GRE WORD LIST A

 A LIST




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.
abject
(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble.
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.
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.
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
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)
adulation flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
adulterate make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
Advent arrival
adventitious accidental; casual; happening by chance
adversary opponent; enemy
adverse going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
adversity great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
advert refer
advocacy support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something
advocate speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
aegis shield; protection; defense
aerie (aery,eyrie,eyry) nest of a large bird of prey
aesthetic artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
affable easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
affected artificial; pretended
affidavit written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
affiliation joining; associating with
affinity
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
affirmation
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath;
V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
affliction state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
affluence abundance; wealth
affront insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
afterlife life after death; later part of one’s life
Agape

openmouthed
agenda items of business at a meeting
agglomeration collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
aggrandize make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement
aggregate sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
aghast filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
agility nimbleness; ability to move quickly
agitate stir up; disturb
agnostic one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or any ultimate reality
agog highly excited; intensely curious
agrarian pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform
airy of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
alacrity cheerful promptness without reluctance
alchemy medieval chemistry
alcove nook; recess
alias an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. alias
alienate make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
alimentary supplying nourishment
alimony

payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
allay calm; pacify
allege state without proof
allegiance loyalty
allegory story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable
alleviate relieve (pain)
alliteration repetition of beginning sound in poetry
allocate assign; set apart for a particular purpose
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 maetals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
allude refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
allure

entice; attract; tempt
alluvial
pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
alms

money or goods given to the poor
aloft
upward; high up in the air
aloof

apart; not open in one’s relationship with other people; reserved; ADV.
altercation noisy quarrel
altruistic unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
amalgam combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth
amalgamate (of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
amass collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
amazon female warrior
ambidextrous capable of using either hand with equal ease
ambience environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
ambiguous unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
ambivalence the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
amble walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
ambrosia

food of the gods
ambulatory able to walk
ambush act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.
ameliorate improve
amenable obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests
amend correct; change ; generally for the better
amenities convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
amiable agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
amicable peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
amiss wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
amity friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
amnesia loss of memory
amnesty pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
amok
in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
amoral
nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
amorous

moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
amorphous formless; lacking shape or definition
amphibian able to live both on land and in water; N.
amphitheater oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
ample enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample; abundance; largeness of space
amplify increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one’s remarks with a graph
amputate cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
amulet charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck
anachronism an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
analgesia condition of being unable to feel pain
analgesic
causing insensitivity to pain
analogous
comparable; similar
anarchist
person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
anarchy
absence of governing body; state of disorder
anathema solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
ancestry family descent; ADJ. ancestral
anchor secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
ancillary serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary; N.
anecdote short story of an amusing or interesting event
anemia
condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
anesthetic substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
anguish acute pain; extreme suffering
angular sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
animadversion

critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
animated lively; spirited
animosity active enmity
animus
hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
annals records arranged in yearly parts; history
anneal reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
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
annihilate destroy
annotate comment; make explanatory notes
annuity yearly allowance
annul
make void
anodyne drug that relieves pain or trouble;opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
anoint consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
anomalous abnormal; irregular
anomaly
irregularity
anonymity
state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
antagonism hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the protagonist
antecede precede
antecedents preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
antediluvian
antiquated; extremely ancient
anthology
book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
anthropoid
manlike; resembling a human being
anthropologist
student of the history and science of humankind, anthropomorphic having human form or characteristics
anticlimax
letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting
antidote
remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
antipathy
antiquated
obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
antique
made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was made in an earlier period and that is rare or valuable
antiquity
quality of being very old; ancient time
antiseptic
substance that prevents infection in a wound
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
antler

bony growth on the head of a deer
anvil
iron block used in hammering out metals
apathy

lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
ape imitate or mimic (a person’s behavior or manner)
aperture opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
apex tip; summit; climax; highest point
aphasia loss of speech due to injury or illness
aphorism
pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
Apiarist

person who keeps bees, apiary a place where bees are kept
apiculture bee-keeping
aplomb poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
apocalyptic prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
apocryphal (of a story) widely believed but untrue
apogee highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
apolitical having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
apologist one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
apoplexy stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
apostate one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
apothecary druggist; pharmacist
apothegm(apophthegm) pithy, compact saying
apotheosis elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
appall dismay; shock deeply
apparent evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement
apparition ghost; phantom
appease
pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
appellation name; title
append attach
application diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
apposite appropriate; fitting
appraise estimate value of; N. appraisal
appreciate be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
apprehend arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
apprehensive fearful; discerning
apprise inform
approbation approval
appropriate acquire; take possession of for one’s own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
appurtenances subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
apropos
with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation
aptitude fitness; talent
aquiline curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
arable fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
arbiter person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware
arbitrary unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
arbitrate act as judge (at the request of both sides)
arboreal of or living in trees
arboretum place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
arcade a covered passageway usually lined with shops
Arcane
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
archaeology
study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
archaic antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.
archetype prototype; primitive pattern
archipelago group of closely located islands
archives public records; place where public records are kept
ardor heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
arduous hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
Argot
slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
aria
operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
arid (of land) dry; barren; unproductive
aristocracy hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
armada

fleet of warships
aromatic
fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
arraign
charge in court; indict
array
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
arrears
being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
arrhythmic lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia

arrogance
pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one’s own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
arroyo
gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
arsenal
storage place for military equipment
artery
blood-vessel; CF. vein
articulate effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
artifacts object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
artifice deception; trickery
artisan a manually skilled worker
artless without guile; open and honest
ascendancy controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
ascertain find out for certain; make certain
ascetic

practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
ascribe refer; attribute; assign
aseptic preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
ashen ash-colored; deadly pale
asinine stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
Askance
with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at
askew crookedly; slanted; at an angle
asperity sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
aspersion slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
aspirant seeker after position or status
aspire seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
assail assault
assay
analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
assent agree; accept; N. assessment
assert state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one’s independence
Assiduous

diligent
assimilate absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)
assuage mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
assumption something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
assurance firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one’s own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assuranc
Asteroid

small planet
astigmatism eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
astral relating to the stars
astringent binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
astronomical enormously large or extensive
astute wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one’s advantage
asunder into parts; apart; V. sunder
asylum place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
asymmetric not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
atheistic denying the existence of God; N. atheism
atone
make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
atrocity brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
atrophy wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
attentive alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration
attenuate make thin; weaken
attest testify; bear witness
Attire

clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
attribute essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
attrition rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
atypical
not normal; not typical
audacious daring; bold; N. audacity
audit examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.
augment increase; add to
augury omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
August
impressive; majestic
aureole
sun’s corona; halo; bright circle of light
auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
auspicious favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
austere forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk’s austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
authenticate prove genuine
authoritarian subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another’s will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
authoritative having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
autocratic having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
automaton mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
autonomous self-governing; N. autonomy
autopsy examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
auxiliary offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
avalanche great mass of falling snow and ice
avantgarde
group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
avarice

greediness for wealth
avenge
take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.

aver
state confidently; declare as true
averse
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
aversion

firm dislike
avert
prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.

aviary
enclosure for birds; large cage

avid
greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
avocation
secondary or minor occupation
avow
declare openly; N. avowal
avuncular

of or like an uncle
awe
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
awful
terrible; very bad
awl

pointed tool used for piercing
awry
distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
azure

sky blue