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Abeyance
- N. Suspended action.
- The deal was held in abeyance until her arrival.
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Abject
- Adj. Wretched; lacking pride.
- On the streets of New York the homeless live in abject poverty.
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Abjure
(Abjuration, N.)
- V. Renounce upon oath; disavow.
- Pressure from university authorities caused th eyoung scholar to abjure his heretical opinions.
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Ablution
- N. Washing.
- His daily ablutions were accompanied by loud noises that he humorously labeled "Opera in the Bath".
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Abscission.
- N. Removal by cutting off, as in surgery; separation; also refers to
- leaf fall.
- Gas gangrene is so potentially deadly that doctors advise abscission
- of the gangrenous tissue.
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Abstruse
- Adj. Obscure; profound; difficult to understand.
- Baffled by the abstruse philosophilca texts, Dave asked Lexy to explain Kant.
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Acclivity
- N. Sharp upslope of a hill.
- The care could not go up the acclivity in high gear.
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Accoutre
(Accoutrement, N.)
- V. Equip.
- The fisherman was accoutred with the best that the sporting goods store could supply.
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Acidulous
- Adj. Slightly sour; sharp; caustic.
- Jmaes was unpopular becaues of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks.
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Acme
- N. Peak; pinnacle; highest point.
- Welles's success in Citizen Kane marked the acme of his career as an actor.
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Acrimonious
(Acrimony, N.)
- Acj. Bitter in words or manner.
- The candidate attacked his opponent in highly acrimonious terms.
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Actuate
- V. Motivate.
- I fail to understand what actuated you to reply to this letter so nastily.
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Acumen
- N. Mental keenness.
- Her business acumen helped her to succeed where others had failed.
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Adjuration
(Adjure, V.)
N. Solemn urging. Her adjuration to tell the truth did not change the witnesses' testimony.
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Adjutant
- N. Staff officer assisting the commanding; assistant.
- Though Wellington delegated many tasks to his chief adjutant, Somerset was in no doubt as to who made all major decisions.
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Adventitious
- Adj. Accidental; casual.
- She found this adventitious meeting with her friend extremely fortunate.
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Advert
- V. Refer (to).
- Since you advert to this matter so frequently, you must regard it as important.
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Aegis
- N. Shield; defense.
- Under the aegis of the Bill of Rights, we enjoy our most treasured freedoms.
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Aggrandize
- V. Increase or intensify; raise in power, wealth, rank, or honor.
- The history of the past quarter century illustrates how a President may aggrandize his power to act aggressively in internal affairs.
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Alimentary
- Adj. Supplying nourishment.
- The alimentary canal in our bodies is so named because digestion of food occurs there.
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Alluvial
- Adj. Pertaining to soil deposits left by running water.
- The farmers found the alluvial deposits at the mouth of the river very fertile.
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Ambrosia
- N. Food of the gods.
- Ambrosia was supposed to give immortality to any human who ate it.
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Analgesic
- Adj. Causing insensitivity to pain.
- The analgesic properties in this lotion will provide temporary relief.
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Anathema
(Anathematize, V.)
- N. Solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse.
- The Ayatolla Khomeine heaped anathema upon "The Great Satan," That is, the United States. To him, America and the west were anathema.
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Ancillary
- Adj. Serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary.
- In an anciliary capacity Doctor Watson was helpful; however, he could not solve a perplexing case on his own.
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Animadversion
- N. Critical remark.
- He resented the animadversions of his critics, particularly because he realized they were true.
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Animus
- N. Hostile feelign or intent.
- The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks.
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Anneal
- V. Reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling.
- After the glass is annealed, it will be less subject to chipping and cracking.
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Anodyne
- N. Drug that relieves pain; opiate.
- His pain was so great that no anodyne could relieve it.
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Antediluvian
- Adj. Antiquated; extremely ancient.
- Looking at his great-aunt's antique furniture, her young heir exclaimed, "Heavens! How positively antediluvian!"
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Antic
- Adj. Extravagantly odd.
- Putting on an antic disposition, Hamlet act so odd that the Danish court thinks him mad.
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Aphorism
(Aphoristic, Adj.)
- N. Pithy maxim or saying.
- An aphorism is usually philosophic or scientific, as compared to an adage, which is usually more homely and concrete.
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Apocryphal
- Adj. Spurious; not authentic; invented rather than true.
- although many versions exist of the famous story of Emerson's visit to Thoreau in jail, the tale is most likely apocryphal.
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Apogee
- N. Highest point.
- When the moon is furhtest away from the earth in its orbit, it is at its apogee.
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Apotheosis
- N. Elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something.
- The Roman empress Livia envied the late Emporeror Augustus his apotheosis; she hoped that she, too, would be exalted to the ranks of the gods upon her death.
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Apposite
- Adj. Appropriate; fitting.
- She was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion.
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Appurtenances
- N. Subordinate possessions.
- He bought the estate and all its appurtenances.
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Argot
- N. Slang.
- In the argot of the underworld, she was "taken for a ride."
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Array
- V. Marshal; draw up in order.
- His actions were bound to array public sentiment against him.
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Ascendancy
- N. Controlling influence.
- President Marcos failed to maintain his ascendancy over the Philippines.
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Asperity
- N. Sharpness (of temper).
- These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been directed.
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Aspersion
- N. Slanderous remark.
- Rather than attacking President Cleveland's arguments with logic, his opponent resorted to casting aspersions on the president's moral character.
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Astringent
- Adj. Binding; causing contraction; harsh or severe.
- The astringent quality of the unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult.
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Atavism
(atavistic, adj.)
- N. Resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback.
- In his love for gardening, Martin seemed an atavism to his Tuscan ancestors.
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Augury
(augur, v.)
- N. Omen; prophecy.
- He interpreted the departure of the birds as an augury of evil.
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Aureole
- N. Sun's corona; halo.
- Many medieval paintings depict saintly characters with aureoles around their heads.
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Avocation
- N. Secondary or minor occupation.
- His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abondoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his avocation.
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Avuncular
- Adj. Like an uncle.
- Avuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew's shortcomings.
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