abase
abase (v)
To lower in position, estimation, or the like; degrade.
abbess
abbess (n)
The lady superior of a nunnery.
abbey
abbey (n)
The group of buildings which collectively form the dwelling-place of a society of monks or nuns.
abbot
abbot (n)
The superior of a community of monks.
abdicate
abdicate (v)
To give up (royal power or the like).
abdomen
abdomen (n)
In mammals, the visceral cavity between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor; the belly.
abdominal
abdominal (n)
Of, pertaining to, or situated on the abdomen.
abduction
abduction (n)
A carrying away of a person against his will, or illegally.
abed
abed (adv)
In bed; on a bed.
aberration
aberration (n)
Deviation from a right, customary, or prescribed course.
abet
abet (v)
To aid, promote, or encourage the commission of (an offense).
abeyance
abeyance (n)
A state of suspension or temporary inaction.
abhorrence
abhorrence (n)
The act of detesting extremely.
abhorrent
abhorrent (adj)
Very repugnant; hateful.
abidance
abidance (n)
An abiding.
abject
abject (adj)
Sunk to a low condition.
abjure
abjure (v)
To recant, renounce, repudiate under oath.
able-bodied
able-bodied (adj)
Competent for physical service.
ablution
ablution (n)
A washing or cleansing, especially of the body.
abnegate
abnegate (v)
To renounce (a right or privilege).
abnormal
abnormal (adj)
Not conformed to the ordinary rule or standard.
abominable
abominable (adj)
Very hateful.
abominate
abominate (v)
To hate violently.
abomination
abomination (n)
A very detestable act or practice.
aboriginal
aboriginal (adj)
Primitive; unsophisticated.
aborigines
aborigines (n)
The original of earliest known inhabitants of a country.
aboveboard
aboveboard (adv/adj)
Without concealment, fraud, or trickery.
abrade
abrade (v)
To wear away the surface or some part of by friction.
abrasion
abrasion (n)
That which is rubbed off.
abridge
abridge (v)
To make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor particles.
abridgment
abridgment (n)
A condensed form as of a book or play.
abrogate
abrogate (v)
To abolish, repeal.
abrupt
abrupt (adj)
Beginning, ending, or changing suddenly or with a break.
abscess
abscess (n)
A Collection of pus in a cavity formed within some tissue of the body.
abscission
abscission (n)
The act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation.
abscond
abscond (v)
To depart suddenly and secretly, as for the purpose of escaping arrest.
absence
absence (n)
The fact of not being present or available.
absent-minded
absent-minded (adj)
Lacking in attention to immediate surroundings or business.
absolution
absolution (n)
Forgiveness, or passing over of offenses.
absolve
absolve (v)
To free from sin or its penalties.
absorb
absorb (v)
To drink in or suck up, as a sponge absorbs water.
absorption
absorption (n)
The act or process of absorbing.
abstain
abstain (v)
To keep oneself back (from doing or using something).
abstemious
abstemious (adj)
Characterized by self denial or abstinence, as in the use of drink, food.
abstinence
abstinence (n)
Self denial.
abstruse
abstruse (adj)
Dealing with matters difficult to be understood.
absurd
absurd (adj)
Inconsistent with reason or common sense.
abundant
abundant (adj)
Plentiful.
abusive
abusive (adj)
Employing harsh words or ill treatment.
abut
abut (v)
To touch at the end or boundary line.
abyss
abyss (n)
Bottomless gulf.
academic
academic (adj)
Of or pertaining to an academy, college, or university.
academician
academician (n)
A member of an academy of literature, art, or science.
academy
academy (n)
Any institution where the higher branches of learning are taught.
accede
accede (v)
To agree.
accelerate
accelerate (v)
To move faster.
accept
accept (v)
To take when offered.
access
access (n)
A way of approach or entrance; passage.
accessible
accessible (adj)
Approachable.
accession
accession (n)
Induction or elevation, as to dignity, office, or government.
accessory
accessory (n)
A person or thing that aids the principal agent.
acclaim
acclaim (v)
To utter with a shout.
accommodate
accommodate (v)
To furnish something as a kindness or favor.
accompaniment
accompaniment (n)
A subordinate part or parts, enriching or supporting the leading part.
accompanist
accompanist (n)
One who or that which accompanies.
accompany
accompany (v)
To go with, or be associated with, as a companion.
accomplice
accomplice (n)
An associate in wrong-doing.
accomplish
accomplish (v)
To bring to pass.
accordion
accordion (n)
A portable free-reed musical instrument.
accost
accost (v)
To speak to.
account
account (n)
A record or statement of receipts and expenditures, or of business transactions.
accouter
accouter (v)
To dress.
accredit
accredit (v)
To give credit or authority to.
accumulate
accumulate (v)
To become greater in quantity or number.
accuracy
accuracy (n)
Exactness.
accurate
accurate (adj)
Conforming exactly to truth or to a standard.
accursed
accursed (adj)
Doomed to evil, misery, or misfortune.
accusation
accusation (n)
A charge of crime, misdemeanor, or error.
accusatory
accusatory (adj)
Of, pertaining to, or involving an accusation.
accuse
accuse (v)
To charge with wrong doing, misconduct, or error.
accustom
accustom (v)
To make familiar by use.
acerbity
acerbity (n)
Sourness, with bitterness and astringency.
acetate
acetate (n)
A salt of acetic acid.
acetic
acetic (adj)
Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of vinegar.
ache
ache (v)
To be in pain or distress.
Achillean
Achillean (adj)
Invulnerable.
achromatic
achromatic (adj)
Colorless,
acid
acid (n)
A sour substance.
acidify
acidify (v)
To change into acid.
acknowledge
acknowledge (v)
To recognize; to admit the genuineness or validity of.
acknowledgment
acknowledgment (n)
Recognition.
acme
acme (n)
The highest point, or summit.
acoustic
acoustic (adj)
Pertaining to the act or sense of hearing.
acquaint
acquaint (v)
To make familiar or conversant.
acquiesce
acquiesce (v)
To comply; submit.
acquiescence
acquiescence (n)
Passive consent.
acquire
acquire (v)
To get as one's own.
acquisition
acquisition (n)
Anything gained, or made one's own, usually by effort or labor.
acquit
acquit (v)
To free or clear, as from accusation.
acquittal
acquittal (n)
A discharge from accusation by judicial action.
acquittance
acquittance (n)
Release or discharge from indebtedness, obligation, or responsibility.
acreage
acreage (n)
Quantity or extent of land, especially of cultivated land.
acrid
acrid (adj)
Harshly pungent or bitter.
acrimonious
acrimonious (adj)
Full of bitterness.
acrimony
acrimony (n)
Sharpness or bitterness of speech or temper.
actionable
actionable (adj)
Affording cause for instituting an action, as trespass, slanderous words.
actuality
actuality (n)
Any reality.
actuary
actuary (n)
An officer, as of an insurance company, who calculates and states the risks and premiums.
actuate
actuate (v)
To move or incite to action.
acumen
acumen (n)
Quickness of intellectual insight, or discernment; keenness of discrimination.
acute
acute (adj)
Having fine and penetrating discernment.
adamant
adamant (n)
Any substance of exceeding hardness or impenetrability.
addendum
addendum (n)
Something added, or to be added.
addle
addle (v)
To make inefficient or worthless; muddle.
adduce
adduce (v)
To bring forward or name for consideration.
adhere
adhere (v)
To stick fast or together.
adherence
adherence (n)
Attachment.
adherent
adherent (adj)
Clinging or sticking fast.
adhesion
adhesion (n)
The state of being attached or joined.
adjacency
adjacency (n)
The state of being adjacent.
adjacent
adjacent (n)
That which is near or bordering upon.
adjudge
adjudge (v)
To award or bestow by formal decision.
adjunct
adjunct (n)
Something joined to or connected with another thing, but holding a subordinate place.
adjuration
adjuration (n)
A vehement appeal.
adjutant
adjutant (adj)
Auxiliary.
administrator
administrator (n)
One who manages affairs of any kind.
admissible
admissible (adj)
Having the right or privilege of entry.
admittance
admittance (n)
Entrance, or the right or permission to enter.
admonish
admonish (v)
To warn of a fault.
admonition
admonition (n)
Gentle reproof.
ado
ado (n)
unnecessary activity or ceremony.
adoration
adoration (n)
Profound devotion.
adroit
adroit (adj)
Having skill in the use of the bodily or mental powers.
adulterant
adulterant (n)
An adulterating substance.
adulterate
adulterate (v)
To make impure by the admixture of other or baser ingredients.
adumbrate
adumbrate (v)
To represent beforehand in outline or by emblem.
advent
advent (n)
The coming or arrival, as of any important change, event, state, or personage.
adverse
adverse (adj)
Opposing or opposed.
adversity
adversity (n)
Misfortune.
advert
advert (v)
To refer incidentally.
advertiser
advertiser (n)
One who advertises, especially in newspapers.
advisory
advisory (adj)
Not mandatory.
advocacy
advocacy (n)
The act of pleading a cause.
advocate
advocate (n)
One who pleads the cause of another, as in a legal or ecclesiastical court.
aerial
aerial (adj)
Of, pertaining to, or like the air.
aeronaut
aeronaut (n)
One who navigates the air, a balloonist.
aeronautics
aeronautics (n)
the art or practice of flying aircraft
aerostat
aerostat (n)
A balloon or other apparatus floating in or sustained by the air.
aerostatics
aerostatics (n)
The branch of pneumatics that treats of the equilibrium, pressure, and mechanical properties.
affable
affable (adj)
Easy to approach.
affect
affect (v)
To act upon
affectation
affectation (n)
A studied or ostentatious pretense or attempt.
affiliate
affiliate (n)
Some auxiliary person or thing.
affirmative
affirmative (adj)
Answering yes; to a question at issue.
affix
affix (v)
To fasten.
affluence
affluence (n)
A profuse or abundant supply of riches.
affront
affront (n)
An open insult or indignity.
afire
afire (adv/adj)
On fire, literally or figuratively.
afoot
afoot (adv)
In progress.
aforesaid
aforesaid (adj)
Said in a preceding part or before.
afresh
afresh (adv)
Once more, after rest or interval.
afterthought
afterthought (n)
A thought that comes later than its appropriate or expected time.
agglomerate
agglomerate (v)
To pile or heap together.
aggrandize
aggrandize (v)
To cause to appear greatly.
aggravate
aggravate (v)
To make heavier, worse, or more burdensome.
aggravation
aggravation (n)
The fact of being made heavier or more heinous, as a crime , offense, misfortune, etc.
aggregate
aggregate (n)
The entire number, sum, mass, or quantity of something.
aggress
aggress (v)
To make the first attack.
aggression
aggression (n)
An unprovoked attack.
aggrieve
aggrieve (v)
To give grief or sorrow to.
aghast
aghast (adj)
Struck with terror and amazement.
agile
agile (adj)
Able to move or act quickly, physically, or mentally.
agitate
agitate (v)
To move or excite (the feelings or thoughts).
agrarian
agrarian (adj)
Pertaining to land, especially agricultural land.
aide-de-camp
aide-de-camp (n)
An officer who receives and transmits the orders of the general.
ailment
ailment (n)
Slight sickness.
airy
airy (adj)
Delicate, ethereal.
akin
akin (adj)
Of similar nature or qualities.
alabaster
alabaster (n)
A white or delicately tinted fine-grained gypsum.
alacrity
alacrity (n)
Cheerful willingness.
albino
albino (n)
A person with milky white skin and hair, and eyes with bright red pupil and usually pink iris.
album
album (n)
A book whose leaves are so made to form paper frames for holding photographs or the like.
alchemy
alchemy (n)
Chemistry of the middle ages, characterized by the pursuit of changing base metals to gold.
alcohol
alcohol (n)
A volatile, inflammable, colorless liquid of a penetrating odor and burning taste.
alcoholism
alcoholism (n)
A condition resulting from the inordinate or persistent use of alcoholic beverages.
alcove
alcove (n)
A covered recess connected with or at the side of a larger room.
alder
alder (n)
Any shrub or small tree of the genus Alumnus, of the oak family.
alderman
alderman (n)
A member of a municipal legislative body, who usually exercises also certain judicial functions.
aldermanship
aldermanship (n)
The dignity, condition, office, or term of office of an alderman.
alias
alias (n)
An assumed name.
alien
alien (n)
One who owes allegiance to a foreign government.
alienable
alienable (adj)
Capable of being aliened or alienated, as lands.
alienate
alienate (v)
To cause to turn away.
alienation
alienation (n)
Estrangement.
aliment
aliment (n)
That which nourishes.
alkali
alkali (n)
Anything that will neutralize an acid, as lime, magnesia, etc.
allay
allay (v)
To calm the violence or reduce the intensity of; mitigate.
allege
allege (v)
To assert to be true, especially in a formal manner, as in court.
allegory
allegory (n)
The setting forth of a subject under the guise of another subject of aptly suggestive likeness.
alleviate
alleviate (v)
To make less burdensome or less hard to bear.