Vocabulary dictionary and workbook 2,856 words you must know mark (2)

Vocabulary Dictionary and Workbook
2,856 Words You Must Know

Mark Phillips

All Rights Reserved © 2006 Mark Phillips

Pronunciation Key

The syllable that receives the primary accent appears in capital letters; for example, in-TEND.

ə about, system, family, lemon, suppose

a apple, mat, carry

ā ape, fame, day

â ask, fair, Mary

ä father, calm, art

b boy, rib

ch chin, inch

d dog, mad

e egg, enter, ten

ē each, seen, bee

f fog, if

g go, beg

h high, behave

i fig, if

ī ivy, time, deny

j joke, ridge

k call, kiss, tack

l light, small

m me, team

n new, tan

n (as in French) bon, garỗon

ng sing, trying

o ox, mop

open, tone, hello

ô ought, call, law

oi oil, join, boy

oo ooze, moon, too

oo book, pull

ou ouch, proud, cow

p pen, nap

r red, jar

s say, miss

sh shy, ash

t tell, bat

th think, athlete, myth

th then, another, smooth

tr tree, entrance

u up, fun, above

û urge, turn, blur

v valley, river, swerve

w walk, away

y yellow, lawyer

z zebra, buzz

zh vision, mirage, pleasure

Abbreviations:
adj. = adjective; adv. = adverb; conj. = conjunction; n. = noun; vb. = verb

Chapter 1: abase–abolish

abase (ə-BĀS) vb. To abase yourself is to lower yourself in status or prestige; to bring yourself
down a notch; to humble yourself. Steve was dying to go to the party, but he refused to abase
himself by asking for an invitation.

abash (ə-BASH) vb. If you say that someone has been abashed, you mean that he’s been
embarrassed; that his initial self-possession has been destroyed (usually by something that produces a
feeling of shame or inferiority or by excessive praise). When he learned he’d been awarded the
1958 Nobel Prize in literature, Russian writer Boris Pasternak (1890–1960) said in a telegram,
“Immensely grateful, touched, proud, astonished, abashed.”

abate (ə-BĀT) vb. If something (bad weather, conflict, pain, enthusiasm, interest, for example)
abates, it becomes less intense; it dies down. The years-old ethnic conflict in areas of the former
Yugoslavia showed no signs of abating.

aberrant (AB-ər-ənt) adj. If something is aberrant, it deviates from what is considered normal or
proper; it’s abnormal, deviant, unconventional, etc. Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud (1856–

1939) believed that aberrant behavior in children was caused not by genetic factors, but by
mishandling on the part of the parents.

abet (ə-BET) vb. To abet someone is to assist or aid him (especially in something wrongful or evil).
In 1968, after his indictment on charges of aiding and abetting resistance to Selective Service
laws, pediatrician, author, and political activist Benjamin Spock explained, “I’m not a pacifist; I

was very much for the war against Hitler and I also supported the intervention in Korea—but in
this war we went in there to steal Vietnam.”

abeyance (ə-BĀ-əns) n. To hold something (a discussion, a decision to be made, etc.) in abeyance is
to temporarily set it aside, suspend it, make it inactive, put it “on hold,” etc. In 1993 the search for a
new Commissioner of Baseball (to replace the one who’d resigned the year before) was held in
abeyance pending the resolution of a labor dispute between players and owners.

abhorrent (ab-HÔR-ənt) adj. If you find something abhorrent, you find it hateful (or disgusting or
repellent). The word is especially used (instead of simply “hateful”) if the object of your hatred is
considered truly horrible or outrageous. Right-to-life groups find the idea of abortion abhorrent.
Note: The verb abhor means “to hate” (usually something horrible or outrageous), as in I abhor any
kind of animal cruelty.

abide (ə-BĪD) vb. To abide by something (an order, rule, etc.) is to go along with it without question
or complaint; to accept it, support it, obey it, comply with it, etc. On March 3, 1991, when Allied and
Iraqi military leaders meet on the battlefield to discuss terms for a formal cease-fire to end the
Persian Gulf War, Iraq agreed to abide by all of the UN’s terms, including the destruction of Iraq’s
unconventional weapons (but later sought to frustrate the carrying out of UN inspections). Note:
In another sense, to abide something is to put up with it, endure it, tolerate it, etc., as in abide one’s
rudeness or abide fools.

abject (AB-ject) adj. To refer to a bad or unfortunate situation or condition as abject is to say that

it’s as low, degrading, miserable, wretched, and hopeless as it can possibly be. John Steinbeck’s
1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath is about the hardships of an American farm family who move to
California in the 1930s to escape the abject poverty of the Dust Bowl (a parched region of the
Great Plains plagued by drought and dust storms).

ablution (ə-BLOO-shən) n. This word can mean “the washing of the hands or body,” or it can refer to
the liquid itself that’s used in the washing. Often (but not always) the word is used when the washing
is part of some religious ritual. A mosque (a place of public worship in the Muslim religion) must
point toward Mecca (Mohammed’s birthplace) and have a place for ritual ablutions.

abode (ə-BŌD) n. An abode is the place where one lives; a dwelling place, house, home, etc. For
example, in Greek mythology Olympus was the abode of the gods. In 1764 French philosopher
Voltaire (1694–1778) said, “It is not known precisely where angels dwell—whether in the air, the
void, or the planets; it has not been God’s pleasure that we should be informed of their abode.”

abolish (ə-BŎL-ish) vb. To abolish something (a practice, regulation, condition, etc.) is to do away
with it; put an end to it (as in abolish slavery, abolish the Stamp Act, or abolish poverty). Some
lawmakers would like to abolish the Electoral College in favor of direct popular vote for
President.

Word Games

I. Match the correct lettered definition to each of the following numbered words.

1. abase
2. abet
3. abolish

a. do away with
b. lower (oneself)

c. aid, assist

II. Does the definition on the right fit the word on the left? Answer yes or no.

1. abash: embarrass
2. abate: wait
3. abide: obey

III. Use the following words to fill in the blanks in the sentences below:
abeyance, ablution, abode

1. Prison is a fit __________ for lawbreakers.
2. The unresolved issues were held in __________.
3. A stone basin was set up for __________.

IV. Are the two words on each line similar or opposite?

1. aberrant / normal
2. abhorrent / hateful
3. abject / wonderful

Chapter 2: abominable–abundant

abominable (ə-BOM-ə-nə-bəl) adj. Depending on the context, this word can mean either “hateful,
detestable, despicable” (often with an implication of vileness or unnaturalness), as in abominable
acts of torture, or “unpleasant, disagreeable,” as in abominable weather. The April 1995 Oklahoma
City bombing (in which over 100 people were killed when a car bomb tore away the faỗade of the
nine-story, block-long Federal building) was perhaps the most abominable act of terrorism of the

20th century.

abortive (ə-BÔR-tiv) adj. If something (a plan, an attempt, etc.) is abortive, it’s unsuccessful, failed,
ineffectual, useless, etc. (often because progress was halted before it had a chance to succeed). The
Chunnel, a 31-mile-long train tunnel under the English Channel connecting England and France,
had two abortive beginnings (1883 and 1974) before its present-day success.

abrasion (ə-BRĀ-zhən) n. As a verb, to abrade is to wear down by friction or rubbing. And as a
noun, abrasion is the processes of abrading. But if you’re speaking specifically of someone’s skin,
an abrasion is a scraped area (as from an injury). A Band-Aid is an adhesive bandage with a gauze
pad in the center used to cover minor cuts, insect bites, and abrasions. Note: People often use this
word informally to refer to any type of minor skin wound (cut, scratch, bruise, etc.).

abridge (ə-BRIJ) vb. To abridge a written text (a novel or play, for example) is to make it shorter (by
condensing it or omitting parts of it) while retaining its overall sense. Modern editions of Johann
Wyss’s 1813 adventure novel Swiss Family Robinson are usually abridged (the narrator’s numerous
religious comments are omitted). To abridge anything else (a visit, one’s freedom, etc.) is to lessen
the duration or extent of it. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states: “Congress shall
make no law abridging the freedom of speech.”

abrogate (AB-rə-gāt) vb. To abrogate something (a law, policy, treaty, agreement, contract, etc.) is
to officially end it, abolish it, do away with it, etc. A 1916 treaty that gave the United States the
exclusive right to build a canal through Nicaragua was abrogated in 1970.

abscond (ab-SKOND) vb. To abscond is to leave (someplace) quickly, suddenly, and secretly, so as
to avoid capture or arrest (for having committed a crime, for example); to flee from justice, escape,
run off, etc. In the 1960 horror classic Psycho, an employee, entrusted to deposit a large sum of
cash at her company’s bank, instead absconds with it to an isolated motel.

absolve (ab-ZOLV) vb. To absolve someone of (or from) guilt, blame, or the consequences of a crime
or sin is to pronounce him free; to clear, pardon, excuse, or forgive him. In 1958 U.S. critic and

historian Van Wyck Brooks (1886–1963) said, “Nothing is so soothing to our [self-respect] as to
find our bad traits in our [parents]; it seems to absolve us.” To absolve someone from an
obligation, duty, or responsibility is to free or release him from it. The Declaration of Independence
(1776) states: “These United Colonies are free and independent states [and] they are absolved
from all allegiance to [England].”

abstemious (ab-STĒ-mē-əs) adj. If you’re abstemious, you’re restrained in eating and drinking (of
alcohol); you eat and drink sparingly or moderately. When she saw the painting of the fat monk, she
exclaimed, “I thought those guys were supposed to be abstemious!”

abstinence (AB-stə-nəns) n. The practice of refraining from (giving up) certain pleasures (especially
food or drink) is known as abstinence. Doctors say that for heavy smokers, more than ten years of

abstinence is necessary before the degree of risk of lung cancer approaches that of those who have
never smoked.

abstract (ab-STRAKT, AB-strakt) adj. Things that are abstract are conceptual or theoretical; that is,
they are thought of apart from material objects. For example, a piece of candy is a material object, but
the concept of sweetness is said to be abstract. In literature, the abstract idea of time sometimes
takes human form in the character Father Time.

abstruse (ab-STROOS) adj. If you say that something (a theory, idea, explanation, etc.) is abstruse,
you mean either that it’s difficult to understand or comprehend (it’s complex, deep, etc.), or that it can
be understood only by a select few (by members of a particular profession, for example). In college I
found calculus so difficult that not only did I not understand the abstruse expressions written on
the blackboard [f(x)dx=g(b)-g(a), for example], but I didn’t even know (in general terms) what
calculus was—even after the teacher patiently explained that it dealt with “the differentiation and
integration of functions of variables.”

abundant (ə-BUN-dənt) adj. If a supply or amount of something (crops or wildlife, for example) is

abundant, it’s more than enough; it’s plentiful. Danish author Isak Dinesen once said, “I don’t
believe in evil; I believe only in horror. In nature there is no evil, only an abundance of horror.”

Word Games

I. Match the correct lettered definition to each of the following numbered words.

1. abundant
2. abstract
3. abortive

a. unsuccessful, halted
b. plentiful
c. conceptual, theoretical

II. Does the definition on the right fit the word on the left? Answer yes or no.

1. abrasion: scrape
2. abstemious: greedy
3. abrogate: instigate

III. Use the following words to fill in the blanks in the sentences below:
abridge, abscond, absolve

1. His plan was to take the money and __________.
2. The judge was likely to __________ the defendant.
3. He decided to __________ the book by removing the glossary.

IV. Are the two words on each line similar or opposite?

1. abstruse / complex
2. abstinence / indulgence
3. abominable / horrible

Chapter 3: abusive–accost

abusive (ə-BYOO-siv) adj. To be abusive is to mistreat someone either verbally (by using harsh,
insulting language) or physically (through maltreatment, battering, etc.). The 1981 biographical film
Mommie Dearest portrays Academy Award–winning actress Joan Crawford (1908–1977) as an
abusive mother.

abut (ə-BUT) vb. Things that abut each other are directly next to each other; they’re adjacent; they
touch; they share an edge or border. Lake Michigan (one of the Great Lakes) abuts four states:
Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

abysmal (ə-BIZ-məl) adj. To refer to something (a condition, ignorance, a failure, a performance) as
abysmal is to say that it’s immeasurably bad. Note: An abyss is an immeasurably deep cavity (chasm,
pit, void, etc.). Clifford Beers, cofounder of the National Committee for Mental Hygiene, was an
early 20th-century mental-health pioneer who, as a patient, discovered abysmal conditions in
asylums.

accede (ak-SĒD) vb. When you accede to something (especially something insisted upon or urged by
another), you agree to it (or comply with it or permit it). At the Munich Conference (1938), Britain
and France, in an effort to maintain peace, acceded to Hitler’s demand that Germany immediately
annex the Sudetenland (western Czechoslovakia). Note: Another meaning of this word is “assume
(or attain, arrive at, or succeed to) an office, title, or position,” as in Spanish king Juan Carlos
acceded to the throne upon the death of Francisco Franco (1975).

acceleration (ak-sel-ə-RĀ-shən) n. In physics, acceleration is the rate of increase of velocity
(speed). For example, if you drop an ball from a tall building, the ball doesn’t fall at a steady rate;

rather, it gains speed as it falls. The rate at which its speed increases is known as acceleration.
Downhill skiers use a pair of poles to aid in accelerating, turning, and balancing. If you’re not
speaking of physics, the verb accelerate means simply to move or cause to move (or proceed,
develop, happen, etc.) faster; to speed up. During adolescence, the body’s growth rate accelerates.

accessible (ak-SES-ə-bəl) adj. If something is accessible, it’s easy to reach or enter (as a place),
easy to get at (as an object), easy to approach or talk to (as a person), easy to understand (as a
concept), or easy to obtain (as information). In 1984 President Ronald Reagan’s daughter Maureen
said, “We are an ideal political family, as accessible as Disneyland.” Note: When people say that a
particular place is accessible, they often mean simply that it’s reachable, whether easily or not (as in
a mountaintop accessible only by helicopter). Yellowstone Park became accessible to vacationers
when the Northern Pacific Railroad was completed in 1883.

acclaim (ə-KLĀM) n. Acclaim is an expression of enthusiastic praise, admiration, or approval. Actor
Tom Cruise won critical acclaim (including a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination) for
his role in the 1989 film Born on the Fourth of July.

acclimated (AK-lə-mā-tid) adj. To be acclimated to something (a new environment, climate, or
situation, for example) is to be accustomed or adjusted to it. To maintain an acceptable state of
health in space, astronauts (in addition to needing air, food, hygiene facilities, and exercise)
require a proper balance between work and rest periods and sufficient time to become acclimated
to a weightless environment.

accolade (AK-ə-lād) n. An expression of approval or praise (or a special acknowledgment or
award) is known as an accolade. The word is usually used in the plural. No poet won more Pulitzer
Prizes or received more accolades from universities and foundations than did New Englander
Robert Frost (1874–1963).

accomplice (ə-KOM-plis) n. An accomplice is a person who helps another person commit a
wrongdoing or criminal act. On the same day that President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by

John Wilkes Booth (April 14, 1865), several of Booth’s accomplices tried (unsuccessfully) to kill
Secretary of State William Seward.

accord (ə-KÔRD) n. When two things are in accord, they are in agreement or harmony; they go
together without conflict. For example, a student dresses in accord with the school’s dress code, a
swimmer breathes in accord with the pace of his strokes, a person’s spending increases in accord
with the growth of his income, etc. When, in 1925, Tennessee teacher John Scopes presented
Darwin’s theory of evolution to his high school biology class, he was arrested for violating a state
law that prohibited the teaching of any theory not in accord with the biblical story of the Creation.

accost (ə-KOST) vb. To accost someone is to approach him and speak to him (sometimes in a bold
or aggressive manner). In 1985 mild-mannered New Yorker Bernard Goetz shot four threatening-
looking youths who accosted him on a New York City subway.

Word Games

I. Match the correct lettered definition to each of the following numbered words.

1. acclaim
2. accord
3. accomplice

a. praise
b. helper in a wrongdoing
c. agreement

II. Does the definition on the right fit the word on the left? Answer yes or no.

1. acceleration: vacation
2. abusive: kind

3. accolade: expression of praise

III. Use the following words to fill in the blanks in the sentences below:
abysmal, accessible, acclimated

1. The island retreat was __________ by boat.
2. He soon became __________ to his new surroundings.
3. His karaoke performance was __________.

IV. Are the two words on each line similar or opposite?

1. accede / disagree
2. accost / bypass
3. abut / touch

Chapter 4: accretion–acuity

accretion (ə-KRĒ-shən) n. A gradual, natural growth or increase in size (of something), as by the
growing or sticking together of external parts, is known as accretion (for example, a coral reef grows
larger through accretion). The verb is accrete. Scientists believe that planets are formed by the
accretion of gas and dust in a cosmic cloud.

accrue (ə-KROO) vb. To accrue something (money, sick leave, etc.) is to accumulate it over time.
During his 23-year major-league career (1954–1976), baseball great Hank Aaron accrued a
record-breaking 755 home runs.

acerbic (ə-SÛR-bik) adj. To describe food as acerbic is to say that it has a strong, sharp taste; it’s
sour, bitter, tart. To describe a person’s temperament or facial expression as acerbic is to say that it’s
sour or bitter (that he’s a sourpuss). To describe a person’s language or wit as acerbic is to say that
it’s sharp, biting, sarcastic, harsh. The noun is acerbity. In Dr. Seuss’s children’s book How the

Grinch Stole Christmas, an acerbic, green-skinned creature tries to prevent Christmas by stealing
all the villagers’ gifts.

acknowledge (ak-NOL-ij) vb. To acknowledge something is to admit or recognize (sometimes
reluctantly or under pressure) that it’s true or that it exists. In the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended
the Revolutionary War, Great Britain formally acknowledged American independence.

acme (AK-mē) n. The acme of something is its highest level or degree (that can be attained); its
utmost limit. The word generally refers to accomplishments rather than to physical objects. In 1958,
at the acme of his popular success, singer Elvis Presley was drafted into the army.

acolyte (AK-ə-līt) n. Originally, an acolyte was an altar boy (a priest’s attendant). Today the word is
used to mean “a follower or attendant (of an important person).” Sometimes the word is used
sarcastically or as a put-down to describe servile, boot-licking followers. Unification Church
founder Sun Myung Moon, who is regarded by his acolytes as God’s messenger, was convicted
(1982) of conspiracy to evade taxes.

acoustics (ə-KOO-stiks) n. The branch of physics that deals with sound and sound waves is known
as acoustics. The adjective acoustical (or acoustic) is used to describe anything pertaining to sound,
the science of sound, or the sense of hearing. According to the Columbia Encyclopedia, “In 1979 a
congressional committee [reviewing the November 1963 assassination of President John F.
Kennedy] concluded, on the basis of acoustical evidence, that [not one, but] two people had shot
at Kennedy—but that interpretation was later criticized as flawed.”

acquiesce (ak-wē-ES) vb. When you acquiesce (to something proposed), you agree or submit (to it)
without protest. Often, the implication is that originally you were opposed to it, or at least had some
reservations about it. When we gently urged my strong-willed grandmother to move into a nursing
home, she strongly objected, going so far as to say that she’d rather destroy herself; then, a day
later, for reasons we never understood, she quietly acquiesced.

acquisitive (ə-KWIZ-i-tiv) adj. Anything (one’s mind, a nation, a corporation, a person, etc.)
described as acquisitive has a strong desire to acquire (gain, possess) things. An acquisitive mind
wants to acquire ideas, information, knowledge, etc. An acquisitive nation wants to acquire other
territories by force. An acquisitive corporation wants to acquire other companies by buying them out.
An acquisitive person is either one with an acquisitive mind or one who strongly wants to acquire
wealth, land, possessions, etc. In 1982 journalist and humorist Andy Rooney said, “[Republicans]
think that if we [the American people] admit that we have selfish, acquisitive natures and then set
out to get all we can for ourselves by working hard for it, that things will be better for everyone.”

acrid (AK-rid) adj. If something (a taste or smell, for example) is acrid, it’s sharp, biting, bitter,
irritating, etc. (to the tongue, nose, eyes, etc.). A remark or language described as acrid is stinging,
cutting, bitter, biting, etc. In a 1961 article in the New York Herald Tribune entitled “Cookout’s Got
to Go,” journalist Donald Rogers noted, “Few things are more revolting than the spectacle of a
normally reasonable father and husband gowned in one of those hot, massive aprons inscribed
with disgustingly corny legends, presiding over a [barbecue grill] as he destroys huge hunks of
good meat and fills the neighborhood with greasy, acrid smoke: a Boy Scout with five o’clock
shadow.”

activist (AK-tə-vist) n. An activist is a person who aggressively supports or promotes a particular
(usually controversial) political cause or goal (as in civil rights activist or anti-war activist). After
retiring from acting, (1950s and ’60s film star) Doris Day became an animal rights activist.

acuity (ə-KYOO-i-tē) n. If you have acuity, you have the faculty of thinking and applying knowledge;
you have keenness of perception; you’re insightful, astute, discerning, intelligent, etc. The adjective is
acute. Actor Dustin Hoffman is known for his acute characterizations in such films as Midnight
Cowboy (1969), Tootsie (1982), and Rain Man (1989). Note: The word also can refer to sharpness of
eyesight, as in visual acuity of 20/20.

Word Games

I. Match the correct lettered definition to each of the following numbered words.

1. accrue
2. acquiesce
3. acknowledge

a. accumulate
b. admit
c. agree

II. Does the definition on the right fit the word on the left? Answer yes or no.

1. acuity: sharpness
2. accretion: increase in speed
3. activist: athlete

III. Use the following words to fill in the blanks in the sentences below:
acme, acolyte, acoustics

1. The rock star entered the room followed by his __________ .
2. He reached the __________ of his career when he was named vice-president.
3. As a musician, he was interested in the __________.

IV. Are the two words on each line similar or opposite?

1. acrid / sharp
2. acerbic / pleasant
3. acquisitive / uninterested

Chapter 5: acumen–adorn

acumen (AK-yə-min, ə-KYOO-min) n. The ability or power to keenly perceive, maturely understand,
and wisely judge something (such as business, law, politics, military strategy, etc.) is known as
acumen. During the late 19th century, Scottish-born American industrialist Andrew Carnegie,
through his business acumen, made millions in the steel industry; he later gave most of the money
away to educational, cultural, and peacemaking organizations, explaining that “the man who dies
rich dies disgraced.”

adage (AD-ij) n. An adage is a traditional or familiar saying that expresses a general truth; a
proverb. When we opened our fortune cookies we couldn’t help but laugh when we saw that the
first predicted “You will inherit a large sum of money” and the second contained the adage “A fool
and his money are soon parted.”

adamant (AD-ə-mənt) adj. If you’re adamant about something (your point of view, for example), you
don’t give in readily (to urgings, appeals, arguments, etc.); you’re unyielding, firm, insistent, etc. For
years, U.S. tobacco companies have adamantly denied that tobacco is an addictive substance.

addled (AD-əld) adj. If someone is addled (or addlebrained or addlepated), his mind is confused or
muddled; he’s illogical, harebrained, foolish, etc. Nobel Prize-winning playwright Eugene O’Neill
(1888–1953) once remarked, “My brain is a bit addled by whiskey.”

adduce (ə-DOOS) vb. To adduce something (a fact, a reason, evidence, etc.) is to bring it forward as
an argument or as a means of proof in an argument. Many people have claimed that Julius and Ethyl
Rosenberg (an American couple who were executed in 1953 as spies for the Soviet Union) were
convicted because of cold war hysteria and not because of the evidence adduced against them.

adept (ə-DEPT) adj. If you’re adept at some skill or task, you’re very good at it (as from training,
experience, or natural ability); you’re proficient, capable, competent, expert, etc. By the time he was
a teenager, folksinger Pete Seeger (born 1919) was adept at playing the ukulele, banjo, and guitar.

adhere (ad-HĒR) vb. If something (a substance, for example) adheres to something else, it sticks or
clings to it (by or as if by glue, suction, molecular forces, etc.). The noun is adherence. Doctors say
that if you are severely burned, you should cut away loose clothing, but you should not remove
clothing adhered to your skin. In another sense, if a person adheres to a rule, principle, or manner of
doing something, he follows it, supports, it, carries it out, etc. In 1860 presidential candidate
Abraham Lincoln asked, “What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against
the new and untried?”

adherent (ad-HĒR-ənt) n. Someone who supports, upholds, or follows a leader or a cause is known
as an adherent. Although in the early 1920s the Ku Klux Klan had more than two million adherents,
by the 1930s it had lost nearly all its power.

adjacent (ə-JĀ-sənt) adj. If two things are adjacent to each other, they are lying next to each other;
they’re touching, bordering, adjoining, neighboring, etc. Minnesota’s “twin cities” are Minneapolis
(the state’s largest city) and the adjacent St. Paul (the state’s capital).

adjourn (ə-JÛRN) vb. To adjourn is to move from one place to another (especially a room). The
implication is that you’ll be in the new room for some time. After dinner, we adjourned to the den to
watch some TV. Note: In another sense, this word is used in official meetings (such as those that
follow parliamentary procedure) and means “to end or postpone to another time,” as in I move to
adjourn.

admonition (ad-mə-NISH-ən) n. An admonition is a warning or a piece of cautionary advice. The
verb is admonish. Most cookbooks admonish the reader to avoid overcooking pasta and
vegetables.

adorn (ə-DÔRN) vb. To adorn something is to beautify or decorate it by adding ornaments, jewels,
flowers, pictures, or the like; to dress it up. Medieval books had wooden covers, sometimes richly
adorned with gold and silver work, enamels, and gem

Word Games

I. Match the correct lettered definition to each of the following numbered words.

1. adjourn
2. adhere
3. adorn

a. move (to another place)
b. decorate
c. stick, cling

II. Does the definition on the right fit the word on the left? Answer yes or no.

1. adherent: loudspeaker
2. admonition: warning
3. acumen: archery bow

III. Use the following words to fill in the blanks in the sentences below:
adamant, adept, adjacent

1. She was __________ at knitting.
2. He was __________ about not permitting smoking in the house.
3. Vermont and New Hampshire are __________.

IV. Are the two words on each line similar or opposite?

1. addled / clearheaded
2. adduce / bring forth
3. adage / saying

Chapter 6: adroit–affirm

adroit (ə-DROIT) adj. This word can mean “expert or nimble in the use of the hands,” as in an adroit
seamstress, or “skillful, clever, ingenious, adept (in dealing with challenging situations),” as in an
adroit negotiator. Harry Houdini’s (1874–1926) adroit maneuvering allowed him to escape from
chains, handcuffs, straitjackets, and padlocked containers.

adulate (AJ-ə-lāt) vb. To adulate someone is to show excessive devotion to him or to excessively
admire or praise him; to adore, idolize, or cherish him. In 1984, when interviewed on the occasion
of her 50th birthday, French film star and sex symbol Brigitte Bardot said, “I have been very
happy, very rich, very beautiful, much adulated, very famous, and very unhappy.”

advent (AD-vent) n. The advent of something (especially something important) is the coming into
being of it; the arrival of it; the start of it. In July 1963 President John F. Kennedy said, “Eighteen
years ago the advent of nuclear weapons changed the course of the world.”

adverse (ad-VÛRS, AD-vûrs) adj. If something is adverse, it’s contrary to (acts against) one’s
interests or welfare; it has a harmful effect; it’s damaging, injurious, hurtful, etc. Excessive alcohol
consumption can adversely affect the liver; for example, it can cause cirrhosis (degeneration of

liver tissue) or liver cancer. Note: The word can also mean “unfriendly or opposing in purpose or
effect,” as in adverse criticism.

adversity (ad-VÛR-si-tē) n. A condition or state of hardship, misfortune, trouble, difficulty, etc., is
known as adversity. The word is often used in the plural (adversities) to refer to particular
unfortunate events or circumstances of one’s life (such as poverty, hunger, illness, accidents, etc.).
Helen Keller (1880–1968), who overcame personal adversity (blindness and deafness) to become a
famous author, lecturer, and humanitarian, once gave this advice to a five-year-old: “Never bend
your head; always hold it high; look the world straight in the eye.”

advocate (AD-və-kāt) vb. To advocate something (a policy, an idea, a plan, etc.) is to speak or argue
in favor of it, urge it, recommend it, support it, etc. American scientist Linus Pauling (who won
Nobel Prizes for both chemistry and peace) is probably most famous for advocating the use of
large doses of vitamin C to prevent sickness and to treat the common cold. As a noun, an advocate
is a person who speaks or argues in favor of some cause. Tennis champ Billie Jean King was an
outspoken advocate of equality for women in professional sports.

aegis (Ē-jis) n. To be under the aegis of someone or something is to be under its protection (as, for
example, an abandoned baby whose welfare is under the aegis of the courts) or under its sponsorship
(as, for example, a school concert held under the aegis of the P.T.A.). Dr. Jonas Salk developed his
polio vaccine (1957) under the aegis of the March of Dimes Foundation.

aesthetic (es-THET-ik) adj. The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of beauty or art is
known as aesthetics. The adjective aesthetic means “having or showing an appreciation of beauty or
good taste (as distinguished from the practical or scientific).” Whereas tattoos were once applied for
practical reasons (to signify one’s rank, for example), today they are generally applied for purely
aesthetic purposes.

affable (AF-ə-bəl) adj. If you’re affable you’re friendly, warm, easy to approach, and easy to talk to.
Historians say that though President Ronald Reagan was affable to all, he felt close only to his
wife and a few friends.

affiliation (ə-fil-ē-Ā-shən) n. An affiliation is a close connection or association between two or
more people, groups, or organizations. Sometimes the associated elements are independent and equal,
but more often one is dependent on, subordinate to, or part of the other. The verb is affiliate.
Radcilffe College for women is affiliated with Harvard University (in fact, Radcliffe students are
instructed by the Harvard faculty).

affinity (ə-FIN-i-tē) n. In one sense, an affinity is a natural liking for (or attraction to) a particular

person or thing. As a conductor, Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) had a special affinity for the
works of (Austrian composer) Gustav Mahler (1860–1911). In another sense, an affinity is a
similarity or likeness (of character, nature, structure, appearance, etc.) between people or things
(languages, plants, or animals, for example), suggestive of a relationship or common type. In 1786

English linguist Sir William Jones noted an affinity between Sanskrit, Latin, and Greek, and
argued that all descended from an earlier, extinct language.

affirm (ə-FÛRM) vb. To affirm something is to state or declare it to be true; to state it as a fact.
Although many people claim to have seen UFOs, scientists cannot affirm their existence. The noun
is affirmation. In his inaugural address (1977), President Jimmy Carter said of his goals of justice,
equality, and world peace, “They will not be my accomplishments, but the affirmation of our
nation’s continuing moral strength.” Note: In law, to affirm something is to confirm it (as in the
higher court affirmed the opinion of the lower court) or to ratify it (as in a vote was taken and the
amendment was affirmed).

Word Games

I. Match the correct lettered definition to each of the following numbered words.

1. adversity
2. advent
3. affiliation

a. beginning
b. association
c. hardship

II. Does the definition on the right fit the word on the left? Answer yes or no.

1. affinity: wisdom
2. aesthetic: unconscious
3. adverse: harmful

III. Substitute one of the following words for each of the italicized expressions in the sentences
below:

adulate, advocate, affirm

1. Many doctors __________ a low-cholesterol diet.
2. Scientists cannot __________ the existence of Bigfoot.
3. Teenagers often __________ rock stars.

IV. Are the two words on each line similar or opposite?

1. aegis / protection
2. affable / cruel
3. adroit / clumsy

Chapter 7: affliction–ajar

affliction (ə-FLIK-shən) n. An affliction is anything that causes suffering, harm, misery, distress, etc.,
especially a physical disorder such as an injury, disease, disability, sickness, or pain. Helen Keller
(1880–1968) was blind and deaf since infancy; despite these afflictions she learned to read and
write and was graduated (1904) from Radcliffe College with honors.

affluent (AF-loo-ənt) adj. A person (or town, neighborhood, etc.) described as affluent is rich,
wealthy, prosperous, well-off, etc. In 1966 New York governor Nelson Rockefeller (1908–1979),
urging Syracuse University graduates to enter public service, said, “There are many other
possibilities more enlightening than the struggle to become the local doctor’s most affluent ulcer

case.”

agape (ə-GĀP) adj. If you say that someone’s mouth is agape you mean that it’s open in wonder or
amazement. If you say that a person is agape you mean that he has his mouth open in wonder or
amazement. In the 1982 film E.T.—The Extra-Terrestrial, when Elliott’s older brother first sees E.T.,
he stands frozen with mouth agape.

agenda (ə-JEN-dəh) n. An agenda can be a (written or mental) list of things to do, or it can be a
course of action to be followed regularly. According to The Reader’s Companion to American
History, “Although the future of the U.S. space program is promising, NASA must tackle several
issues before its agenda of both unmanned and manned missions can be [carried out].”

aggrandize (ə-GRAN-dīz) vb. If a person has become aggrandized, he’s become greater in power,
rank, importance, influence, reputation, etc.; he’s been magnified, glorified, etc. If a thing (land, for
example) has been aggrandized, it’s become greater in size; it’s been enlarged, increased, extended,
etc. The noun is aggrandizement. Historians say that one of the main causes of World War II was
territorial aggrandizement (by Japan in China, by Italy in Ethiopia, and by Germany in central
and eastern Europe).

aggregate (AG-ri-git) adj. This word means “considered as, or gathered together into, one mass or
sum; total, combined, complete, added, entire, etc.,” as in aggregate wealth, aggregate value,
aggregate demand, etc. Weightlifting competitors must make two successful lifts: the snatch (in
which the bar is raised above the head in one uninterrupted motion), and the clean and jerk (in
which the bar is raised to shoulder height, held there briefly, then pushed above the head); the
aggregate weight of the two lifts is the competitor’s total. Note: The word can also be used as a
noun to denote an entire amount (of something) or a mass of parts collected together. British
politician and writer Edmund Burke (1729–1797) once said, “An empire is the aggregate of many

states under one common head.”

aghast (ə-GAST) adj. To be aghast is to be struck by or filled with amazement, shock, surprise,
terror, etc. According to the Cambridge Encyclopedia, after (English scientist) Sir Isaac Newton
(1642–1727) determined that all celestial bodies (stars, planets, moons, etc.) have a gravitational
attraction to one another, he “was aghast at the implications for the unfortunate investigator; with
so many bodies, each pulling all the others, how could anyone hope to cope with the mathematics
involved?”

agile (AJ-īl) adj. If you’re agile, you’re quick and well-coordinated in movement. Mountain goats
are agile rock climbers. The noun is agility. In 1961 Time magazine said that a baseball umpire
“should combine the [righteousness] of a Supreme Court justice [with] the physical agility of an
acrobat.”

agitate (AJ-i-tāt) vb. To agitate a person (or animal) is to disturb, upset, or excite him emotionally;
to stir up his thoughts, feelings, etc. When a skunk becomes agitated, it squirts a foul-smelling mist
from glands under its tail. To agitate a material substance (water, for example) is to cause it to move
with violence or sudden force; to stir it up, shake it up, churn it, etc. In microwave ovens, high-
frequency electromagnetic waves agitate water molecules in food; this results in high temperatures
and rapid cooking.

aide-de-camp (ād-di-KAMP) n. An aide-de-camp is a military officer who serves as confidential
assistant to a superior (usually a general or admiral). Sometimes the word is used informally to refer
to someone whose function is similar to that of an aide-de-camp. U.S. soldier and statesman
Alexander Hamilton (who served as General George Washington’s aide-de-camp during the
Revolutionary War and later as America’s first secretary of the treasury) was shot and killed
(1804) in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr.

ailment (ĀL-mənt) n. An ailment is a (sometimes mild) physical disorder or illness; a sickness,
disease. Acupuncture (a technique of traditional Chinese medicine in which needles are inserted
into the skin) has long been used in China for the treatment of such ailments as arthritis, high
blood pressure, and ulcers.

ajar (ə-JÄR) adj. If something (a door, for example) is ajar, it’s partially open. When the
vacationing police officer returned to his hotel room and found the door ajar and a strange woman
inside, he said, “Either you’re the chambermaid or you’re under arrest!”

Word Games

I. Match the correct lettered definition to each of the following numbered words.

1. agenda

2. ailment
3. aide-de-camp

a. physical disorder
b. assistant
c. course of action

II. Does the definition on the right fit the word on the left? Answer yes or no.

1. affliction: tenderness
2. aghast: shocked
3. aggregate: total

III. Use the following words to fill in the blanks in the sentences below:
agape, agile, ajar

1. He left the door __________.
2. The shocked spectators stood with mouth __________.
3. The __________ gymnast performed a back flip.

IV. Are the two words on each line similar or opposite?

1. agitate / soothe
2. affluent / prosperous
3. aggrandize / lessen

Chapter 8: alacrity–alms

alacrity (ə-LAK-ri-tē) n. When you do something with alacrity, you do it right away and speedily
(and often with a cheerful willingness). Our boss said that to him, the perfect employee was one
who responded to his orders with politeness and alacrity.

albeit (ôl-BĒ-it) conj. This word means “although,” “even though,” or “even if.” In 1954 the U.S.
Supreme Court eliminated segregation in schools by overturning the “separate but equal” rule (a
doctrine by which whites and blacks were promised equal, albeit separate, educational facilities).

alienate (Ā-lē-ə-nāt) vb. To alienate someone is to cause him to become unfriendly, hostile, etc., or
to cause him to become withdrawn, indifferent, etc. In 1824 English essayist William Hazlitt said,
“Few things tend more to alienate friendship than a [lack] of punctuality in our engagements.”