Barron’s GRE Word List (Vocabulary) Test Prep- Letter A

abase
lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect.

She abased her head in ignominy

abash
embarrass, to make ashamed or uneasy, disconcert

Abashed, the devil stood, and felt how awful goodness is. –Milton

abate
subside or moderate, lessen, diminish

The storm has abated

abbreviate
shorten, lessen, condense

He abbreviated the speech owing to time constraint

abdicate
renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)

Siddhartha abdicated the throne in quest of greater truth

aberrant
abnormal or deviant, erroneous, fallacious

The more aberrant any form is, the greater must have been the number of connecting forms which, on my theory, have been exterminated. –Darwin.

aberration
deviation from the normal; mental disorder

His behavior was an aberration from the norm

abet
assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage

The politician abetted the thief in bank robbery

abeyance
suspended action, temporary withdrawal

We held the action in abeyance for a while

abhor
detest; hate, loathe, showing dislike for

She abhors hypocrites

abject
(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology

They survived in abject poverty

abjure
renounce upon oath, to avoid or shun

“For nearly 21 years after his resignation as Prime Minister in 1963, he abjured all titles, preferring to remain just plain ‘Mr.’” (Time)

ablution
washing

An ablution become mandatory before entering the shrine

abnegation
renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation, relinquish, give up

With abnegation of God, of his honor, and of religion, they may retain the friendship of the court. –Knox

abolish
to do away with, cancel; put an end to, nullify, eradicate

Slavery was abolished owing to a relentless struggle of the reformers

abominate
loathe; hate, show strong dislike for

She abominates his frivolous tendencies

abominable
detestable; extremely unpleasant

A flirtatious attitude is abominable

aboriginal
being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine

The aboriginal people of Nicaragua used Signal Language until recently

abortive
unsuccessful; fruitless, born prematurely, incompletely developed

She made an abortive attempt to stop them fight

abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind down

His abrasive personality gets him no friends

abridge
condense or shorten, abbreviate, reduce

This is an abridged version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet

abrogate
abolish, annul by an authoritative act

The law was abrogated owing to certain restrictions

abscission
cutting off; the act of separation

The act or process of cutting off. “Not to be cured without the abscission of a member.” –Jer. Taylor

abscond
depart secretly and hide

The servant absconded with the money

absolute
complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism, free from imperfection

The best of gifts to mankind is absolute freedom
absolve
pardon (an offense), to free from guilt or blame or their consequences

The court absolved him of guilt in the great robbery accusation

abstain
refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one’s vote

She abstained from eating more

abstemious
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate, an emaciated condition, a medical disorder

Her abstemious eating habits troubled her parents

abstinence
restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote

His abstinence from indulgence seems to be a matter of concern for his parents

abstract
theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational

The selection committee wants to see an abstract of one’s specialization

abstruse
obscure; profound; difficult to understand, recondite, esoteric

The Tarot deals in the abstruse

abusive
coarsely insulting; physically harmful, treating badly or injuriously

His abusive handling of the Ox offended the animal activist

abut
border upon; adjoin

This land abuts on the market place

abysmal
bottomless, extremely deep, hopelessly bad

The student’s understanding is abysmally low

abyss
enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit

Salim Ali was saved by his supporters from falling into an abyss

academic
related to a school; not practical or directly useful

The child shows a superior academic cognizance

accede
agree, adherence, acceptance

I did not accede to the conditions laid down by my opponent

accelerate
move faster, hasten, speed up

The government has taken proper measures to accelerate the growth of economy
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable, reachable

These files are not accessible to the user

accessory
additional object; useful but not essential thing

The woman is fond of collecting accessories

acclaim
applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval

The project was acclaimed unanimously

acclimate
adjust to climate or environment; adapt

The protozoans acclimatize faster

acclivity
sharp upslope of a hill

The acclivity could land a trekker to death

accolade
award of merit; strong praise and approval

She received showers of accolades on her acquiring a PhD

accommodate
oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; helpful and obliging

She could not accommodate his views

accomplice
partner in crime

The accused kept receiving messages from his accomplice

accord
agreement, to grant, bestow, reconcile

She worked on her own accord

accost
approach and speak first to a person

The beggar accosted me for money

accouter
equip; N. accoutrement

For this, in rags accoutered are they seen. –Dryden.

accretion
growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth

Towers and other accretions of the castle

accrue
come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition

Benefits that accrue from scientific research

acerbity
bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)

His acerbic style of talk was disliked by many

acetic
vinegary, acidic, bitter

Her acetic remarks were unbearable

acidulous
slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic

That was an acidulous criticism of the book

acknowledge
recognize; admit

Her service to the society was acknowledged

acme
peak; pinnacle; highest point

He was at the acme of his performance

acoustics
science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in

I bought an acoustic guitar

acquiesce
assent; agree passively; comply without protest

They were compelled to acquiesce in a government which they did not regard as just. –De Quincey

acquittal
deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner

His acquittal was covered by the media

acrid
bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent

Acrid smoke from burning rubber

acrimonious
stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior

The book review was rather acrimonious

acrophobia
fear of heights

The girl suffers from acrophobia

actuarial
calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics,

The actuarial form of an annuity

actuary
someone who advises insurance companies

He is an actuary

actuate
motivate; activate; cause to act

Electrical relays that actuate the elevator’s movements

acuity
sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)

He argued with great acuity

acumen
mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well

He demonstrates remarkable acumen in business matters

acute
(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe

His acute sense of perception…

adage
wise saying; proverb

She strongly believes in the adage: Time and tide wait for none

adamant
hard; inflexible, inflexible, rigid and uncompromising

Her adamant attitude annoys her peers

adapt
make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation

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)

You can find the key as an addendum

addiction
compulsive habitual need

Her addiction for books isolates her from the world

addle
make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)

My brain is a bit addled by whiskey

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

The gathering was addressed by the party President

adept
expert at; very skilled

She is an adept Trapeze artist

adhere
stick fast; be a devoted follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyalty

All the members of the group should adhere to the rules

adherent
supporter; follower

He is an adherent to norms

adjacent
adjoining; neighboring; close by

The hospital is adjacent to the mall

adjoin

be next to

Her residence is in the adjoining lane

adjourn

suspend until a later time; move from one place to another

The proceedings were adjourned for a period of time

adjunct
something attached to but holding an inferior position

This book serves as an adjunct to the main version

adjuration
solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly

What an accusation could not effect, an adjuration shall. –Bp. Hall

adjutant
staff officer assisting the commander; assistant

He serves as an adjutant

admonish
warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove

Parents generally admonish their children, in order to refine their habits

adore

love deeply and respect highly

Children adore their mothers

adorn
decorate, beautify, embellish

The building was adorned on the occasion of the girl’s wedding

adroit
skillful (in using mind or hand), adept

Arjuna was adroit in the art of archery

adulation
flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved

The performance received outstanding adulation

adulterate
make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances

Most of the junk food these days is adulterated

advent
arrival, coming into

The advent of Christ into the world

adventitious
accidental; casual; happening by chance

Our meeting was adventitious

adversary
opponent; enemy

He fought a duel with his adversary

adverse
going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile

Citizens should also be enlightened on the adverse effects of Nuclear Energy

adversity
great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event

It was difficult for her to cope with the adversity

advert
refer, comment

He adverted briefly to the news of the day

advocacy
support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something

He was known for his advocacy of women’s rights

advocate
speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for

She advocated the theory of second language acquisition

aegis
shield; protection; defense

A debate under the aegis of the League of Women Voters

aerie(aery,eyrie,eyry)
nest of a large bird of prey

An aerie of an eagle

aesthetic
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics

Her poems are generally aesthetic

affable
easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly

He has an affable nature

affected
artificial; pretended

His mannerisms seem to be affected

affidavit
written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)

The change of name has to be an affidavit

affiliation
joining; associating with

The University has an affiliation with the UGC

affinity
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her

There are many affinities between two languages

affirmation
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF.

He was not taking an affirmative action

affliction
state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on

The affliction fate unleashed on her was irreparable

affluence
abundance; wealth

The bride belongs to an affluent family

affront
insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally

I consider your words an affront to my friendship with you

agape
openmouthed, in awe

I stood there agape at the splendor

agenda
items of business at a meeting

The agenda of the meeting was not candid

agglomeration
collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. agglomerate: jumbled mass; heap

Molecules agglomerate

aggrandize
make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement

She was trying to aggrandize one argument while belittling the other

aggregate
sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to

The condition you are in today is the aggregate of your mistakes in the past.

aghast
filled with great surprise or fear; horrified

We stood aghast at the sight of the accident

agility
nimbleness; ability to move quickly

Nadia Comaneci personified agility

agitate
stir up; disturb

The agitation spread into the nooks and corners of the country

agnostic
one who is skeptical of the existence of a god or any ultimate reality

His agnostic ideals were a bit hard to digest

agog
highly excited; intensely curious

Kids were agog at the sight of dolphins

agrarian
pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform

Agrarian Industry in India is the one oft neglected

alacrity
cheerful promptness without reluctance

His alacrity made him popular among women

alchemy
medieval chemistry

Alchemy was a science that converted ordinary metals into gold

alcove
nook; recess

The alcove was dark and scary

alias
an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. Alias

Robert is an alias of Tony

alienate
make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of

She was alienated from the group

alimentary
supplying nourishment

The alimentary canal is convoluted and complicated

alimony
payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce

She secured a huge alimony after her divorce

allay
calm; pacify

Her fears were allayed by the words of the Doctor

allege
state without proof, confirm

The conversation alleges that the advocate was bribed

allegiance
loyalty, devotion, commitment

The country’s allegiance to the Super Power is obvious

allegory
story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable

John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and Herman Melville’s Moby Dick are allegories

alleviate
relieve (pain)

The drug alleviates the pain

alliteration
repetition of beginning sound in poetry

Poe’s poems can be considered for alliteration

allocate
assign; set apart for a particular purpose

This land has been allocated for the poor

alloy
mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other metals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness

He is an alloy of good with evil

allude
refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference

He often alluded to his indecisive nature

allure
entice; attract; tempt

The sight of baked peas was alluring

alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water

The alluvial soil is the most fertile of soils

aloof
apart; not open in one’s relationship with other people; reserved; ADV

He remained aloof after his mother’s death

aloft
upward; high up in the air

The balloon flew aloft

altercation
noisy quarrel

The couple’s altercation rose the neighbors’ curiosity

altruistic
unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OPP. Egoism

His altruism made him famous in the society

amalgamate
(of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body

His character was an amalgamation of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

amalgam
combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth

Dentists use an amalgam to fill in the gaps in teeth

amass
collect (gradually, in a very large amount)

She amassed all the papers to complete her dissertation

amazon
female warrior

The Greek literature speaks of Amazons
ambidextrous
capable of using either hand with equal ease

He is ambidextrous

ambience
environment; atmosphere; Ex. restaurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature

We frequently visit the restaurant for its pleasant ambience

ambiguous
unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation

Rahul’s words are ambiguous

ambivalence
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions

This seems to be an ambivalent situation

amble
walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly

Couples amble in the park in the evenings

ambrosia
food of the gods, sweet liquid something like nectar

The mention of ambrosia is restricted to religious texts

ambulatory
able to walk

An ambulatory exploration of the Egyptian Pyramids

ameliorate
improve, make better

In every human being there is a wish to ameliorate his own condition. –Macaulay

amenable
obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by

He is amenable to sensible suggestions

amend
correct; change ; generally for the better

He tried hard to amend his ways

amenities
convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies

The amenities offered in a foreign country are more

amiable
agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly

Her amiable nature attracts more and more friends

amicable
peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome

The partition issue was not an amicable settlement it called for a catastrophe

amiss
wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss

I think something is amiss in your answer

amity
friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations

The purpose of a dialogue was to secure amity

amnesia
loss of memory

The scientist suffered from amnesia during the latter part of his life

amnesty
pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)

The refugees were granted amnesty

amoral
not moral; having no understanding of right and wrong

His amoral nature made him far from relatives

amorous
moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances

The kings of the Nanda dynasty were known for their amorous nature

amorphous
formless; lacking shape or definition

Sulphur is amorphous

amphibian
able to live both on land and in water; N.

Crocodile is an amphibian

amphitheater
oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena

Amphitheaters were common in ancient Rome

ample
enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space

This age offers an ample scope for prosperity

amplify
increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger;

Amplify one’s remarks with a graph

amputate
cut off part of body; prune (a limb)

She was suggested a medical amputation

amok(amuck)
in a state of rage

The crowd ran amok after police shot in the air

amulet
charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck

The saint gives an amulet to be worn around the wrist

anachronism
an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar had a few anachronistic errors

analgesic
causing insensitivity to pain; N.

Analgesics usually induce sleep

analgesia
condition of being unable to feel pain

He was in a state of analgesia

analogous
comparable; similar

Whale’s flipper is analogous to a human’s hand

analogy
similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things

He was trying to draw an analogy of his condition with hers

anarchist
person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority

A corrupted secularism breeds more anarchists

anarchy
absence of governing body; state of disorder

Anarchy breeds terrorism

anathema
solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize

Physics is anathema to her

ancestry
family descent; ADJ. ancestral

She belongs to a noble ancestry

anchor
secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage

The boat’s anchor was lost

ancillary
serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.

The book serves as an ancillary

anecdote
short story of an amusing or interesting event

Children learn quickly from anecdotes

anemia
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic

Patients who are anemic look pale

anesthetic
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia

Tear gas is supposed to be an anesthetic

anguish
acute pain; extreme suffering

The anguish of parting from his beloved made his life miserable

angular
sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner

She has an awkward angular gait

animadversion
critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval

You have no business to make such animadversions on her conduct

animated
lively; spirited

His animated performance kept the audience enthralled

animosity
active enmity

His frenetic animosity almost made his thinking potential dead

animus
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition

I disapprove her irrational animus towards the less privileged

annals
records arranged in yearly parts; history

Hitler’s conduct has been preserved in the annals of history

anneal
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)

Glass is annealed

annex
attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one

The British annexed India part by part

annihilate
destroy, ruin, devastate

Wars annihilate mankind psychologically

annotate
comment; make explanatory notes

Poems are annotated for a better understanding

annuity
yearly allowance

His retirement fund was set up to be paid as an annuity

annul
make void

Their marriage was annulled owing to religious complications

anodyne
drug that relieves pain or trouble; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement

Keats refers to many anodynes in his poems

anoint
consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)

The new Princess was anointed

anomalous
abnormal; irregular

Magnetic needles show anomalous readings in the Bermuda Triangle

anomaly
irregularity, deviation

He was an anomaly in his generous family

anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous

Many philanthropists prefer anonymity

antagonism
hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in opposition to the protagonist

His antagonism towards his opponent is obvious

antecede
precede, come before

The Moghal rule anteceded the British rule in India

antecedents
preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background

The anthropoid apes were the antecedents of the human beings

antediluvian
antiquated; extremely ancient

Development cannot be based on ruminating antediluvian theories

anthem
song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem

The National Anthem of India was composed by the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore

anthology
book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus

An anthology of poems is prescribed for the advanced learners of English

anthropoid
manlike; resembling a human being; N.