter impulsively from nervousness or excitement bluster(n) :blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; speak in a noisy or bullying manner; CF. breeze, gust, gale bully :one who is habitually cruel to weaker people; V. bode :foreshadow; portend bogus :counterfeit; not authentic; intentionally false; Ex. bogus interview bohemian(n) :unconventional (in an artistic way) boisterous :violent; rough; noisy bolster(n) :support; reinforce bolt(n) :door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric; large roll of cloth; V: dash or dart off(s dart: move or throw suddenly and quickly); fasten (a door); gobble down (s gobble: eat very quickly) bombardment(n) :attack (as with missiles or bombs); V. bombard bombastic(n) :pompous; using inflated language bombast :grandiloquent, pompous speech boon(n) :blessing; benefit; something very helpful boorish(n) :rude; insensitive boor :rude, insensitive person bouillon(n) :clear beef (or meat) soup bountiful(n) :generous; graciously generous; showing bounty(s gracious: kind in a generous way (to someone less important)) bourgeois :middle class; selfishly materialistic; too interested in material possessions bovine :cowlike; placid and dull; slow-thinking; calm bowdlerize(n) :expurgate; CF. Thomas Bowdler brackish(n) :somewhat saline braggadocio(n) :boasting brag :boast braggart(n) :boaster; bragger brandish(n) :wave around (a weapon); flourish bravado(n) :swagger(s swagger: walk or behave with an over-confident manner); assumed air of defiance; false show of bravery brawn(n) :human muscle; muscular strength; sturdiness brawny :muscular; having well-developed muscles(s sturdy: strong and firm (in the body)) brazen (n) :insolent; without shame; bold; Ex. brazen lie; V: face with bold self-assurance or with unshamed confidence brawl :noisy quarrel breach(n) :breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap; opening; V. breadth :width; extent brevity :conciseness; shortness of duration brindled(n) ::tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)(s tawny: brownish yellow) bristling(n) :rising like bristles; showing irritation bristle :short stiff hair; V: (hair or fur) stand up stiffly brittle(n) :hard but easily broken; difficult; unstable; Ex. brittle situation broach(n) :introduce as a subject; moot; open up brocade(n) :rich, figured(patterned) fabric brochure :pamphlet brooch (n) :ornamental clasp(s clasp: hold firmly within arms); pin brook (n) :tolerate; endure; Ex. brook no interference; N: small stream browbeat(n) :bully; intimidate browse(n) :graze; feed on growing grass; skim or glance at casually(s skim: read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid) brunt(n) :main impact or shock (of an attack or blow); Ex. brunt of the argument brusque(n) :blunt; abrupt; curt; not wanting to waste time being nice buccaneer(n) :pirate bucolic(n) :rustic; pastoral buffet(n) :strike forcefully; slap; batter; knock out; N: table with food set out for people to server themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that's been set buffoonery(n) :clowning buffoon :stupid person; clown bugaboo(n) :bugbear; object of baseless terror bullion(n) :gold and silver in the form of bars bulwark(n) :strong wall built for defense; earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends bungle(n) :mismanage; blunder; botch; blow; spoil by clumsy behavior botch :mismanage; blow buoyant :able to float; cheerful and optimistic; N. buoyancy; Ex. buoyancy of wood/water/American market bureaucracy :overregulated administrative system marked by red tape; ADJ. bureaucratic burgeon(n) :grow rapidly; grow forth; send out buds; Ex. burgeoning computer industry; CF. bludgeon burlesque(n) :give an imitation that ridicules; imitate mockingly burnish(n) :make shiny by rubbing; polish buttress(n) :support; prop up; N. stationary structure to support wall; Ex. flying buttress prop :support placed under or against something; V. buxom(n) :full-bosomed; plump; jolly plump :pleasantly fat; nicely rounded UP

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