abject
adj. terrible and without hope
abjure
v. to promise publicly that you will give up or reject a belief or a way of behaving
abnegation
n. the act of not allowing yourself to have something that you want; the act of rejecting something
abrogate
v. to officially end a law, an agreement, etc.
abstemious
adj. not allowing yourself to have much food or alcohol, or to do things that are enjoyable
accost
v. to go up to someone and speak to them, especially in a way that is rude or threatening
Achilles
n. a weak point or fault in someone's character
acumen
n. he ability to understand and decide things quickly and well
adulterate
v. to make something, such as food or drink, less pure by adding another substance to it
adumbrate
v. to give a general idea or description of something without details
aggrandize
v. to increase the power or importance of a person or country
alacrity
n. great willingness or enthusiasm
alias
adv. used when a person, especially a criminal or an actor, is known by two names
alleviate
v. to make something less severe
allude
v. mention something in an indirect way
altruistic
adj. caring about the needs and happiness of other people more than your own
ameliorate
v. to make something better
amorphous
adj. having no definite shape, form, or structure
anachronistic
adj. a person, a custom, or an idea that seems old-fashioned and does not belong to the present
anathema
n. a thing or an idea that you hate because it is the opposite of what you believe
annex
v. take control of a country, region, etc., especially by force
antediluvian
adj. very old-fashioned
antithesis
n. the opposite of something
apocryphal
adj. (of a story) well known, but probably not true
approbation
n. approval or agreement
arcane
adj. secret and mysterious, and therefore difficult to understand
archetypal
adj. having all the important qualities that make someone or something a typical example of a particular kind of person or thing
ardent
adj. very enthusiastic and showing strong feelings about something or someone
artifact
n. an object that is made by a person, especially something of historical or cultural interest
artifice
n. the use of intelligent or dishonest tricks to cheat someone
ascetic
adj. not allowing yourself physical pleasures, especially for religious reasons; related to a simple and strict way of living
aspersions
n. critical or unpleasant remarks or judgments
assiduous
adj. working very hard and taking great care that everything is done as well as it can be
attenuate
v. to make something weaker or less effective
austerity
n. the quality of being being strict and serious in appearance and behavior
avaricious
adj. having extreme desire for wealth