Barron GRE word list - A
abase
lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect
abash
embarrass
abate
subside or moderate
abbreviate
shorten
abdicate
renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)
aberrant
abnormal or deviant
aberration
deviation from the normal; mental disorder
abet
assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
abeyance
suspended action
abhor
detest; hate
abide
dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.
abject
(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
abjure
renounce upon oath
ablution
washing
abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
abode
dwelling place; home
abolish
cancel; put an end to
abominable
detestable; extremely unpleasant
abominate
loathe; hate
aboriginal
being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine
abortive
unsuccessful; fruitless
abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind down
abridge
condense or shorten
abrogate
abolish
abscission
cutting off; separation
abscond
depart secretly and hide
absolute
complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism
absolve
pardon (an offense)
abstain
refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's vote;
abstemious
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
abstinence
restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
abstract
theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
abstruse
obscure; profound; difficult to understand
abusive
coarsely insulting; physically harmful
abut
border upon; adjoin
abysmal
bottomless
abyss
enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
academic
related to a school; not practical or directly useful
accede
agree
accelerate
move faster
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable
accessory
additional object; useful but not essential thing
acclaim
applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval and praise
acclimate
adjust to climate or environment; adapt
acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
accolade
award of merit; strong praise and approval
accommodate
oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
accomplice
partner in crime
accord
agreement
accost
approach and speak first to a person
accoutre
equip; N. accoutrement
accretion
growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
accrue
come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
acerbity
bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)
acetic
vinegary
acidulous
slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
acknowledge
recognize; admit
acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point
acne
skin disease (on the face)
acoustics
science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
acquiesce
assent; agree passively; comply without protest
acquittal
deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
acrid
bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
acrimonious
stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
acrophobia
fear of heights
actuarial
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
actuary
someone who advises insurance companies
actuate
motivate; activate; cause to act
acuity
sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
acumen
mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
acute
(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
adage
wise saying; proverb
adamant
hard; inflexible
adapt
make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
addendum
addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)
addiction
compulsive habitual need
addle
make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
address
direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
adept
expert at; very skilled
adhere
stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyality
adherent
supporter; follower
adjacent
adjoining; neighboring; close by
adjoin
be next to
adjourn
suspend until a later time; move from one place to another
adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior position
adjuration
solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
admonish
warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
adore
love deeply and respect highly
adorn
decorate
adroit
skillful (in using mind or hand)
