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Basic Words: A-C

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  1. abandon
    forsake; leave behind
  2. abase
    cause to feel shame
  3. abate
    become less in amount or intensity
  4. abhor
    feel hatred or disgust toward
  5. abolish
    do away with
  6. abridge
    lessen, diminish, or curtail
  7. abrupt
    exceedingly sudden and unexpected
  8. abscond
    run away, often taking something or somebody along
  9. absolute
    perfect or complete or pure
  10. absorb
    take in a liquid
  11. abstract
    existing only in the mind
  12. abstruse
    difficult to understand
  13. absurd
    inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
  14. abundant
    present in great quantity
  15. abuse
    cruel or inhumane treatment
  16. academy
    a learned establishment for the advancement of knowledge
  17. accelerate
    move faster
  18. acceptance
    the state of being satisfactory
  19. accidentally
    without intention; in an unintentional manner
  20. acclaim
    enthusiastic approval
  21. acclimate
    get used to a certain environment
  22. accomplice
    a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan
  23. accomplish
    achieve with effort
  24. accord
    concurrence of opinion
  25. accumulate
    get or gather together
  26. accuracy
    the quality of being near to the true value
  27. accustomed
    commonly used or practiced; usual
  28. acute
    ending in a sharp point
  29. acquaint
    cause to come to know personally
  30. acquire
    come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
  31. acquiescent
    willing to carry out the orders or wishes of another
  32. acquittal
    a judgment of not guilty
  33. actuate
    put in motion
  34. adapt
    make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
  35. adept
    having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
  36. adequate
    having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
  37. adhere
    stick to firmly
  38. adieu
    a farewell remark
  39. adjourn
    close at the end of a session
  40. adjacent
    having a common boundary or edge
  41. adjust
    alter or regulate so as to conform to a standard
  42. administration
    the act of governing or exercising authority
  43. admirable
    inspiring approval
  44. admire
    feel high regard for
  45. admonish
    scold or reprimand; take to task
  46. adolescent
    a person who is older than 12 but younger than 20
  47. adulterate
    make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
  48. adversary
    someone who offers opposition
  49. adversity
    a state of misfortune or affliction
  50. affront
    a deliberately offensive act
  51. aged
    having attained a specific age;
  52. agenda
    a list of matters to be taken up, as at a meeting
  53. agile
    moving quickly and lightly
  54. agility
    the gracefulness of a quick and nimble person or animal
  55. aggravate
    make worse
  56. aggressor
    someone who attacks
  57. agitate
    move or cause to move back and forth
  58. aimless
    drifting without direction
  59. alertness
    a state of readiness to respond
  60. alien
    from another place or part of the world
  61. allegiance
    the act of binding yourself to a course of action
  62. alleviate
    provide physical relief, as from pain
  63. alliance
    the state of being joined in an association or coalition
  64. allude
    make an indirect reference to
  65. aloof
    distant, cold, or detached in manner
  66. ally
    a friendly nation
  67. alteration
    the act of revising
  68. altercation
    a noisy, angry argument or fight between people
  69. ambivalent
    uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
  70. amble
    walk leisurely
  71. ambush
    the act of hiding and waiting to make a surprise attack
  72. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
  73. amicable
    characterized by friendship and good will
  74. amorphous
    having no definite form or distinct shape
  75. ample
    more than enough in size or scope or capacity
  76. amplify
    increase the volume of
  77. amused
    pleasantly occupied
  78. analogy
    drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
  79. anarchy
    a state of lawlessness and disorder
  80. anecdote
    short account of an incident
  81. animated
    having life or vigor or spirit
  82. angle
    the space between two lines or planes that intersect
  83. anguish
    extreme distress of body or mind
  84. annex
    attach to
  85. annihilate
    kill in large numbers
  86. annotate
    add explanatory notes to or supply with critical comments
  87. annul
    cancel officially
  88. anxiety
    a vague unpleasant emotion in anticipation of a misfortune
  89. apathetic
    showing little or no emotion or animation
  90. apex
    the highest point of something
  91. appalling
    causing shock, dismay, or horror
  92. apparatus
    equipment designed to serve a specific function
  93. apparent
    clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
  94. appeal
    earnest or urgent request
  95. appease
    make peace with
  96. apportion
    distribute according to a set plan or special purpose
  97. appreciable
    enough to be estimated or measured
  98. apprehensive
    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
  99. approximately
    imprecise but fairly close to correct
  100. apt
    being of striking appropriateness and relevance
  101. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
  102. arbor
    a framework that supports climbing plants
  103. ardently
    in an ardent manner
  104. arduous
    characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
  105. arouse
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
  106. articulate
    express or state clearly
  107. artificial
    contrived by art rather than nature
  108. aspect
    a characteristic to be considered
  109. asphyxiate
    deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing
  110. aspire
    have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
  111. aspiration
    a cherished desire
  112. assimilate
    make alike
  113. assistance
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
  114. assuredly
    without a doubt
  115. assurance
    a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something
  116. asylum
    a shelter from danger or hardship
  117. astonishment
    the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
  118. atone
    turn away from sin or do penitence
  119. attain
    gain with effort
  120. attire
    clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
  121. attitude
    a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings
  122. attribute
    a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity
  123. audacious
    disposed to venture or take risks
  124. audible
    heard or perceptible by the ear
  125. audience
    a gathering of spectators or listeners at a performance
  126. auspicious
    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
  127. austere
    of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
  128. authentic
    not counterfeit or copied
  129. authority
    the power or right to give orders or make decisions
  130. autocratic
    characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule
  131. auxiliary
    furnishing added support
  132. aversion
    a feeling of intense dislike
  133. avert
    turn away or aside
  134. avid
    marked by active interest and enthusiasm
  135. avoid
    stay away from
  136. aware
    having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization
  137. awe
    an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
  138. baffle
    be a mystery or bewildering to
  139. barter
    exchange goods without involving money
  140. befall
    become of; happen to
  141. belligerent
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
  142. beneficial
    promoting or enhancing well-being
  143. benefit
    something that aids or promotes well-being
  144. benevolent
    showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
  145. benign
    kind in disposition or manner
  146. bestow
    give as a gift
  147. bewilder
    cause to be confused emotionally
  148. biased
    favoring one person or side over another
  149. bigoted
    blindly and obstinately attached to some creed or opinion
  150. blanch
    turn pale, as if in fear
  151. blasphemy
    profane language
  152. blatant
    without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
  153. bleak
    unpleasantly cold and damp
  154. blend
    mix together different elements
  155. blight
    any plant disease resulting in withering without rotting
  156. blunder
    an embarrassing mistake
  157. blur
    confuse or make unclear
  158. boast
    talk about oneself with excessive pride or self-regard
  159. bogus
    fraudulent; having a misleading appearance
  160. boisterous
    marked by exuberance and high spirits
  161. bold
    fearless and daring
  162. bondage
    the state of being under the control of another person
  163. bound
    confined by bonds
  164. bountiful
    producing in abundance
  165. bouquet
    an arrangement of flowers that is usually given as a present
  166. buoyant
    tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas
  167. brawny
    possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful
  168. brazen
    not held back by conventional ideas of behavior
  169. breach
    an opening, especially a gap in a dike or fortification
  170. brevity
    the attribute of being short or fleeting
  171. brilliant
    full of light; shining intensely
  172. brunt
    the main part, especially of a force or shock
  173. broaden
    make wider
  174. calamity
    an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
  175. candid
    openly straightforward and direct without secretiveness
  176. capable
    having ability
  177. captive
    a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
  178. caravan
    a procession traveling together in single file
  179. career
    the particular occupation for which you are trained
  180. cargo
    goods carried by a large vehicle
  181. castigate
    inflict severe punishment on
  182. catastrophe
    a sudden violent change in the earth's surface
  183. caustic
    capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
  184. cautious
    showing careful forethought
  185. cavity
    a space that is enclosed or surrounded by something
  186. cease
    put an end to a state or an activity
  187. champion
    someone who has won first place in a competition
  188. chastise
    scold or criticize severely
  189. cherubic
    having a sweet nature befitting an angel
  190. chide
    scold or reprimand severely or angrily
  191. chore
    a specific piece of work required to be done
  192. chronicle
    a record or narrative description of past events
  193. circumscribe
    draw a geometric figure around another figure
  194. circumspect
    careful to consider potential consequences and avoid risk
  195. classify
    arrange or order by categories
  196. cleave
    separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument
  197. clique
    an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
  198. coarse
    rough to the touch
  199. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
  200. collision
    an accident resulting from violent impact of a moving object
  201. colossal
    so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
  202. combatant
    someone who fights or is fighting
  203. command
    an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
  204. comment
    a statement that expresses a personal opinion
  205. commotion
    a disorderly outburst or tumult
  206. compactly
    in a compact manner or state
  207. compensate
    make amends for
  208. competent
    properly or sufficiently qualified, capable, or efficient
  209. complicated
    difficult to analyze or understand
  210. composed
    serenely self-possessed and free from agitation
  211. composer
    someone who writes music as a profession
  212. composure
    steadiness of mind under stress
  213. composite
    consisting of separate interconnected parts
  214. comprehensive
    including all or everything
  215. compress
    squeeze or push together
  216. compulsion
    using force to cause something to occur
  217. conceal
    prevent from being seen or discovered
  218. concede
    give over
  219. conceited
    having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
  220. concise
    expressing much in few words
  221. concoct
    make something by mixing
  222. concrete
    capable of being perceived by the senses
  223. condone
    excuse, overlook, or make allowances for
  224. confirm
    strengthen
  225. conflict
    an open clash between two opposing groups
  226. conform
    be similar, be in line with
  227. conflagration
    a very intense and uncontrolled fire
  228. congenial
    suitable to your needs
  229. connotation
    an idea that is implied or suggested
  230. consequence
    a phenomenon that is caused by some previous phenomenon
  231. console
    give moral or emotional strength to
  232. conspicuous
    obvious to the eye or mind
  233. constrain
    hold back
  234. contained
    gotten under control
  235. contemplate
    think intently and at length, as for spiritual purposes
  236. contempt
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
  237. contend
    compete for something
  238. contented
    satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are
  239. context
    the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation
  240. contort
    twist and press out of shape
  241. controversy
    a dispute where there is strong disagreement
  242. convalesce
    get over an illness or shock
  243. cordial
    politely warm and friendly
  244. correspond
    take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
  245. corroborate
    give evidence for
  246. corrode
    cause to deteriorate due to water, air, or an acid
  247. cowardice
    the trait of lacking courage
  248. credible
    capable of being believed
  249. cringe
    draw back, as with fear, pain, or embarrassment
  250. crucial
    of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
  251. cubicle
    small area set off by walls for special use
  252. cumbersome
    difficult to handle or use, especially because of size or weight
  253. cunning
    showing inventiveness and skill
  254. curb
    the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
  255. cured
    freed from illness or injury
  256. curiosity
    a state in which you want to learn more about something
  257. curriculum
    an integrated course of academic studies
  258. curtail
    terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end
  259. customary
    commonly used or practiced
  260. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  261. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
  262. comprise
    be made of
  263. catalyst
    substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction
Created on Thu Sep 19 16:36:45 EDT 2013 (updated Thu Sep 19 17:08:59 EDT 2013)

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