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91 Cards in this Set
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- 3rd side (hint)
abase
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to bring down, to lower
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comes from french term meaning to lower
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abash
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to embarrass
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comes from same french term as abase yet is related to bashful
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abate
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lessen in intensity, reduce, weaken
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the word bate means to "beat"
so, in this case it's like being beaten down. |
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abbreviate
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shorten
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root word (breve = short)
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abdicate
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to give up by formal declaration; renounce
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synonyms
-repudiate, disown, disclaim pre - ab root - dic = to say |
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aberrant
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abnormal
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err - to wander or stray (err-or for example)
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abet
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to assist, usually done in something wrong
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as in "aiding and abetting"
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abeyance
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suspended action
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the game was held in abeyance until the rain abated.
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abhor
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detest utterly
abominate; to regard with extreme repugnance or aversion; loathe. |
ab = away +
hor = horror(to tremble at; shudder) |
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abject
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miserable; wretched
"abject poverty" |
ab = away +
ject = throw as in throw away (trash), cast down syn: debasing, degrading base, mean, low, vile |
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abjure
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to disclaim knowledge of, to renounce(or give up) under oath; repudiate
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ab = away +
jur = swear to disavow, to swear(promise) away(openly) syn - abdicate, repudiate |
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ablution
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washing
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ab = away, off +
lution (from luere=wash) = to wash off |
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abnegation
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to deny oneself, renunciation, self-sacrifice
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ab=away, off +
negate=deny (to deny oneself) deny - is really a abbreviated version of denegation |
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abolish
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cancel; put an end to; to destroy
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of L. abolere (meaning to retard the growth of)
ab = away olere = growth stopping growth |
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abominable
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detesable; very bad; repugnantly hateful
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abominable snowman
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abortive
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unsuccessful
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like my abortive GRE study strategy. (sike)
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abrasive
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to scrape or rub away; tending to grind down
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of abradere,
from ab- "away, off" + radere "to scrape" (see raze). "an abrasive surfice" to scrape away |
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abrogate
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abolish (usually by authoritative, official, or formal action)
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ab- "away" +
rogare "propose a law, request" to off(or deny) a request, usually a proposed law. |
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absolve
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to clear from, pardon,
related to (absolute, solution, absolution) |
ab = off, away, from
solve = to clear, to free, loosen (this is to clear from, free from, loosen from) absolute - complete, totally unlimited, free. |
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abstain
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to withhold oneself; refrain
During my studies I abstain from personal pleasures. |
from L. abstinere "withhold," from ab(s)- "away, from, off" + tenere "to hold" (see tenet).
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abstemios
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sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
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ab(s)- "from" + stem of temetum "strong drink,"
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abstinence
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restraint from eating and drinking
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self-control
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abstract
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theoretical; not concrete
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ab(s) = away, from, off
tract = to drag, to pull (drawn from; not tangible; not concrete) |
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abstruse
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difficult to understand; profound(towards depth, intellectual debth); obscure
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from L. abstrusus, pp. of abstrudere "conceal,"
"to thrust away," ab-"away" + trudere "to thrust, push" (see extrusion). |
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abusive
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coarsely insulting; physically harming; misusing;
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ab=away, off, from
usive(from use) (lit. "off use" or misuse) |
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abut
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border upon; adjoin
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from O.Fr. abouter "join end to end," bout "end."
The architectural abutment is first attested 1793. |
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accede
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agree
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ac= to, forward, toward(favor) +
ced =yield, give; yield to; give in |
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accessible
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able to go to; easy to approach; obtainable
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ac= to, forward +
cess =go + ible=able (able to go to) |
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accliam
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applaud; announce with great approval
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ac=to,forward+
claim=call out, speak, say to speak(in favor) |
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acclimate
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adjust to climate or environment; adapt
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ac=to, forward, in favor
rw. climate(environment) climate to |
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acclivity(n)
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sharp upslope of a hill
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ac"to,forward"
cliv(us)"hill" |
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accolade(n)
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award of merit
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accollare,
from L. ac- "to" + collum "neck" (see collar). The original sense is of an embrace about the neck or the tapping of a sword on the shoulders to confer knighthood. Extended meaning "praise, award" is from 1852. |
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accommodate(v)
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to make fit; oblige or help someone; adjust to bring into harmony
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1531, from L. accomodatus
"suitable," pp. of accomodare "fit one thing to another," from ac- "to" + commodare "make fit," from commodus "fit" (see commode). Accommodation "lodgings and entertainment" first recorded 1604. |
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accord(n)
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to be in harmony; agreement
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cord=harmony
ac=to |
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accost(v)
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1.to confront boldly: The vagabond accosted me for money.
2. to approach, esp. with a greeting, question, or remark |
from L.L. accostare
"come up to the side," ac- "to" + costa "rib, side" (see coast). The original notion is of fleets of warships attacking an enemy's coast. |
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accourte(v)
'LOL"said (uh-COOTER) accoutrement(n) |
equip
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OF acou(s)trer - to arrange, accommodate, equip
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accretion(n)
accrete(v) |
growth; increase
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from L. accretionem "a growing larger,"
from stem of accrescere ac- "to" + crescere "grow" (see crescent). |
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accrue(v)
accrual(n) |
to happen or result as a natural growth, addition, etc.
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O.Fr. acreue "growth, increase," from acreu, pp. of acreistre "to increase," from L. accrescere (see accretion).
ac- "to" + crescere "grow" (see crescent). |
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acerbity(n)
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bitterness of speech and temper
related to: acerbic(adj) - bitter or sour in nature; sharp and cutting. |
from L. acerbitatem
"bitterness," from acerbus "bitter, sharp, tart" (related to acer "sharp") also (acr - see acrid). Earliest use in Eng. is figurative, of "sharp and bitter" persons. Acerbic in the fig. sense of "sour, harsh, severe" (of speech, manners, etc.) |
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acetic
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vinegary
this salad has an exessively acetic flavor |
see accerbity
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accidulous(adj)
Moi |
full of sharpness and bitterness; caustic
James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and accidulous remarks. |
acid + ulous
ac/acr "sharp, point, edge,bitter,sour" suffix. ous"full of" so full of sharpness, bitterness, and sourness. |
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acknowledge(v)
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recognize; admit
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ac=to +
knowledge=to discern |
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acrid(adj)
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sharp; bitterly pungent
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from L. acer (fem. acris) "sharp, pungent, bitter, eager, fierce,"
acri- "corner, edge," acani- "point of an arrow," |
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acme(n)
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highest point; peak; pinnacle
Welles's success in Citizen Kane marked the acme of his career as an actor; never again did he acheive such popular acclaim |
acri- "corner, edge," acani- "point of an arrow,"
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acoustics(n)
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science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in.
I played the acoustic guitar |
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acquiesce(v)
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assent; agree passively
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from L. acquiescere
"remain at rest," thus "be satisfied with," Speech is silver, silence is golden - Talk may be beneficial, but sometimes acquiescence may be the best option to take. from ac- "to" + quiescere "become quiet," from quies (gen. quietis) "rest, quiet" (see quiet (n.)). |
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acquittal(n)
acuit(v) |
free from charges
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from O.Fr. acquitter "settle a claim,"
à "to" + quite "free, clear" (see quit). Meaning "free from charges" is c.1386. Sense of "to discharge one's duty" is from c.1386. |
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acrimonous(adj)
acrimony(n) |
bitter in words or manner
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1542, "quality of being acrid," from L. acrimonia "sharpness, pungency of taste,"
acr "sharp" (see acrid) + -monia suffix of action, state, condition. Figurative extension to "sharpness of temper" is first recorded 1618. |
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acrophobia
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fear of heights
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ac/acr "sharp, bitter, highest point, edge" as in acme(the highest point)
also acro- used for terms related to heights such as acrobat, + -phobia"fear of" |
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actuarial(adj)
actuary(n) |
as in actuarial science
calculating, pertaining to insurance statistics |
act=action +
-ary=like, connected with |
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actuate(v)
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(to make or cause an action); motivate
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act=action
-ate=to make |
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acuity(n)
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sharpness; acuteness; keenness:
(acuity of vision; acuity of mind.) |
ac=sharp, bitter, at a point, +
-ity=state of being |
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acumen(n)
ak-u-men |
mental keenness: he had remarkable acumen in business matters.
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1531, from L. acumen "a point, sting," hence "sharpness, shrewdness," from acuere "to sharpen" (see acuity).
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acute(adj)
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sharp or severe in effect; intense: acute sorrow; an acute pain.
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(see acuity).
Medical sense of "fever or disease that comes and goes quickly" (rather than a chronic one) first recorded 1667. |
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adage(n)
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wise saying; proverb
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adamant(adj)
adamancy(n) |
hard; inflexible
i'm adamant in my ambition and determination to succeed. |
from Gk. adamas (gen. adamantos) "unbreakable," the name of a hypothetical hardest material, perhaps lit. "invincible,"
from a- "not" + daman "to conquer, to tame" (see tame) Applied in antiquity to white sapphire, magnet, steel, emery stone, and especially diamond (see diamond). Fig. sense of "unshakeable" first recorded 1677. Adamantine (adj.) first recorded 1382. |
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adapt(v)
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tadjust; modify; alter
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from L. adaptare "adjust,"
from ad- "to" + aptare "join," from aptus "fitted" (see apt). Meaning "to undergo modification so as to fit new circumstances" (intr.) is from 1956. |
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addendum(n)
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a thing to be added; an addition; appendix to book
Plural form is addenda. |
1794, from L. addendus "that which is to be added," (see add). Plural form is addenda.
c.1374, from L. addere "add to, join" from ad- "to" + -dere combine form |
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addiction(n)
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compulsive; habitual need
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1595–1605; < L addictiōn- (s. of addictiō) a giving over, surrender. See addict, -ion
ad"to" + dic"declare, to say, give" + -ion" (to give over)(to give in) |
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addle(v)
addled(adj) |
muddle(confuse); drive crazy; become rotten
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1712, from addle (n.) "urine, liquid filth,"
from O.E. adela "mud, mire, liquid manure." Used in noun phrase addle egg (c.1250) "egg that does not hatch, rotten egg," lit. "urine egg," was taken as an adj. from c.1600, meaning "putrid," and thence given a fig. extension to "empty, vain, idle," also "confused, muddled, unsound" (1706). |
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address(v)
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direct a speech to; deal with or discuss
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from V.L. *addirectiare
"make straight," ad- "to" + *directiare, from L. directus "straight, direct" (see direct). Meaning "to direct spoken words (too someone)" is from 1490 Meaning in Eng. expanded 17c.-18c. to the notion of directing something, as a letter, "straight" to where somebody lives. "To send as a written message" is from 1636, which led to noun senses of "superscription of a letter" (1712) and "place of residence" (1888). |
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adept(adj)
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a skilled or proficient person; expert
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from L. adeptus "having reached, attained,"
from ad- "to" + apisci "grasp, attain," related to aptus "fitted" (see apt). Noun meaning "one who is skilled in the secrets of anything" is from a M.L. use in alchemy. |
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adhere(v)
adherent(n) |
to stick fast
(n) adherent - supporter; follower |
ad- "to +
haerēre "to stick, cling," |
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adjacent(adj)
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lying near, close, or contiguous; adjoining;
a motel adjacent to the highway. |
c.1430, from L. adjacentem (nom. adjacens) "lying at," prp. of adjacere "lie near,"
from ad- "to" + jac(ere) "to lie, rest," lit. "to throw" (see jet (v.)), with notion of "to cast (oneself) down." -to throw down- |
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adjunct(n)
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attached or belonging without full or permanent status:
an adjunct professor on the university staff. |
ad"to" +
junct"join" |
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adjuration(n)
adjure(v) |
a solemn or desperate urging or counseling:
an adjuration for all citizens of the beleaguered city to take shelter. |
as"to"+
jur"to swear, promise" from jus "pertaining to law" |
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adjutant(n)
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1. A staff officer who helps a commanding officer with administrative affairs.
2. An assistant. |
from ad- "to" +
juv(are) "to help, give strength, support," probably from same root as juvenis "young person" (see young). |
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admonish(v)
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advise; warn; reprove:
The teacher admonished him about excessive noise. |
ad- "to" +
mon(ēre) "to remind, warn" |
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adorn(v)
adornment(adj) |
decorate
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ad-"to" +
ōrn(āre) "to dress" |
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adroit(adj)
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cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious:
an adroit debater. |
1652, "dexterous," originally "rightly,"
from Fr. phrase à droit "according to right," |
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adulation
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flattery; admiration
For all the adulation, the team and the city were at cross purposes. While the Saints players stuck to the one-game-at-a-time approach, New Orleans raced ahead of itself with UNFETTERED(unrestrained) talk of an undefeated run to the Super Bowl for the Saints. |
from aduliari "to flatter,"
from ad- "to" + ul "tail," The original notion is "to wag the tail" like a FAWNING dog (cf. Gk. sainein "to wag the tail," also "to flatter;" see also wheedle). |
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adulterate
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to make impure
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-ulter(like alter- to change)
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advent
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arrival
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from L. adventus "arrival," from pp. stem of advenire "arrive, come to,"
from ad- "to" + ven(ire) "to come" (see venue). |
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adventitious
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accidental; casual
associated with something by chance rather than as an integral part; extrinsic. |
L. adventīcius
lit., coming from without, external, ven- (of venīre - to come) + -itious |
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adverse
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unfavorable; hostile
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ver(tere) "to turn" (see versus).
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advert
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refer; to turn the attention
related words: advertisement |
vertere "to turn" (see versus).
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aegis
(ee-jis) |
shield
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from Gk. Aigis, the shield of Zeus,
Athene's aigis was a short goat-skin cloak, covered with scales, set with a gorgon's head, and fringed with snakes. |
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affable
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pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial; warmly polite:
an affable and courteous gentleman. |
from L. affabilis "kind, friendly,"
lit. "he who can be easily spoken to," from affari "to speak to," from ad- "to" + fari "to speak" (see fame). |
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affected
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to make mental or emotional states; artifical; pretended; assumed in order to impress
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L affectus acted upon, subjected to; mental or emotional state (ptp. and action n. of afficere), equiv. to af- af- + fec- (comb. form of facere to make, do) + -tus action n. suffix or -tus ptp. suffix
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affidavit
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written statement made under oath
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from L. ad- "to" + fidare "to trust," from fidus "faithful," from fides "faith" (see faith).
So called from being the first word of sworn statements. |
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affinity
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1. a natural liking for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc
2.relationship by marriage or by ties other than those of blood (distinguished from consanguinity ). |
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affirmation
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confirmation; positive assertion
A "positive affirmation." |
Related words:
Affirm Affirmative |
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affix
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attach or add on; fasten
first the registrar had to affix his signature to the license; then he had to affix his official seal. related: affixed has all his focused affixed on |
af-to
fix-set, fasten |
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affliction
moi |
hardship; state of distress; cause of suffering
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conflict
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affluence
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abundance; wealth; prosperity;
opulence |
flu- flow
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affront
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insult; taunt; vex; offend; face;
pique; huff; disrespect |
front=face
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agape
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openmouthed; overwhelmed; ajar; shocked; confounded;
We stood there agape at the splendor. |
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agenda
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items of business at a meeting
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aggrandize
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increase or intensify; raise in power, wealth, rank or honor
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ag=to
grand=large |
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aggregate
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gather; accumulate
syn: summation; accrue; conglomeration |
ag=to
greg=flock |
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aghast
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struck with overwhelming shock or amazement; filled with sudden fright or horror: They stood aghast at the sight of the plane crashing.
syn: shocked |
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