Terms in English Vocab

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Word Meaning Context
abatedecrease
abdicateto give up
aberrantabnormal
deviantdiffering from standard
abeyancetemporary suspension
abjectpitiful
abjureabandon formally
abscissionthe act of cutting
abscondto depart secretly
abstemiousmoderate
indulgeto allow yourself to do what you want
abstinencethe giving up of certain pleasures
accretiongrowth in size
conceiveto form an idea
igneousrelating to formation of rocks from a molten state
accruegrow by additions
adamantdetermined uncompromising
adjunctattached
admonishto caution
reprimandadmonish
testimonything that shows that sth else exists or is true
discountto think or say that sth is not important or not true
inadmissiblethat cannot be allowed or accepted
adulterateto make impure
unscrupulousdishonest
efficaciousproducing the result that was wanted
aestheticrelating to beauty or art
proponentsupporter
doctrinea belief taught by a cult
superficialnot studying throughly
soarrising quickly
affectedpretentious
affinityfondness liking
dictuma statement that expresses sth that people believe is always true or should be followed
constitutionset of principles and doctrines of a political state
alacritycheerful willingness
allayto lessen soothe
alleviateto relieve
allurethe power to entice by charm
enticepersuade
incentivesomething that encourages you to do something
municipalitytown
amalgamateto combine into a unified whole
deitygod
ambivalencemixed conflicting feelings
ambrosiasomething delicious
ameliorateto improve
amenableagreeable suited
prosewhite poet!
amenitya feature that makes a place pleasant, comfortable or easy to live in
ornamentan object worn as jewelery
analgesicmedication that reduces pain
analogouscomparable
postulateto suggest or accept that sth is true so that it can be used as the basis for a theory, etc.
positpostulate
tenableeasy to defend
anodynesomething that calms pain
platitudea comment or statement that has been made very often before and is therefore not interesting
anomalousirregular
merelysimply
dilemmaa situation which makes problems
antecedentsomething that comes before
antediluvianprehistoric
antipathydislike
apathyindifference
welfareany of a variety of governmental programs that provide assistance to those in need
pensionSeries of periodic money payments made to a person who retires from employment
provisionthe act of supplying sb with sth that they need or want
apexthe highest point
apogeethe point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited
apothegma short, pithy, and instructive saying or formulation
terseusing few words and often not seeming polite or friendly
wittyclever amusing
appeasecalm placate
appellationname
appositestrikingly appropriate and relevant
appriseto inform
approbationpraise approval
appropriateto take possession for one\'s own use
aproposrelevant
arabesqueornate design featuring intertwined curves
archeologythe study of material evidence of past human life
ardorgreat emotion or passion
shrivelto become or make sth dry and WRINKLED from heat, cold or old age
arduousextremely difficult
dauntingfrightening in a way that makes you feel less confident
argotspecialized vocabulary used by a group
artifactitem made by human craft
contendto say that sth is true, specially in an argument
oppressionwhen someone treats a group of people unfairly or cruelly
artlessguileless natural
asceticone who practices self denial
subjugateto defeat
asperityseverity
aspersionslander false rumor
slanderrumor
assuageto make less severe
anguishsevere pain
bereavementthe state of having lost a relative or close friend because they have died
solemnlooking very serious
assiduousdiligent hard-working
diligentshowing care for duties
astringentharsh severe
asylumplace to refuge or shelter
pantheisticreligions involve believing that God is in everything in nature and the universe
consolationa person or thing that makes you feel better when you are unhappy or disappointed
rebutto say or prove that a statement is false
prudentensible and careful when you make judgements and decisions
atavismreturn of a trait after a period of absence
attenuateto weaken
audaciousbold daring
austerestrict and serious in appearance and behaviour
sternserious and often disapproving expecting sb to obey you
unadornedwithout any decoration simple
tenetone of the principles or beliefs that a theory is based on
avaricegreed
averto affirm declare to be true
avocationsecondary occupation
avuncularlike an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
axiomatictaken for granted
bacchanalianpertaining to riotous or drunken festivity
pertainto exist or to apply in a particular situation or at a particular time
riotousnoisy and/or violent, especially in a public place
festivitythe activities that are organized to celebrate a special event
revelrynoisy fun
banalcommonplace trite
tritedull and boring because it has been expressed so many times before not original
banterplayful conversation
bardpoet
bawdyobscene
beatifyto sanctify to bless
sanctifyto make sth holy
ascribeto consider or state that a book, etc. was written by a particular person
virtuebehaviour or attitudes that show high moral standards
bedizento dress in a vulgar, showy manner
aristocratsomeone who belongs to the highest social class
behemothhuge creature
outstripto become larger, more important, etc. than sb/sth
belieto contradict misrepresent
ferocityviolence fierce or aggressive behaviour
beneficentkindly doing good
bifurcateto divide into two parts
inaugurateto introduce a new development or an important change
blandishmentflattery
blasébored by frequent indulgence
bolsterto give a boost prop up
bombasticusing inflated language
boorishrude
bovinecowlike
brazenbold
broachto mention for the first time
bucoliccharacteristic of countryside rustic
rusticsimple rural
pastoralsimple
expansea wide open area
burgeonto flourish
flourishdevelop quickly
burnishto polish
buttressto reinforce support
persecutioncruel and unfair treatment of a person or group
prosecutionthe process of trying to prove in a court of law that sb is guilty of a crime
cacophonousunpleasant or harsh sounding
aficionadospeople who are enthusiastic and admirers or followers
cadgebeg
callousThick-skinned insensitive
calumnyfalse and malicious accusation slander
canardfalse deliberately misleading story
canonan established principle
elaboratevery complicated and detailed
RococoOver elaborated
cantinsincere talk language of a particular group
cantankerousirritable ill-humored
capriciousfickle
ficklechanging suddenly and often
captiousfaultfinding intended to entrap
pedantictoo worried about small details or rules:
cardinalof foremost important
carnalof the flesh or body, related to physical appetites
carpingto find fault complain
premisea statement or an idea that forms the basis for a reasonable line of argument
cartographyscience of making maps
topographythe physical features of an area of land, especially the position of its rivers, mountains, etc
castesocial stratification
stratificationthe division of sth into different layers or groups
castigationpunishment
chastisementpunishment
cataclysma violent upheaval that causes great destruction and change
catalystsomething causing change
libertarianthose who place great importance on individual freedom
categoricalabsolute without exception
ushergive entrance to
caucussmaller group within an organization
causalinvolving a cause
causticsarcastically biting burning
celestialconcerning the sky or heavens sublime
sublimeof very high quality and causing great admiration
centrifugalmoving away from center
centripetalmoving or directed toward a center
championto defend or support
exculpateclear from blame


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